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Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate · Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronateHydrator
What’s actually in most “hyaluronic acid” products — a water-binder that holds moisture at the surface; smaller sizes sit a little deeper.
What it does
It’s the salt form of hyaluronic acid: the same molecule, but easier to dissolve. Most products sold as 'hyaluronic acid' actually list sodium hyaluronate. Smaller sizes reach a little deeper; larger ones stay on the surface and form a hydrating film.
The evidence, graded
strongOne application of a ceramide cream lowered water loss through the skin, measured from two hours and held to 24 hours, and raised skin hydration over the same day. Hyaluronic acid creams improved skin hydration and elasticity when measured at 30 and 60 days. Neither source Drop has read measured how long barrier repair takes, so Drop sets no barrier-repair window.Pavicic 2011 · Journal of Drugs in Dermatology ↗
strongIn a 4-week double-blind trial, 36 nursing-home residents aged 60 to 80 with dry skin used three lotions on three spots on the leg: one with small-molecule (low molecular weight) hyaluronic acid, one with large-molecule hyaluronic acid, and the same lotion without either. The small-molecule lotion raised skin moisture more than the other two. Water loss and dryness symptom scores did not differ between them.Muhammad 2024 · Archives of Dermatological Research ↗
emergingFine together, in any order — in one study, niacinamide on dry skin raised the fats in the skin’s outer layer and cut the water the skin lost. Hyaluronic acid is the molecule skin itself uses to hold water.Tanno 2000 · British Journal of Dermatology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
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