What is hylaluronic? Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the fluids in the eyes and joints. It acts as a cushion and lubricant in the joints and other tissues. Different forms of hyaluronic acid are used for cosmetic purposes. Hyaluronic acid might also affect the way the body responds to injury and help to decrease swelling. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar that occurs naturally in the body, including the skin, eyes, and joints. The primary function of hyaluronic acid is to provide moisture to these areas of the body. Hyaluronic acid plays a crucial role in skin moisture. As people age, the moisture in their skin decreasesTrusted Source, so some people choose to take supplemental hyaluronic acid. This could be in the form of oral supplements, topical creams, serums, or even injections. This article provides 11 evidence-backed benefits of using hyaluronic acid for the face and body. It explains how often a person can use hyaluronic acid and discusses types and side effects. Learn more about hyaluronic acid here. 1. Hydrates skin MOAimage/Getty Images Many people use hyaluronic acid to hydrate their skin. People can take hyaluronic acid as a supplement, or they can apply it topically as a cream. Hyaluronic acid can increaseTrusted Source skin moisture and improve the quality of life for those with dry skin. One 2014 studyTrusted Source involved female participants applying topical hyaluronic acid as a lotion, serum, and cream. The study results demonstrated an increase of skin hydration of up to 96% after 8 weeks of use across the different types. Learn about some other ways to keep skin healthy here. 2. Helps heal wounds Hyaluronic acid helps the skin maintain moisture and helps the tissue regeneration process involved in healing wounds. One 2016 study suggested that applying hyaluronic acid to the skin to heal wounds can help relieve inflammation and regulate tissue repair. Learn more about how wounds heal here. 3. Smooths skin texture When a person experiences changes in their skin, it can have an adverse psychosocial impact. This can occur during the aging process. An older studyTrusted Source found that hyaluronic acid can help reduce the roughness of a person’s skin and increase skin elasticity. Learn how to tighten loose skin here. 4. Anti-aging Around 50%Trusted Source of the body’s total hyaluronic acid is present in the skin. Changes in this amount, possibly due to UV exposure, can lead to the formation of wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid can significantly decrease the depth of wrinkles and enhance skin firmness and elasticity. One 2014 studyTrusted Source involved women applying hyaluronic acid topically, twice daily, for 8 weeks. The study reported up to a 40% decrease in the depth of wrinkles and an up to 55% increase in skin firmness and elasticity compared with participants who did not apply the acid. Learn more about treating wrinkles here. 5. Alleviates joint pain A person can receive injections into the joints to help lubricate them. One 2017 reviewTrusted Source involved different treatment combinations for people with osteoarthritis who experience joint pain and inflammation. The study showed that combining hyaluronic acid with medications used for treating these symptoms, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids, can increase how effectively these treatments work. Learn more about joint pain here. 6. Reduces dermatitis Hyaluronic acid can help to improve the symptoms of mild to moderate eczema. Participants in a 2011 studyTrusted Source found that hyaluronic acid in a foam form was more pleasant to use and improved their eczema more than a ceramide-containing emulsion cream. Learn about the different types of eczema here. What is the most important information I should know about chlorhexidine gluconate? Chlorhexidine gluconate can cause a rare but serious allergic reaction that may be lifethreatening. Get emergency medical help if you have: hives, severe skin rash; wheezing, difficult breathing; cold sweats, feeling light-headed; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Do not give this medication to a child or teenager without a doctor's advice. This medicine may cause severe irritation or chemical burns in young children. What is chlorhexidine gluconate? Chlorhexidine gluconate is a germicidal mouthwash that reduces bacteria in the mouth. Chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse is used to treat gingivitis (swelling, redness, bleeding gums). Chlorhexidine gluconate is usually prescribed by a dentist. Chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse is not for treating all types of gingivitis. Use the medication only to treat the condition your dentist prescribed it for. Do not share this medication with another person, even if they have the same gum symptoms you have. Chlorhexidine gluconate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using chlorhexidine gluconate? You should not use this medication if you are allergic to chlorhexidine gluconate. If you have periodontal disease, you may need special treatments while you are using chlorhexidine gluconate. Do not give this medication to a child or teenager without a doctor's advice. This medicine may cause severe irritation or chemical burns in young children. Chlorhexidine gluconate is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether chlorhexidine gluconate passes into breast milk or if it could affect the nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. How should I use chlorhexidine gluconate? Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Rinse your mouth with chlorhexidine gluconate twice daily after brushing your teeth. Measure your dose using the cup provided with the medication. Swish the medicine in your mouth for at least 30 seconds, then spit it out. Do not swallow the mouthwash. Do not add water to the oral rinse. Do not rinse your mouth with water or other mouthwashes right after using chlorhexidine gluconate. Chlorhexidine gluconate may leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth. Do not rinse your mouth to remove this taste after using the medication. You may rinse the medicine away and reduce its effectiveness. Use this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before your gingivitis is completely cleared. Chlorhexidine gluconate will not treat a viral or fungal infection such as cold sores, canker sores, or oral thrush (yeast infection). Visit your dentist at least every 6 months for preventive tooth and gum care. Store chlorhexidine gluconate at room temperature away from moisture and heat. What happens if I miss a dose? Use the missed dose as soon as you remember, but brush your teeth first. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose. What happens if I overdose? Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222, especially if a child has swallowed 4 or more ounces of this medicine. An overdose of chlorhexidine would occur only if the medicine were swallowed. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, stomach pain, or the appearance of being drunk. What should I avoid while taking chlorhexidine gluconate? Chlorhexidine gluconate can stain teeth, dentures, tooth restorations, your tongue, or the inside of your mouth. Talk with your dentist about ways to remove staining from these surfaces. Stains may be harder to remove from false teeth that have scratches in their surfaces. Avoid eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth just after using this medication. Do not use any other mouthwash unless your doctor has told you to. What are the possible side effects of chlorhexidine gluconate? Chlorhexidine gluconate can cause a rare but serious allergic reaction that may be lifethreatening. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives, severe skin rash; wheezing, difficult breathing; cold sweats, feeling light-headed; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have: white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips; mouth ulcers; or swelling of your salivary glands (underneath your jaws). Common side effects may include: mouth irritation; tooth staining; dry mouth; unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth; or decreased taste sensation. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. What other drugs will affect chlorhexidine gluconate? It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Where can I get more information? Your pharmacist or dentist can provide more information about chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-todate, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Copyright 1996-2021 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.01. Revision date: 3/8/2017. Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by clicking on this link(link is external).