The Story of Hyaluronic Acid

You may have seen this little ingredient pop up on your facial and skincare products and never really given it much of a thought. After all, just what ishyaluronic acid, anyway? Well, this little wonder molecule is a darling of the anti-aging world, combating skin dryness, wrinkles, tissue loss, and more.

First discovered way back in 1934, scientists at Columbia University in New York isolated this substance from a cow, and, upon the discovery, named it ‘hyaluronic’ – derived from ‘hyalos’ (Greek for ‘glass’) and the uronic sugar present in the substance. They studied it closely and determined it plays a pretty crucial role in tissue repair and cell metabolism.

Fast forwarding a few decades, and researchers at Balazs & Denlinger took it to the next level by not only finding it present in other tissues but further confirming its role in the body’s repair biology and laying the groundwork for medicinal use.  As you can imagine, this was a breakthrough discovery in a world always looking for that elusive fountain of youth.

Really bursting onto the scene in the 1960s, hyaluronic acid was an integral part of medications and preparations used in the treatment of skin lesions, and by the 1980s it had been recognized as a crucial part in eye surgeries, especially cataract extraction, as well as being used in joint injections. Growing off of its medical world roots, hyaluronic acid found its way into the cosmetic and skincare world in the 1990s, in what would become its most well-known application: anti-aging.

This biological gem can be found in some of today’s best anti-aging and wrinkle repair products. Jericho’s Instant Wrinkle Filler, for one, really utilizes the restorative properties of this acid to firm up the skin, increase elasticity, and lock in moisture. As a truly natural component that is found in the whole body, and 50% of that concentrated in the skin alone, it really shines in moisturizing and tissue repair, keeping skin soft, smooth, stronger, and younger.