Let's Get Intimate: Hyaluronic Acid | Dr. Shereene Idriss

Dr. Shireen, also known as Dr. Idris, welcomes viewers to her YouTube channel and mentions her previous video about a method involving rice and water. She promises to explain the science behind it in a future video. Today, she plans to discuss her skepticism about the use of topical hyaluronic acid in skincare. She notes that many publications may not criticize H.A. due to financial ties with the skincare industry. H.A. is widely claimed to have miraculous benefits, leading to its prevalence in many products. Dr. Shireen expresses her surprise at the extent of H.A.'s marketing and prevalence, and she prepares to debunk common myths about it.

Dr. Shireen discusses the commonality of H.A. in skincare products and how companies use different forms of it, such as sodium hyaluronate, to cut costs. She provides examples of products containing H.A. and emphasizes the need for consumers to be educated about the ingredient. She explains that H.A. is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG), which is a type of sugary carbohydrate, and questions its long-term benefits to the human body, comparing it to the instant gratification but short-term benefits of a sugary donut. H.A.'s role in the body is to provide structural support and aid in wound healing, but its topical application is not as effective as its native form within the skin.

The video addresses the importance of molecular size in the effectiveness of H.A. in skincare. While high molecular weight H.A. is naturally found in the skin and can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water, the synthesized low molecular weight H.A. used in topical products does not penetrate deeply and remains in the epidermis. Dr. Shireen refutes the claim that low molecular weight H.A. is deeply hydrating, as it can actually draw water out from the skin, leading to dehydration. She also mentions a lawsuit against a brand for false claims about H.A. and advises against overusing H.A. in skincare routines.

Dr. Shireen questions the use of H.A. in skincare when it can lead to increased water loss from the skin. She suggests that if a moisturizer is used to seal in H.A., it may be counterproductive since H.A. can draw moisture away from the moisturizer. She also dispels the myth that H.A. is soothing and calming, explaining that low molecular weight H.A. can actually be pro-inflammatory. She shares her clinical observations of patients who experienced increased dryness, redness, and inflammation from overusing H.A. in their skincare routines.

In conclusion, Dr. Shireen does not consider H.A. to be entirely detrimental but advises against its overuse in skincare routines. She suggests using H.A. for special occasions to achieve a plumped appearance and emphasizes the importance of sealing it with a strong occlusive or moisturizer. She recommends limiting its use to one product in the skincare routine to avoid skin dehydration. Dr. Shireen also expresses her preference for glycerin as a humectant, which she considers to be a better alternative to H.A. She encourages viewers to like, subscribe, and comment on the video and promises to address glycerin in a future video.