How to prolong the effects of hyaluronic acid injections: hydration and inflammation control

Hyaluronic acid injections have become one of the most widely used aesthetic treatments to improve skin hydration, restore volume, and smooth wrinkles. However, one of the most frequent questions among patients and professionals is how long their effects will last.

Although dermal fillers offer visible results for several months, the body eventually progressively degrades the infiltrated hyaluronic acid. This process depends on multiple factors, including individual metabolism, the quality of skin tissue, and, especially, the degree of inflammation present in the skin.

In this context, increasing attention is being paid to strategies that allow for optimizing the biological environment of the tissue, promoting better filler integration, and helping to prolong its effects. Among these, the use of low molecular weight oral hyaluronic acid, such as Injuv®, stands out, which can contribute to improving tissue hydration and supporting the balance of the extracellular matrix.

 

Hyaluronic acid: a key molecule for tissue hydration

Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the extracellular matrix, the framework that provides structural support to tissues. It is present in the skin, joints, and other connective tissues, where it performs fundamental functions related to hydration and elasticity.

One of its most outstanding characteristics is its extraordinary ability to retain water, capable of capturing up to a thousand times its own weight in water. Thanks to this property, hyaluronic acid contributes to:

• Maintaining skin hydration
• Improving skin elasticity
• Promoting tissue lubrication
• Supporting tissue repair processes

Approximately half of the body's hyaluronic acid is found in the skin, where it acts as a reservoir to keep tissues hydrated and functional.

However, over time, the amount of hyaluronic acid present in tissues decreases, contributing to the loss of hydration and elasticity characteristic of skin aging.

 

How hyaluronic acid injections work

Dermal fillers consist of the injection of stabilized hyaluronic acid into different layers of the skin with the aim of restoring volume and improving tissue structure.

Once infiltrated, hyaluronic acid acts mainly in two ways:

1. Volumizing effect, filling furrows or wrinkles.
2. Moisturizing effect, by attracting water to the surrounding tissue.

However, the body has natural enzymes called hyaluronidases, responsible for progressively degrading hyaluronic acid. For this reason, the results of the treatment usually last between 6 and 18 months, depending on the treated area and the individual characteristics of the patient.

 

Inflammation and hyaluronic acid degradation

One of the factors that most influences the duration of dermal fillers is the inflammatory state of the tissue.

When intense or prolonged inflammation occurs, the body generates inflammatory mediators and free radicals that can accelerate the degradation of hyaluronic acid present in the tissues. These processes promote the fragmentation of hyaluronic acid molecules and their faster elimination.

Furthermore, smaller hyaluronic acid fragments can stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, or metalloproteinases, which contributes to maintaining the inflammatory response and accelerating tissue degradation.

For this reason, when there is an exacerbated inflammatory state, infiltrated hyaluronic acid can be degraded more quickly, reducing the duration of the treatment's effect.

 

Oxidative stress and inflammation in the skin

The inflammatory process is also closely related to oxidative stress, a situation in which there is an excess of reactive molecules known as ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species).

When these molecules accumulate in tissues, they can damage components of the extracellular matrix and promote the degradation of molecules such as hyaluronic acid.

This imbalance between free radicals and antioxidant systems contributes to maintaining inflammatory processes in tissues and accelerating the deterioration of skin structures.

Consequently, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress can promote a more stable environment for hyaluronic acid, which could help prolong its effects.

 

The role of oral hyaluronic acid in tissue hydration and balance

In addition to injectable treatments, in recent years, the role of orally administered hyaluronic acid has been studied as a tool to improve tissue hydration.

Various investigations have shown that oral hyaluronic acid can contribute to improving parameters related to skin hydration and the state of the extracellular matrix.

This approach is part of what is known as nutricosmetics, which seeks to improve skin health from within through nutrients that support the structure and function of tissues.

 

Injuv®: low molecular weight hyaluronic acid with high bioavailability

One of the main challenges of oral hyaluronic acid is its molecular size, as large molecules can be difficult to absorb in the intestine.

Injuv® is a form of low molecular weight hyaluronic acid designed to improve its absorption. Through a specific enzymatic process, the size of the molecule is considerably reduced, facilitating its passage through the intestinal epithelium and its subsequent distribution in the body.

Clinical studies have shown that supplementation with Injuv® can increase the moisture content of the skin and improve parameters related to its texture and smoothness.

 

How Injuv® can help optimize hyaluronic acid treatments

Although oral supplementation does not replace dermal fillers, it can act as a complement that supports the health of skin tissue.

By contributing to improved tissue hydration and promoting a more balanced biological environment, oral hyaluronic acid can help:

• Improve basal skin hydration
• Promote tissue elasticity
• Support the balance of the extracellular matrix
• Contribute to a less inflammatory environment

These conditions can facilitate better integration of infiltrated hyaluronic acid and potentially promote a longer duration of its aesthetic effects.

 

 

A comprehensive approach to skin care

Current aesthetic medicine increasingly adopts a global vision of skin care. Instead of focusing solely on specific procedures, the aim is to improve the overall state of the skin tissue.

The combination of medical treatments, topical care, and nutritional strategies can help optimize results and keep the skin in better condition in the long term.

In this context, ingredients such as Injuv®, which provide highly bioavailable hyaluronic acid, represent an interesting tool to support tissue hydration, reduce the impact of inflammatory processes, and complement treatments such as hyaluronic acid injections.