The sugar that keeps your skin young!
We
usually think of sugar as an enemy of skin, but one kind is actually essential for a healthy, youthful glow: hyaluronic acid! In fact, more and more doctors agree that this naturally occurring sugar molecule is an essential key to keeping skin healthy and radiant!
What exactly does it do?
The power of hyaluronic acid (HA), which is present throughout your body, lies in its ability to retain moisture— a lot of moisture! “It can hold 500 times its own weight in water,” reveals Manhattan-based dermatologist Francesca Fusco, M.D. As a result, it does an excellent job of keeping skin plump and linefree. While our bodies naturally produce HA in abundance in our youth, production slows dramatically with age, leading to sagging skin and wrinkles. Is there a way to restock your stores? Yes!
Slather it on skin!
Check out high- end anti- aging skincare products, and chances are many will be packed with hyaluronic acid. “In addition to acting like a sponge that grabs on to water to keep the outer skin layer hydrated, it’s also an antioxidant, which helps protect your complexion against harsh chemicals in the air that can weaken the surface of skin,” says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Options include Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel ($19.99; Ulta.com) and First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum ($36; Sephora.com). Whichever HA product you choose, amp up the results by applying it with damp fingers to freshly washed skin to lock in the most moisture.
Take a supplement!
Studies suggest that daily doses of HA increase skin moisture and reverse dryness, says Dr. Fusco, who says 120 mg. to 240 mg. per day will get the job done. Those supplements also help repair other dryness-related problems, everything from dry eye to itchiness to eczema. One option: Hydraplenish Hyaluronic Acid Caps, $13.99, Vitaminshoppe.com.
Eat your way to more HA!
Adding a few delicious foods to your plate can help build your body’s stores of this anti-aging sugar. Nutrient-packed veggies like avocados, leafy greens, carrots and even peanuts have been shown to help your body synthesize HA, while foods like beans and potatoes boost zinc, a mineral that is essential for HA creation in the body. Try swapping your afternoon snack for a cup of chicken broth, which is packed with HA, or slices of red bell pepper; its vitamin C plays a big role in stimulating the production of HA in your body. Or simply sip a glass of red wine in the evening to up your intake of resveratrol, a phytoestrogen that also encourages your body to increase its output of HA.