Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in the human body. It is found in the highest concentrations in fluids in the eyes and joints. The hyaluronic acid that is used as medicine is extracted from rooster combs or made by bacteria in the laboratory.

Special Precautions of Hyaluronic Acid

• Prescription forms of hyaluronic acid are safe for most people. There isn't enough information about hyaluronic acid to know if it is safe when taken by mouth.
• Sometimes hyaluronic acid can cause pain and redness where it is injected. Increased pressure in the eye may occur after hyaluronic acid is used for eye surgery.
• Rarely, hyaluronic acid may cause allergic reactions.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Hyaluronic acid is POSSIBLY SAFE when given by injection during pregnancy. However, not enough is known about the safety of hyaluronic acid when taken by mouth or applied to the skin during pregnancy. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.If you are breast-feeding, don’t use hyaluronic acid, even by injection. Researchers don’t know whether it can get into breast milk and what effect that might have on an infant.

The benefits of Hyaluronic Acid are

• Sores in the mouth, when applied to the skin as a gel.
• Eye surgery and corneal transplant, when injected by an eye surgeon : The FDA has approved the use of hyaluronic acid during certain eye surgeries including cataract removal, corneal transplantation, and repair of a detached retina and other eye injuries. It is injected into the eye during the procedure to help replace natural fluids.
• Osteoarthritis, when injected into the joint by a healthcare provider. Despite being approved by the FDA for treatment of osteoarthritis by injection, results vary. Some people report a moderate improvement in joint stiffness and pain decrease with hyaluronic acid treatment, but this is not always the case. Whether hyaluronic acid might delay or lessen progressive joint damage with long-term use is unknown.
• Healing skin wounds and burns : Some people apply hyaluronic acid to the skin for healing wounds, burns, skin ulcers, and as a moisturizer.
• Detached retina and other eye injuries.
• Preventing the effects of aging : There is also a lot of interest in using hyaluronic acid to prevent the effects of aging. In fact, hyaluronic acid has been promoted as a "fountain of youth." However, there is no evidence to support the claim that taking it by mouth or applying it to the skin can prevent changes associated with aging.
• Hyaluronic acid is also used as a lip filler in plastic surgery.