Is Hyaluronic Acid Good For Acne?

Whether you’re a self-professed skincare aficionado or have just begun exploring ways to improve your natural glow, hyaluronic acid has probably captured your attention. But while it’s praised for its wound-healing capabilities, skin-plumping powers, and hydrating benefits, you may be wondering, is hyaluronic acid good for acne [1]?

The answer is yes—and we’ll explain why it can be a solution for blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples below.

Read on to learn all about this genius ingredient, how it helps combat acne, and the positive impact it can have on your complexion—and, in turn, your self-image and confidence [2].

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Synthetic hyaluronic acid may appear in an abundance of skincare products, but the real stuff is naturally produced in your body. Identified by its characteristic clear, jelly-like appearance and texture, the polysaccharide is mainly manufactured in your [3]:

• Eyes
• Skin 
• Connective tissues

Its primary role is to assist with keeping your parts operating like a well-oiled machine—literally: It helps you retain moisture and provides lubrication.

Like elastin and collagen, however, we make less and less hyaluronic acid as we age, which explains its inclusion in hundreds of products, including serums, creams, cleansers, toners, and more.

What Are The Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid?

Available in topical forms, as a supplement, and in injections, hyaluronic acid has several, wide-ranging benefits. In addition to helping you prevent and handle acne—which we’ll dive into shortly—it can also organically support [4]:

• Joint health, like helping your knees move smoothly
• Acid reflux relief
• Healthy, moisturized eyes
• Bone strength

What Can Hyaluronic Acid Do for Acne?

A topical hyaluronic acid or a skincare product that contains this ingredient is usually known for boosting skin hydration. But given that hyaluronic acid is most commonly associated with intensifying and sustaining the moisture in your skin, you might not immediately think it can be helpful for preventing and treating acne—especially since acne can be caused by what seems like a surplus of moisture (or, to be more specific, sebum, the oil that’s naturally produced by glands in your skin). 

However, hyaluronic acid is becoming increasingly known for its acne-busting capacities. Here’s how it may help:

• Controls sebum production – One of the biggest triggers of acne? Overactivity of sebum production, which can result in whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples, as well as what’s known as skin purging—when excess sebum and old skin cells build up and clog pores. According to a study published by the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, hyaluronic acid may help moderate how much sebaceous oil you manufacture to keep your skin balanced and blemish-free [5].
• Accelerates wound healing – Acne is a form of inflammation that can be spurred by a handful of reasons—excess sebum, for one, as well as chronic stress and a poor diet. Inflammation can cause a reaction in your skin that can lead to individual pimples or a breakout. Hyaluronic acid may propel a healing response to send reparative cells in the acne’s direction, which may lessen the duration of a pimple (or a whole cluster of them) [6].
• Minimizes scarring – It isn’t only in the present that we bemoan the onset of an acne breakout. Severe breakouts can damage your skin’s healthy tissue and result in atrophic (depressed) and hypertrophic (raised) acne marks and scars [7]. Research demonstrates that hyaluronic acid may diminish the appearance of these scars when it’s paired with CO2 laser resurfacing—a common treatment for acne scarring [8].
• Boasts antibacterial properties – Hyaluronic acid acts as a natural antibacterial agent, which can keep damaging bacteria from taking up residence in your pores and igniting an acne eruption. Further, it may keep acne from becoming infected [9].
• Curbs redness and swelling – Skin redness and swelling are unfortunate side effects of acne breakouts. However, hyaluronic acid may help reduce that red coloring you might rather save for your lipstick. It can also help decrease swelling, in turn giving you a smoother, more even, and more lustrous complexion [10].
• Enhances hydration – As mentioned above, we tend to associate acne with oily and even overly moisturized skin; after all, oil is notorious for blocking pores and provoking a breakout [11]. And yet, dry skin can be both a culprit and a consequence of acne, as well, since the skin barrier is compromised. Hyaluronic acid is first and foremost a humectant with the capacity of binding over one thousand times its own weight in water [12]. This means it may give your skin the moisture, and equilibrium, it’s been craving.

How Else Can Hyaluronic Acid Bolster Your Skin’s Appearance?

Preventing and handling acne is just one of hyaluronic acid’s potential benefits on your complexion. It may also [13]:

• Soften the signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles.
• Improve skin elasticity, flexibility, and overall tightness and texture.
• Calm skin barrier that’s been irritated by conditions such as eczema.
• Provide a dewy, luminous glow.
• Plump skin to give it that lovely, youthful buoyancy.

Are There Any Side Effects of Using Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is generally well-tolerated, in part because we naturally produce it. When applied topically, it is generally considered safe for use in pregnancy or breast-feeding, though it is always best to discuss with your doctor [14]. 

Additionally, hyaluronic acid may cause irritation in some people. The best approach you can take before adding hyaluronic acid to your skincare routine is to perform a patch test to see how your skin reacts to it. 

How Can You Increase Your Hyaluronic Acid Levels Naturally?

As we mentioned above, hyaluronic acid levels organically decrease as you age, but there are certain actions you can take to prevent it from diminishing as quickly:

• Find assistance with quitting tobacco if you smoke.
• Reduce exposure to the sun.
• Avoid pollutants and use products that help fight free radicals.

How Can Acne Be Prevented?

Hyaluronic acid is a valuable method for both side-stepping and treating acne, but it’s not the only route you can take to clear, smooth, and supple skin. In addition, you can:

• Dodge harsh chemicals – Alcohol, dyes, parabens, sulfates, and other abrasive ingredients can wreak havoc on your skin and trigger irritation—which may in turn incite acne. Choosing products that contain clean, natural ingredients can help keep your skin clear of pore-clogging debris without stripping your skin of its natural and necessary oils. PROVEN’s personalized facial cleanser, for one, matches specific clean ingredients, like green tea extract and pomegranate extract, with your skin type, age, environment, and more, to help you achieve a clear complexion naturally.
• Use a moisturizer that performs double-duty – It's important to not skip on the moisturizer, no matter your skin type. Forget the idea that a moisturizer may clog your pores and exacerbate acne. On the contrary, using a daily moisturizer is imperative to maintaining your skin’s health and integrity, whether you have oily skin or dry skin. The same is true of sun exposure. While small doses of safe sun exposure can actually help diminish acne (while also boosting the synthesis of Vitamin D), unsafe, excess sun exposure can cause dead skin cells to accumulate and prompt an acne breakout, and may also cause dryness and inflammation [15]. A uniquely-tailored daily moisturizer with SPF can help you maintain healthy, hydrated, and well-protected skin with just a few pumps. 
• Stay well-hydrated – Drinking ample amounts of water is crucial to crushing your skincare goals, and if one of your aims is to banish acne altogether, be sure to keep filling up that water bottle. Dehydration can send a signal to your sebum glands and order them to produce more oil to compensate for your arid internal environment [16].
• Tweak your diet – Remember in high school when people began snubbing foods like French fries and pizza because rumor had it they’d cause zits? Well, it turns out that hallway chatter was spot-on: Processed foods, saturated fats, and trans fat can indeed lead to breakouts. Alcohol, refined sugar, pasta, white rice, white bread, and for some, dairy products, may also do the same [17]. So, to help prevent acne, avoid those options and instead, reach for foods that temper inflammation, such as legumes, whole grains, tomatoes, blueberries, spinach, pumpkin seeds, turkey, fatty fish, nuts, leafy greens, apricots, carrots, and sweet potatoes [18[.
• Learn how to cope with stress – Ever noticed how you seem to have a break out right before a momentous event, like a wedding, a hot date, a job interview, or an important work presentation? While stress doesn’t cause acne, it can release specific hormones that can stimulate oil production that might result in acne. To keep stress and, subsequently, breakouts at bay, try practicing yoga, meditating, performing breathing exercises, prioritizing sleep, and spending more time outdoors.

Help Keep Skin Clear And Acne-Free With PROVEN Skincare

If you have acne, trust that you’re not alone: As the most common skin condition in the world, it affects 50 million individuals per year—and that’s just in the United States. But its prevalence is only a small comfort, as we know that dealing with acne can feel burdensome, isolating, and exasperating, and may keep you from living life with verve and confidence.

Fortunately, hyaluronic acid is just one ingredient in a sea of many that can help you manage acne effectively—and PROVEN Skincare can point out precisely what those other ingredients might be for your circumstances. After taking our in-depth skincare quiz, we’ll set you up with a personalized, three-step skincare routine with products that contain the acne-fighting, evidence-based ingredients you need to achieve a flawless, radiant complexion. 

From night creams to daily moisturizers, we have the solutions your skin has been asking for. Take our skincare quiz today to discover your unique formula and achieve your skincare goals.