Hyaluronic acid has gained all the popularity in the best skincare ingredient world and for all the right reasons. But, most often than not, many of us question this ingredient’s job - if it really works on acne. There’s a reason why this ingredient is found even in many acne treatment methods. Without getting caught up more in this confusion, here’s everything you need to know about this skincare ingredient and also explore if it works on acne and acne scars.
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What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is like a hydration superhero for your skin, capable of holding an incredible amount of moisture—up to 1,000 times its weight in water. It's naturally produced by our bodies to keep our skin and tissues hydrated and resilient. When applied topically, Hyaluronic acid works as a potent moisture booster, helping to lock in hydration and keep skin cells plump and dewy.
How Can Hyaluronic Acid Help Treat Acne?
Hyaluronic acid, often hailed as a skincare superstar, can indeed play a pivotal role in addressing acne. Despite its name, Hyaluronic acid isn't harsh rather, it's a gentle humectant, capable of attracting and retaining moisture within the skin. In the context of acne treatment, its hydrating properties are particularly beneficial.
While Hyaluronic acid doesn't directly treat acne, it complements other acne treatments by hydrating the skin and supporting a healthier skin barrier. Acne treatments can often be drying or irritating, but Hyaluronic acid provides essential moisture without clogging pores, helping to prevent dryness and flakiness.
What About Acne Scarring?
Acne scars, whether they manifest as pitted indentations or dark marks, can serve as painful reminders of past breakouts. While preventing scarring is ideal, addressing existing scars requires targeted intervention. Here, too, Hyaluronic acid proves to be a valuable ingredient.
Research suggests topical HA may work on reducing acne scars, however you will notice more success with ingredients infused with Retinol even for acne scars.
Other Skin Care Benefits
Hyaluronic acid offers a myriad of additional skincare benefits. Here’s everything you need to know.
- It Works On All Skin Types
Hyaluronic acid's lightweight, non-comedogenic nature makes it suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin. Unlike heavier moisturisers, Hyaluronic acid delivers hydration without clogging pores or exacerbating breakouts.
- Antioxidant Protection
Hyaluronic acid possesses antioxidant properties, helping to combat free radical damage and oxidative stress. By neutralising harmful molecules, it shields the skin from environmental aggressors like pollution and UV radiation, which can worsen acne and accelerate skin aging.
- Anti-Ageing Benefits
Hyaluronic acid enhances skin elasticity and firmness, making it a sought-after anti-aging ingredient. By maintaining optimal hydration levels and supporting collagen production, it helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Can Hyaluronic Acid Cause Acne?
One common concern regarding Hyaluronic acid is it may cause acne or trigger skin purging. However, the reality is, Hyaluronic acid is typically well-tolerated by most skin types and is unlikely to cause breakouts. As a humectant, it attracts moisture from the environment and binds it to the skin, without occluding pores or disrupting the skin's natural balance.
What About Skin Purging?
Skin purging, often mistaken for a negative reaction, is actually a temporary process that occurs when certain skincare ingredients accelerate the skin's natural turnover rate. While Hyaluronic acid itself doesn't cause purging, formulations containing other active ingredients, such as exfoliants or retinoids, may lead to purging as they encourage the shedding of dead skin cells and the expulsion of impurities.
How To Use Hyaluronic acid For Acne
Incorporating Hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine is relatively straightforward. It's typically found in serums, moisturisers, and other topical formulations. To reap its benefits for acne-prone skin, follow these guidelines:
1. Formulation: Opt for lightweight, non-comedogenic products that won't clog pores or exacerbate acne. The best face serum with Hyaluronic acid is here - our Knight Serum has a combination of actives for sensitive, acne prone & beginners! This gentle face serum works overnight to reduce the appearance of acne scarring over time as well as pores. Use this serum and follow it up with our lightweight moisturiser, Knight Crème with 0.3% Pro-Retinol + Hyaluronic Acid.
2. Always use on damp skin: Hyaluronic acid works well on damp skin. Wash your face with our acne face wash infused with Salicylic acid. Gently pat your skin dry, leaving it slightly damp before applying Hyaluronic acid. This allows the ingredient to draw moisture into the skin more effectively.
3. Layer strategically: If using multiple skincare products, apply Hyaluronic acid before thicker creams or oils. This allows it to penetrate the skin more easily and maximise its hydrating benefits.4. Pair with complementary ingredients: Consider combining Hyaluronic acid with other acne-fighting ingredients, such as Salicylic acid or Niacinamide. These synergistic formulations can target multiple aspects of acne, from excess oil production to inflammation and bacterial overgrowth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:1 Is Hyaluronic acid better than Niacinamide?
A. Both Hyaluronic acid and Niacinamide offer unique benefits for the skin. Hyaluronic acid excels at hydrating and plumping the skin, while Niacinamide targets issues like uneven skin tone, enlarged pores, and fine lines. The choice between them depends on your specific skincare concerns and goals.
Q:2 What is better for acne Hyaluronic acid or Salicylic acid?
A. Salicylic acid is typically more effective for treating acne because of its ability to penetrate the pores and exfoliate deep within the skin, reducing acne-causing bacteria and preventing future breakouts. Hyaluronic acid, on the other hand, primarily hydrates the skin and supports the moisture barrier, but it doesn't directly address acne.
