Research Summary:
Skin aging goes beyond a chronological process and also results from extrinsic factors referred to as the exposome. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an important component of the extracellular matrix, with loss starting at the age of 25. While many studies of HA focus on its topical use, few literature reviews solely address the use of topical HA in dermatology. This review describes the various characteristics of HA-containing cosmeceuticals, with a focus on skin aging and the impact of exposome factors on HA synthesis and degradation.
A review was conducted using terms such as HA, hyaluronan, topical, dermatology, cosmetic, aging treatment, exposome, and cosmeceuticals. Results are also presented from a recent randomized controlled trial (RCT), which investigated the additional benefit of using an HA epidermic filler (HA-filler serum) combined with Botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) to treat signs of skin aging. Subjects were randomized into two groups: one received the HA-filler serum starting 24 hours after the BoNTA injection, applied twice daily for 24 weeks, and the other was the control group, which only received BoNTA.
HA is a key ingredient in cosmeceuticals due to its hydration and anti-aging properties, which include hygroscopic, rheological, and viscoelastic qualities. Several clinical studies indicate that HA is both well tolerated and effective, serving as an adjuvant to both post-surgical and facial rejuvenation procedures. In the RCT, one of the few studies to combine BoNTA and HA with a 6-month follow-up, the HA-filler serum extended the duration of BoNTA's effect in reducing wrinkles. Numerous studies support HA-based cosmeceuticals as a noninvasive, effective solution for improving skin hydration and rejuvenation.
Keywords: cosmeceutical, dermatology, hyaluronic acid, skin, topical application.
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