Can hyaluronic acid irritate sensitive skin?

What should sensitive skin look for?

Choose fragrance free products rather than relying on 'unscented' wording: an unscented product can still contain fragrance related ingredients. Preservatives can also trigger allergic contact dermatitis, an allergic skin reaction that causes redness, itching and swelling. Check the whole formula, not just the featured ingredient.2

If you have rosacea, choose a cream rather than a lotion or gel, and avoid formulas containing alcohol, camphor, fragrance, glycolic acid, lactic acid, menthol, sodium lauryl sulfate or urea. Rosacea often makes skin easily irritated, so a hydrating ingredient does not make every formula suitable.5

How do you test a new product?

1. 1Choose a spot about the size of a quarter on the underside of your arm or the bend of your elbow.
2. 2Apply the normal amount twice daily for seven to 10 days. Leave a serum or moisturizer on as you normally would.
3. 3If there is no redness, itching or swelling after that period, begin using the product on your face.

Why does hyaluronic acid make my skin feel tight?

Tightness alone does not tell you which ingredient is responsible. Sensitive skin can react to products and weather changes, and discomfort can occur without visible redness. Judge a hydrating product by comfort rather than its name, because a hydrating label is a job description, not a performance review.6

Can hyaluronic acid make dry skin feel worse?

A particular formula can leave sensitive skin feeling worse, even though hyaluronic acid generally helps dryness. For a serum, apply it after cleansing while skin is damp, then immediately add a moisturizer containing an occlusive, an ingredient that limits water evaporation, such as petrolatum or mineral oil. A serum attracts water; the moisturizer helps keep that water from evaporating.7

You can use hyaluronic acid serum morning and evening, following the product's directions for quantity. For rosacea, apply moisturizer to dry skin to reduce burning or stinging; if you use rosacea medication, apply that before moisturizer. These rosacea directions differ from general damp skin serum guidance.57

Expect modest improvements in dryness and skin fullness after about a week, not an immediate transformation. Hyaluronic acid itself is considered safe during pregnancy and nursing, but combination products need consideration of their other ingredients.17

When should you stop or get help?

If a new product causes a reaction, gently wash it off and stop using it. A cool compress or petroleum jelly can help soothe the area. Seek medical help for a severe reaction that does not settle with these measures, or symptoms that remain very bothersome or fail to improve after about a week of home care. A dermatologist can investigate recurring reactions, including medical patch testing to identify an allergen.26