Eczema is a common skin condition, affecting approximately 10 percent of people in the United States in some form. While your Dermatologist is your best resource for deciphering what type you have and how to treat it, you may wonder which over-the-counter skin care products can minimize your symptoms. Regarding gold-star ingredients, is Hyaluronic Acid good for eczema? Let's explore what this famed ingredient does and how it can support calm, healthy skin.
What Is Eczema?
Eczema is a common inflammatory skin condition characterized by dry, itchy, cracked, scaly, or inflamed skin. In lighter skin tones, the affected skin may appear red; if you have darker skin, patches may have a purple, gray, or brown hue. These symptoms prompt scratching, which can lead to weeping blisters. Eczema can appear on your face (especially the cheeks), lips, in and around the ears, neck, hands, elbows, ankles, knees, and feet.
There are seven primary types of eczema, the most common being atopic dermatitis. Some people have more than one type of eczema at a time. Your Derm can help you determine the type(s) of eczema you have to ensure you get the proper treatment.
What Causes Eczema?
Researchers don't know the direct cause of atopic dermatitis, but it's linked to a complex mix of core factors and triggers.
Compromised Skin Barrier Function
The stratum corneum is your skin's outermost layer and its defense against external stressors such as pollution, ultraviolet rays, inflammation, infection, dehydration, toxins, and allergens. It's composed of lipids, proteins, fats, and skin cells that work synergistically to protect your skin and maintain hydration. Skin barrier dysfunction is the first step in eczema development.
Your Immune System
When you have eczema, your immune system works overtime when you come into contact with irritants, such as allergens. This sets off your body's natural defense system to create inflammation, which triggers eczema symptoms.
Emotional Stress
If you have high levels of stress, anxiety, or depression, you're more apt to experience frequent eczema flare-ups.
Environmental Triggers
Air pollutants, climate, smoke, harsh soaps and detergents, dust (or dust mites), nickel jewelry, certain skin care or cosmetic products, latex, and fabrics such as wool can exacerbate eczema symptoms.
What Does Hyaluronic Acid Do for the Skin?
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a colorless, odorless substance your body produces to help maintain moisture. Found in your connective tissue, joints, eyes, and skin, you produce less Hyaluronic Acid as you age, resulting in increased dryness, fine lines, and wrinkles. Enter Hyaluronic Acid in skin care. Skin care products often contain synthetic HA, which is made in a lab through biofermentation.
Unlike other acids, like Lactic or Glycolic Acids, Hyaluronic Acid isn't an exfoliant. But it is an incredible hydrator. This well-known humectant can hold over 1,000 times its weight in water. Note that hydration (water) isn't the same as moisture (oil). A humectant like Hyaluronic Acid draws water to the skin, collecting moisture from the environment and the skin's deeper layers. Moisturizing ingredients, on the other hand, create an occlusive barrier to keep water from escaping your skin.
Hyaluronic Acid Benefits at a Glance
HA's notable benefits include:
- Boosts skin hydration
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Stimulates collagen and elastin production
- Improves elasticity
- Reduces inflammation
- Supports acne-prone skin
Hyaluronic Acid is also linked to wound healing and tissue repair and regeneration.
Can Hyaluronic Acid Help Eczema?
So, is Hyaluronic Acid good for eczema? Only your Derm can provide a comprehensive treatment plan, but generally speaking, HA can relieve mild to moderate eczema. And how can Hyaluronic Acid help eczema, exactly? Again, eczema means you have a compromised skin barrier. Hyaluronic Acid can help repair and fortify this protective barrier and give your skin much-needed hydration. For reference, a quarter teaspoon of Hyaluronic Acid holds about one and a half gallons of water!
Hyaluronic Acid also helps soothe dry, itchy skin, smooth rough skin texture, and promote healing, all of which can help reduce and prevent common eczema symptoms.
How to Incorporate Hyaluronic Acid into Your Skin Care Routine
Choose Your Concentration
Hyaluronic Acid concentrations vary by formula, ranging from as low as 0.1 percent to as high as 2 percent or more. The higher the concentration, the better the formula can deliver hydration to the skin. Hyaluronic Acid serums are one of the best ways to reap the benefits of this superhero ingredient due to its high concentration.
Mind Your Molecule Size
Consider Hyaluronic Acid's molecule size, too. The smaller the molecules, the more they can penetrate the skin and reach its deeper layers. Keep in mind that larger molecules aren't bad—they just target the skin's surface. Using a product that contains different molecular weights can help deliver HA's benefits throughout the skin tissue.
Pick Your Potion
Looking for options? Try PCA SKIN Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum. This award-winning, science-backed serum is formulated with larger molecules to smooth and hydrate your skin's surface plus hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid for deeper hydration, minimizing the appearance of fine lines. Additionally, PCA SKIN's proprietary HA-Pro Complex™ encourages your body to make more of its own Hyaluronic Acid. Talk about a comprehensive approach!
Ingredients to Pair with Hyaluronic Acid for Eczema
- Niacinamide
- Glycerin
- Ceramides
- Sunflower and Coconut Oils
- Aloe Vera
- Shea Butter
- Colloidal Oatmeal
- Calendula
Ingredients to Avoid with Hyaluronic Acid for Eczema
- Fragrances
- Essential Oils
- Retinol
- Alcohol
- Exfoliating acids
- Chemical sunscreens
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Dyes
Your Best Skin Is within Reach
While there's no cure for eczema, you can manage symptoms and flare-ups with lifestyle tweaks and skin care that incorporates hydrating, barrier-repairing ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid. To identify the root cause, including triggers, speak to a Derm. Their guidance and support will ensure you get the best treatment for your eczema and put you on the path to your best skin.
Author: Rebecca Taras
A Chicagoland native, Rebecca began her career catering to celebrity clientele as a licensed esthetician at the Peninsula Chicago Hotel. Her passion for skin care ingredients, formulations, and skin histology led her to create custom in-room skin, bath, and body amenities for the Sofitel Hotel Chicago. The Chicago Fashion Foundation recognized her efforts with the Style Maker, Rule Breaker award in the Beauty category. She later went on to co-found Terminal Getaway airport spas. Rebecca’s experience also includes serving as an editor for digital outlets such as Refinery29, PopSugar, Forbes Travel Guides, and Bustle. She continues to refine her skin care knowledge while spending time traveling the world with her husband.