1. What is Hyaluronic Acid Gel?

Hyaluronic acid gel is a gel-like product, like figure 1. Its key ingredient is hyaluronic acid (HA), which naturally found in our skin, joints, and eyes. HA can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water.

Most hyaluronic acid gels available are not 100% pure HA. Instead, HA is the main active ingredient. It is mixed with water, thickeners (like carbomer), preservatives, and other beneficial ingredients. This creates a clear, lightweight gel that is easy to apply. It absorbs quickly and forms a breathable moisturizing layer on the skin.

Fig 1. HA gel

2. How is Hyaluronic Acid Gel Made?

Making hyaluronic acid gel involves biotechnology and precise formulation. The process has two main steps:

Step 1: Making the hyaluronic acid ingredient

Today, most HA is made through microbial fermentation:

• Bacteria like Streptococcus equi are grown in large tanks. They are fed nutrients such as glucose. These bacteria produce and release hyaluronic acid.
• The HA is then separated and purified. Impurities like proteins and nucleic acids are removed.
• The final product is dried and turned into a white powder—sodium hyaluronate. It can be processed into different molecular sizes:
  • High molecular weight: form a film on the skin to lock in moisture.
  • Medium molecular weight: provide moisture to the outer skin layers.
  • Low molecular weight: penetrate deeper into the skin for better hydration.

Step 2: Making the gel

Turning the powder into gel requires careful mixing:

• The powder is slowly added to purified water. It swells and forms a thick liquid.
• Thickeners like carbomer are added. The pH is adjusted to form a stable gel.
• Other ingredients are mixed in, such as moisturizers (e.g., glycerin), preservatives, and active compounds (e.g., vitamin B5 or centella extract).

Key factors for a good gel:

• Mixed molecular weights: better hydration at different skin levels.
• High purity: less likely to irritate, good for sensitive skin.
• Good formulation: affects stability, texture, and effectiveness.

* Stanford Chemicals Company (SCC) offers high-purity hyaluronic acid powder in various molecular weights. It is ideal for making hyaluronic acid gels.

3. Medical Uses of Hyaluronic Acid Gel

Hyaluronic acid gel is widely used in medical settings. For example, after orthopedic surgery, it can be applied to the treated area once nerves and tendons are repaired. It helps prevent tendon adhesions.

Additionally, after abdominal surgery, medical-grade hyaluronic acid can be sprinkled into the abdominal cavity following irrigation. It effectively protects the intestinal surgical site and prevents adhesions that could lead to bowel obstruction. It is also commonly used in gynecology to prevent adhesions.

Moreover, it can be used as an irrigation fluid during orthopedic surgeries. This helps reduce excessive inflammatory responses in the surgical area, minimizing scar formation. It may also serve other specific medical purposes.

4. Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid Gel for the Skin

Hyaluronic acid gel is a natural transparent polysaccharide. It was initially used mainly for moisturizing. Now, it is also used in wrinkle reduction and cosmetic procedures. It plumps the skin, smooths wrinkles, and enhances facial contours.

HA gel naturally exists in a gel-like form in the dermis of human skin. It helps store water and increases skin volume. However, its levels decrease with age. This causes the skin to lose moisture, leading to dullness, aging, and wrinkle formation.

Therefore, hyaluronic acid gel is primarily used in both medical and cosmetic fields.

5. Can Hyaluronic Acid Gel Remove Scars?

It does not significantly remove existing scars. Scars are a type of tissue that forms naturally as part of the skin’s healing process after injury. Applying hyaluronic acid gel has little effect on already formed scar tissue. Scars are a type of tissue that forms naturally as part of the skin’s healing process after injury. Applying hyaluronic acid gel has little effect on already formed scar tissue.

But if the gel is applied just after skin damage occurs, it can reduce inflammation and support skin repair. HA is a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide. It is widely distributed throughout the human body, especially in the skin. It is a normal component of the dermis and belongs to the connective tissue. Therefore, HA gel has anti-inflammatory effects and can be absorbed directly by the skin.

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Classification by Application: 4 Types of Sodium Hyaluronate

Depending on their uses, sodium hyaluronate can be divided into four grades: Medical Grade, Cosmetic Grade, Food Grade, and Injection Grade.

Medical Grade HA

For the pharmaceutical industry, hyaluronic acid is used primarily for ophthalmic surgery, orthopedic injections, wound dressings, and drug delivery systems. Medical-grade HA is subjected to very strict purity and molecular weight distribution requirements, generally needing to comply with pharmacopeial criteria and low endotoxin levels. Each application may have different molecular weight requirements. This article provides a detailed introduction: Medical-Grade Hyaluronic Acid: From Ophthalmic to Multidisciplinary Therapeutic Agent

Cosmetic Grade Sodium Hyaluronate

The cosmetics industry utilizes hyaluronic acid due to its moisturizing and anti-aging effects. It is found in creams, serums, and injectable fillers. Cosmetics-grade sodium hyaluronate typically varies in molecular weight to provide a balance between skin permeability and moisturization. Lower molecular weights can penetrate deeper into the skin, enhancing internal moisturizing effects. Higher molecular weights form a protective layer on the skin’s surface to lock in moisture.

Food Grade HA

In food, sodium hyaluronate is used as a food additive and dietary supplement due to its health effects. Detailed benefits can be found below: What Are the Benefits of Food-Grade Hyaluronic Acid. Since it is taken orally, food-grade hyaluronic acid must meet high purity standards. It is also usually produced at lower molecular weights for absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.

Injection Grade Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium hyaluronate injection grade is used mainly for intra-articular injections and medical aesthetics. Both these applications require rigorous molecular weight specifications to ensure stability, longevity, and biocompatibility.

Molecular Weight Determines the Uses of Sodium Hyaluronate

Molecular weight of sodium hyaluronate plays a critical role in determining its physical and biological properties, which subsequently decides its applications.

Viscosity and Moisturizing Capacity

Higher molecular weight hyaluronic acid has higher viscosity and higher moisturizing capacity. It is therefore used in medical-grade applications requiring long-term lubrication and support. In cosmetic applications, higher molecular weights help form a moisturizing film on the skin surface, fortifying the skin’s moisture barrier.

Skin Penetration and Absorption

Low molecular weight sodium hyaluronate has shorter chains of molecules that allow it to penetrate deeper into the layers of the skin. It is particularly beneficial in cosmetic applications for enhanced moisturizing and active ingredient delivery. High molecular weight sodium hyaluronate, however, can remain at the skin’s surface to provide instant moisture and form a protective barrier.

Biocompatibility and Degradability

Molecular weight in medical and injection applications affects the activity of sodium hyaluronate with body tissues. High MW sodium hyaluronate is typically more biocompatible and breaks down more slowly. This gives a longer duration of action in tissue engineering and dermal fillers. Lower MW molecules break down faster, which is beneficial for short-term applications or where rapid clearance from the body is desired.

Bioavailability of Supplements

For the food additive sodium hyaluronate, molecular weight determines its ease of absorption and efficacy as a food supplement. Lower molecular weights ensure rapid absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby enhancing their impact on joint function and skin elasticity.

The table 1 below provides a comparison of the molecular weight ranges required for different applications.

Table 1. How to Choose Molecular Weight for Difference Applications

* Stanford Chemical Company (SCC) is a wholesale distributor of pure organic hyaluronic acid in the United States. Each grade HA is available in high, medium, and low molecular weights.

Clarifying Misconceptions

Although sodium hyaluronate has widespread applications, there are still individuals who have misconceptions about it. Most of these are due to individuals not knowing its molecular weight and applications.

Misconception 1: Higher Molecular Weight is Always Better

Although HMW sodium hyaluronate possesses more viscosity and moisturizing properties, it is not universally suitable. Different applications require certain molecular weights to create the desired effect. For example, in cosmetics, LMW HAs are preferable for deep penetration of the skin; whereas in medical-grade applications, HMW HAs are required to provide long-lasting lubrication and support.

Reference: High VS. Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid

Misconception 2: All Sodium Hyaluronate is the Same

The molecular weight and purity of sodium hyaluronate vary depending on its applications. Cosmetic-grade, Food-grade, Injection-grade, and Medical-grade are formulated differently with diverse specifications in order to meet the strict requirements of their respective industries. Using the wrong grade will result in subpar performance or even safety issues.

Reference: Medical Grade vs. Cosmetic Grade Hyaluronic Acid: What Are the Differences

Misconception 3: Sodium Hyaluronate is Only Used in Skin and Joints

Although sodium hyaluronate is widely known for its applications in skincare and joint care, its applications are more extensive, including ophthalmology, dentistry, wound healing, and even hair care. Every application entails exploiting different properties of sodium hyaluronate, which are altered based on its molecular weight and composition.

Misconception 4: Higher Purity Always Means Better Performance

Purity is essential, especially for injection and medical applications. However, extremely high purity at times may compromise other desirable characteristics, such as biological activity. The ratio between molecular weight and purity will depend on the target application and desired effect.

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Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid, a glycosaminoglycan found in the various connective tissue of humans. It occurs naturally in the human body and is central to regulating cell growth and renewal. In fact, it is found extensively in connective, epithelial, and neural cells. As such, hyaluronic acid has found its way into many skincare products, it can retain moisture, keep the skin firm, and prevent wrinkles by adding volume to the skin. It is also used to prevent the effects of aging. It is regarded as “the key to the fountain of youth.”

Sodium Hyaluronate aqueous solution of high viscosity will enable the water phase thickening; emulsified with the oil phase even after the fine paste, the role of a stable emulsion is to prevent cells produce a number of enzymes to reduce the formation of free radicals in the prevention of free radical damage to cell structure, resulting in lipid peroxidation and aging, such as the body has an important role.

Sodium Hyaluronate vs Hyaluronic Acid

The role of cosmetic grade sodium hyaluronate on the skin surface, molecules of hyaluronic acid can be formed on the surface of the skin layer of breathable film, the skin smooth and moist, and blocking external bacteria, dust, and UV intrusion, protecting the skin from infringement; small molecule transparent acid could infiltrate into the dermis, with a slight expansion of capillaries to increase blood circulation, improve intermediary metabolism, and promote the role of the skin to absorb nutrients, eliminate wrinkles with strong features, increase skin elasticity, slow down skin aging.

Hyaluronic acid can promote epidermal proliferation and differentiation of cells to remove oxygen-free radicals and can prevent and repair skin damage. The hyaluronic acid aqueous solution of high viscosity will enable the water phase thickening; emulsified with the oil phase even after the fine paste. The role of a stable emulsion is to prevent cells from producing a number of enzymes and to reduce the formation of free radicals in the prevention of free radical damage to cell structure, resulting in lipid peroxidation and aging, such as the body has an important role.

Sodium hyaluronate is used to treat skin ulcers such as bed sores or diabetic foot ulcers, as well as burn wounds, surgical incisions, cuts, abrasions, and other skin irritations.

Sodium hyaluronate topical is also used to treat dry or scaly skin.

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