Introduction
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid was first discovered in 1934 by Karl Meyer and John Palmer from the hyaloids of a cow's eye. The name 'hyaluronic acid' comes from hyaloids and uronic acid, and hyaluronic acid is a type of mucopolysaccharide such as chondroitin sulfate. It is abundant in hyaloids of animals, synovial fluid, cartilage and skin. The hyaluronic acid is involved in the lubrication of joints and elasticity of skin by bonding with large amounts of water to become gel-like. Its high viscosity also plays an important role in preventing bacterial infection or penetration of toxin into the skin.

Hyaluronic acid is present in many parts of the body, especially in the skin, to give elasticity and volume in the skin. Thus, lack of hyaluronic acid will dry, sag and wrinkle the skin. Hyaluronic acid, the most hydrophilic compound known in nature, is also called natural moisturizer. It is useful as prosthetics in eye or body surgeries, for the treatment of arthritis, as injections to prevent wrinkles, or in capsules and cosmetics.



Feautures
1)A biological high molecule substance of water-soluble polysaccharide that has high viscosity, moisture retention and biocompatibility.
2)One of the 3 elements of the skin along with collagen and elastin.
3)HA exists in high molecule-weight polysaccharide in the human body.
4)HA, as a natural moisturizer, is widely used in the form of injections, capsules, or cosmetics.


Others
*Skin and hyaluronic acid
As people age, one of the most prominent changes in the skin would be the fine wrinkles that develop on the face. These are surely one of the biggest concerns for many women especially around the eyes and the mouth. People feel that they are aging from the appearance of fine wrinkles, and one of the more common reasons why the skin loses elasticity (and the appearance of wrinkles) is the decrease in hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid, being one of the three components of the skin along with collagen and elastin, is a very important component of the skin. It gives elasticity to the skin and minimizes the damage in the dermis in case of an injury. Moreover, it prevents diseases, such as skin injections, by blocking the penetration of foreign bodies such as bacteria. As people age, the production of hyaluronic and the amount of hyaluronic acid in the skin decreases. The contents of hyaluronic acid peaks around the age of 18 for a clean and clear skin, but the contents drops to 50% by the time the person is around 40 years old. In other words, if the elasticity in the skin is lost, the skin will wrinkle. 

*Cosmetics and hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is mucopolysaccharide that is present in many organisms. In humans, it could be found in high concentration in the skin, joints and eye fluids. Hyaluronic acid supports the structure of tissues by bonding with water molecules in the interstitial space and occupying it to maintain the volume of the skin. The moisture-absorbing power of hyaluronic acid is outstanding as one molecule attracts 214 water molecules. This characteristic which prevents moisture from escaping from the skin has made hyaluronic acid one of the most commonly used ingredients in high moisturizing and anti-aging cosmetics in the world cosmetics industry. Hyaluronic acid is expensive due to its complicated processing, and thus, premium functional cosmetics using hyaluronic acid as its main ingredients are launched one after another. 

*Atopic skin disease and hyaluronic acid
The cause of atopic skin diseases is unclear. Atopic skin disease has an early onset which often progresses to chronic state without a cure.  In atopic skin diseases, the skin shows hypersensitivity to outside stimulants or allergic materials as the protective barrier function of the skin has weakened and exposure has increased. Atopic dermatitis is under a genetic influence, and infection may occur due to bacteria, fungi or mites that act on the skin's immune system. Recently, there have been many cosmetic products newly launched for atopic skin and anti-wrinkle cosmetics using hyaluronic acid. 


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