Can hyaluronic acid not only moisturize but also resist skin inflammation?
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is the most widely distributed acidic mucopolysaccharide in the human body. Due to its excellent moisturizing performance, it is known as the ideal natural moisturizing factor NMF. According to its molecular weight, it is divided into high molecular weight, medium molecular weight, low molecular weight, and oligomeric HA. Its skin function corresponds to water capture in the stratum corneum, water locking in the granular layer, active water in the basal layer, and water storage in the dermis. For example, skin HA not only has moisturizing properties, but also has a significant anti-inflammatory effect on the skin~
In recent years, the discussion about skin inflammation has continued to rise, and people believe that anti-inflammatory should be the top priority in repairing sensitive skin. Speaking of anti-inflammatory, what is skin inflammation.
Inflammation is what people usually refer to as "inflammation", which is a self-defense response of the human body to external stimuli, manifested as facial redness, swelling, heat, pain, and functional impairment. Inflammatory lesions caused by congestion, in the early stages of inflammation due to arterial congestion, local oxygenated hemoglobin increases, resulting in a bright red face. As inflammation progresses, blood flow slows down, becomes congested and stagnant, and local tissue reduces hemoglobin, resulting in a dark red color.
Mainly due to human exudates, especially inflammatory edema. In chronic inflammation, the proliferation of tissues and cells can also induce local swelling. Due to arterial congestion and enhanced metabolism, factors such as nuclear factors and interleukins can cause facial fever. The accumulation of potassium ions and hydrogen ions in local lesions, as well as the stimulation of prostaglandins, malondialdehyde, sustained-release peptides, etc., are the main causes of pain. The exudate inside the inflammatory lesion causes tissue swelling, increased tension, and compression of nerve endings, resulting in pain; In addition, swelling of inflamed organs increases the tension of the sensory nerve endings, causing pain due to nerve endings being pulled. Inflammatory reactions can also lead to an increase in the rate of transepidermal water loss, dryness, tightness, and even peeling of the skin, affecting the growth of keratinocytes.
1. The inhibitory effect of HA on inflammatory factors
Due to the pace of modern life, excessive exposure of skin keratinocytes to ultraviolet radiation, air pollution, and computer blue light can cause excessive production of inflammatory factors in our skin keratinocytes, leading to an inflammatory response.
The full name of NF - κ B is nuclear factor, which can be overexpressed and cause inflammation when exposed to external stimuli. I believe everyone is familiar with the glycation reaction (which is the reaction between free sugars in the body and collagen in the skin, leading to cross-linking of collagen, decreased skin elasticity, and relaxation), and the products of the glycation reaction can affect the expression of NF - κ B. HA has a significant inhibitory effect on this process, which can significantly reduce the expression of NF - κ B.
Interleukin is a cytokine produced by cells and transmitted to immune cells, which can activate immune cells and trigger inflammatory responses. High molecular weight HA can significantly inhibit the expression and content of interleukin, thereby reducing the adverse effects of interleukin on the skin.
2. HA's anti lipid peroxidation effect
Lipid peroxidation is also one of the factors leading to skin inflammation. The terminal product of lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide lipids, can directly damage DNA molecules and promote an increase in malondialdehyde content in the body, leading to skin inflammation.
HA can significantly inhibit lipid peroxidation in this stage, far exceeding the inhibitory effect of VC on lipid peroxidation.
3. HA reduces water loss through the epidermis
HA, as a mucopolysaccharide, when applied to the surface of the skin, can form a dense and breathable water locking film on the skin surface, absorb moisture from the air, prevent internal moisture evaporation, reduce the loss rate of water diversion through the epidermis, enhance skin barrier function, and reduce the probability of inflammatory reactions.
4. HA clears reactive oxygen species
External environmental influences such as UV irradiation, air pollution, blue light radiation, etc. can cause excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skin keratinocytes, which are mainly divided into superoxide radicals (O2- ·) and hydroxyl radicals (· OH). Excessive ROS can lead to skin inflammation.
5. The role of HA in clearing superoxide radical O2- ·
Superoxide radicals (O2- ·) are substances that can react with biological macromolecules such as proteins and polysaccharides and cause tissue damage. The scavenging activity of low molecular weight HA on O2- · can be correspondingly enhanced with the increase of its concentration, and the scavenging effect is good, keeping keratinocytes away from the invasion of superoxide radicals.
6. The role of HA in clearing hydroxyl radicals
Hydroxyl radicals and their derivatives are highly destructive reactive oxygen species that can significantly destroy biomolecules such as proteins and polysaccharides in skin keratinocytes. HA can effectively scavenge hydroxyl radicals, and the degraded HA has higher activity in scavenging hydroxyl radicals.
Overall, HA can resist skin damage caused by oxidation from multiple aspects and pathways of action. Therefore, the use of products containing HA by fairies will have a soothing and allergenic effect on the skin. Choosing HA in combination with other allergenic ingredients is more helpful in relieving skin sensitivity.
How to take care of the skin
1. Gentle cleansing, protecting the skin barrier
Due to the occurrence of skin inflammation, the skin barrier of sensitive skin is very fragile. In this case, it is necessary to use a gentle and non irritating cleansing method:
① Use amino acid based mild and non irritating cleansing products;
② Reduce the frequency of exfoliation and physical makeup removal.
For inflammatory skin:
① The use of HA combined with ingredients such as ceramide can repair the skin barrier.
② In addition, combining HA with components such as peach cactus stem extract, fullerene, and Sophora flavescens root extract can effectively help sensitive muscles cope with external stimuli.