You can read more about this molecular weight analysis from the original breakdown here.
All the other molecular weights still improved elasticity and skin hydration, just less so. Both the 50 and 130 kDa groups had significant improvement in wrinkle-depth and skin roughness after 60 days. How did we get this number? When you look at studies, you’ll see a pattern, but one of the most thorough studies looked at HA with different molecular weights, including 50, 130, 300, 800, and 2,000 kDa.Īfter one month, they found that treatment with 130 kDa HA was the most effective, increasing skin elasticity by 20 percent. Anything higher won’t make too much of a difference. HA between 50 to 1,000 kDa is the most beneficial for skin, with about 130 kDa being the best, according to the most recent human studies. This is measured in something called unified atomic mass units - daltons, or kDa for short. In this case, size matters! The molecular weight refers to its mass, or how big the HA molecule is. The benefits of hyaluronic acid on the skin has to do with its molecular weight and concentration.
What’s the science behind hyaluronic acid? Read on to learn the science behind hyaluronic acid, so you can see that HA isn’t just a fad ingredient, but a staple for your skin care routine. With the buzz around anti-aging, it’s about time we talk about hyaluronic acid, its benefits for our skin, and why molecular weight of an ingredient is important! It plays a pivotal role in the wound healing process, and decreases as we age making us more susceptible to sagging and wrinkles. You may have heard the chatter around collagen, but hyaluronic acid is where it’s at. HA is the main component of what gives your skin structure, and is responsible for that plump and hydrated look. Glycosaminoglycans are simply long unbranched carbohydrates, or sugars, called polysaccharides. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan found throughout the body’s connective tissue. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. We include products we think are useful for our readers.