Collagen is out and hyaluronic acid is in. Find out more about this amazing anti-aging skin care ingredient, used in topical products and injectable fillers.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Our bodies naturally produce hyaluronic acid, which attracts and binds to water in the body. This creates plumpness in and beneath the skin. It’s responsible for a youthful, full-faced appearance. As we age, hyaluronic acid production slows; this causes the face to slowly thin out and develop wrinkles, folds, and reduce lip and cheek volume. This reduced hyaluronic acid is responsible for a lot of facial aging.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is a protein that is naturally produced by the human body. It creates a strong scaffolding beneath the skin, which holds it up for a more youthful appearance. Just like with hyaluronic acid, collagen production slows as we age. Skin volume is reduced and begins to sag.
Topical Hyaluronic Acid vs Topical Collagen
For many years, topical collagen was marketed to consumers who want to look younger. Serums, creams, and moisturizers containing collagen are sold over-the-counter in drug stores and beauty boutiques. What these brands don’t tell you is that collagen molecules are too large to be absorbed into the skin’s pores. This makes the collagen inside of these topical products useless for rebuilding collagen beneath the skin.
Hyaluronic acid, on the other hand, is readily absorbed by the skin, increasing healthy moisture and a younger appearance. It is so powerful that is also added to high-quality moisture creams designed for very dry skin and even eczema. This powerful skin care ingredient is also recommended by dermatologists as a topical treatment for aging and dry skin.
Injectable Hyaluronic Acid vs Collagen Injections
Collagen injections were originally used to enhance lips; however, many patients had reactions to these injections. The good news is that hyaluronic acid does not cause reactions in most patients. Most dermal fillers to restore lost facial volume is made from hyaluronic acid as their primary ingredient. Dermal fillers that do not contain hyaluronic acid contain ingredients that stimulate collagen production by your own body, rather than introducing collagen into the body. The results take longer, but the results are more natural-looking and don’t cause adverse reactions like the old collagen injections do.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers for Facial Anti-Aging
The majority of dermal fillers for facial anti-aging tout hyaluronic acid as their active ingredient. The most popular injectable dermal fillers are from Juvederm, by the makers of Botox Cosmetic, and Restylane. Each of these dermal filler families include varying consistencies of filler depending on the treatment area and the patient’s needs.
The Juvederm family of dermal fillers include:
- Juvederm Ultra and Ultra Plus, which have numerous applications, including lips, cheeks, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines.
- Voluma for natural-looking, instant, long-lasting cheek enhancement. This filler also provides subtle lower facelift, gently lifting the jowls.
- Vollure and Volbella, which help with marionette lines, nasolabial folds, lips, and even vertical lip lines (smoker’s lines) that cause the lips to thin.
The Restylane family of fillers include:
- Restylane-L, which has multiple facial applications.
- Restylane Silk, the first hyaluronic acid filler designed specifically for lip enhancement and to smooth vertical lip lines.
- Restylane Lyft, which was originally created as a filler for cheeks and is now approved for hands.
- Restylane Refyne and Defyne, which fills in the nasolabial folds and marionette lines, as well as the accordion lines around the mouth.
With so many of these injectable dermal fillers to choose from, patients have greater opportunity to see amazing facial rejuvenation and anti-aging results that look and feel natural.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Topical Products for Skin Care
In addition to the dermal fillers administered by licensed aesthetic medical providers, you can purchase and use a hyaluronic acid serum, topical cream, or facial moisturizer. SkinMedica HA5 is a topical serum that contains five different types of hyaluronic acid for maximum moisturizing and anti-aging power.
SkinMedica’s HA5 technology is also found in their lip plump system.
Collagen is Still Important
Skin care and anti-aging experts largely do not recommend injectable and topical collagen; however, collagen is still essential to anti-aging. As stated above, collagen creates a strong scaffolding beneath the skin, providing structure, volume, and youthfulness. Without topical or injectable collagen, how do you replenish and rebuild collagen beneath the skin?
Collagen Induction Therapy, AKA Microneedling
Microneedling, microneedling with PRP (platelet rich plasma), and AquaGold can both stimulate collagen production beneath the skin by creating micro-injuries to the skin’s surface. When the body detects an injury to the skin, it gets to work producing both collagen and elastin to repair the damage. A series of microneedling treatments, with regular touch-ups, helps reduce the signs of aging, sun damage, and even acne scars.
Collagen Stimulation with Injectables
Sculptra is an injectable that also stimulates natural collagen production beneath the skin. While Sculptra results take longer, they are natural-looking and long-lasting.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Lasers like Fraxel also stimulate collagen production. As the laser targets, heats, and kills damaged skin cells, collagen rushes to the area to repair it with new, fresh, younger-looking skin. Laser skin treatments improve skin tone and texture, reducing the signs of aging and sun damage.
Oral Collagen
Yes, oral collagen works and they are available as pills, powders, and drinkable liquids. It’s important to choose a high-quality oral collagen supplement. Discuss options recommended by our anti-aging experts before purchasing one that you find over-the-counter.
Hyaluronic Acid in Scottsdale and North Scottsdale, Arizona
Ultra Smooth Skin in Gainey Village and DC Ranch Village Health Clubs and Spas provide hyaluronic acid filler treatments and topical hyaluronic acid from SkinMedica. Juvederm may also be used in our AquaGold needling treatments, depending on your unique needs. We offer all Juvederm and Restylane fillers as well as Belotero Balance, another lesser known hyaluronic acid injectable filler. During a personalized consultation, our aesthetic providers will evaluate your needs and goals and decide on the best treatments for your needs.
Hyaluronic Acid in Chandler, Arizona
If you’re closer to Chandler, AZ, than Scottsdale, we have a third location in Ocotillo Village Health Club and Spa. All of our injectable treatments available in Scottsdale and North Scottsdale are also available in Chandler. All three locations also offer collagen stimulating treatments like microneedling, AquaGold, microneedling with PRP, and Sculptra Aesthetic injectable filler.
Find out which facial anti-aging and rejuvenating treatments and products are right for you during your own consultation in one of our three convenient locations in Scottsdale, North Scottsdale, and Chandler, Arizona. Schedule your appointment today with one of our experienced, award-winning aesthetic providers, and ask us about extended Friday and Saturday hours.
