Hyaluronic Acid Side Effects & Common Mistakes

Hyaluronic acid is usually considered “safe and gentle”, but that doesn’t mean every product works for every skin type. Here are the most common complaints and what usually causes them.

1. Feeling drier after starting a hyaluronic serum

Counter-intuitive, but common. Possible reasons:

• You apply HA on bone-dry skin with no moisture to pull in.
• You skip moisturiser afterwards, so water evaporates from the surface.
• Your climate is very dry and you don’t use enough occlusive ingredients.

Fix: apply on slightly damp skin and always follow with a cream or lotion.

2. Stickiness, pilling or film on the skin

Some HA formulas use high amounts of thickening agents or very high molecular weight HA, which can leave a film on the surface.

Fix: use less product, switch to lighter textures, or sandwich HA under a richer moisturiser.

3. Redness or stinging

HA itself is rarely the problem. Instead, irritation is often linked to:

• Fragrance or essential oils in the formula.
• Preservatives or solvents your skin reacts to.
• Using HA alongside too many strong actives at once.

Fix: simplify your routine, patch test new products and choose fragrance-free formulas.

4. When to stop and see a professional

• Burning or stinging that lasts more than a few minutes.
• Persistent redness or swelling that doesn’t calm down.
• Signs of infection or widespread rash.

This page is for general information only and is not medical advice. Always consult your own doctor or dermatologist if you are worried about severe or long-lasting reactions.