When studying anything related to chemicals or chemistry, it is vital to study in detail their background history. This is important because it helps us understand that particular compound or molecule’s nature. It also helps with getting to know more about how that particular compound proves to be helpful for us in the long run.
One such important compound is ‘Glutamic Acid.’ It is an important amino acid that is produced inside our bodies. It is used for the biosynthesis of proteins inside the body. [1] Apart from this, Glutamic Acid also works as an excitatory neurotransmitter. When many Glutamic Acid molecules are combined, it results in the formation of ‘Polyglutamic Acid,’ another important and helpful compound. [2]
Polyglutamic Acid – What Is It?
Leaving aside the undeniable fact that it is made up of several glutamic acid molecules combined, Polyglutamic Acid is a polypeptide (a collection of several amino acids – get the context now?) that has become a topic of great interest for many scientists and experts lately. [3]. Fermented soybeans yield polyglutamic acid (PGA) a potent water-soluble peptide found in all living things.
These are the many benefits that it has been discovered to have on the human body and health. Polyglutamic Acid was discovered a long time ago, but its potential and benefits have been uncovered just recently, making it a much ‘sought after’ compound.
Polyglutamic Acid is found to be produced by several Bacillus bacteria strains. These strains are then processed and made useful for the skin to be used without causing any harm or allergic reactions.
Although the name may suggest that being an ‘acid,’ it would have acidic properties only, this is not true. The exfoliating and moisturizing properties that it has on the human skin are far more beneficial for anyone who deals with dry, rough, and scaly skin. But that is not all. [4]
There are several other benefits of incorporating Polyglutamic Acid in your daily life that has been discussed in the preceding sections.
The potential of Polyglutamic Acid is far more than what we give it credit for, and once you get to know about it, you will ultimately want to try it out as well!
Polyglutamic Acid Benefits
There are several benefits of Polyglutamic Acid that could be experienced once it is added to one’s daily life.
Polyglutamic Acid is seen to impact almost every other system of the body and the skin. This makes it a diverse compound that helps multiple aspects of the human body and skin. But in reality, it is due to its nature of environment-friendliness that makes it a flexible compound, allowing it to perform different jobs as required. [5]
Some of the well-known benefits of Polyglutamic Acid have been given as under:
Wound Healing
It may be helpful to accelerate the progress of wound healing. It does so by releasing those mediators and components that help promote tissue formation and, thus, help heal the wounded area. [6]
Potent Skin Moisturizer
Polyglutamic Acid, for skin, works as one of the best moisturizing agents. At one point, during a comparison between Polyglutamic Acid vs. Hyaluronic Acid, it has four times more moisture content than hyaluronic acid, which was indeed an amazing discovery.
It works to provide moisture to your skin by pulling all the hidden moisture from underneath the layers of your skin and making it appear on the surface layer. [7]
This moisture content is extremely helpful for avoiding conditions such as dryness, roughness, and the appearance of fine lines on the skin.
Decreases Wrinkles
It is the best food for your skin that is only great to make things easier and brighten you in the days to come. You can witness this for yourself when you make It a daily part of your skincare regime.
Doing so will stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, both of which play an integral role in keeping the skin hydrated, tight, and supple. Failure of age-related changes that fail to keep up with these changes results in the skin appearing saggy and wrinkled. [8]
Apart from this, it is also vital for you to drink an ample amount of water every day to ensure that your skin is getting all the water you need.
An Excellent Humectant
It possesses the qualities of being an excellent humectant. A humectant is any substance that helps retain the moisture within a given surface and keeps that particular object, or in this context here, our skin hydrated and moisturized at all times. [9]
This effect is particularly helpful for those women who live in dry and cold countries. Their skin is prone to run out of moisture as soon as the temperature drops down.
Makes You Appear Younger
By taking care of your skin in such a manner that it stays hydrated, moisturized, and supple at all times, It finally succeeds in its mission of making you appear as radiant and younger than ever. [10]
Your skin will feel the freshness and the glow, and you can easily go around and flaunt it all that you want – because now, you already know what the secret ingredient it is that has made your skin appear so healthy and bright.
How to Use Polyglutamic Acid?
Well, you are in for some surprising news again! Didn’t the name of it already ring a bell for you? Didn’t it remind you of some of your favorite serums that you use to keep your skin healthy and hydrated? Hyaluronic Acid? Retinol?
If you are familiar with the names above, then get to know it, another member of the same family! If not, then here are the different forms in which Polyglutamic Acid products are available in the markets:
Serums
A serum is also to be the most convenient and easy way to use it. It usually comes with a dropper, and only a few drops of it applied to your face can do the job for you.
Supplements
Because of its other uses, such as them being helpful for bone health and integrity, supplements enriched with Polyglutamic Acid are also available in the markets. However, using them to improve your skin conditions is questionable.
Even if they turn out to be helpful for your skin, then undoubtedly, you will have to go a long way and keep on taking these pills for extended periods. This is because orally-administered agents take time to show their effect.
Topical Applications
Many topically administered creams and lotions are available in the markets with Polyglutamic Acid as the main ingredient. These topical creams and lotions work in the same manner. As the serums are also another convenient option that makes using them an easy task.
Can You Use Polyglutamic Acid With Retinol?
Polyglutamic Acid and Retinol are quite similar in nature, and Retinol is from Vitamin A. Like Polyglutamic Acid, it has an anti-aging effect on the skin. It helps keep the skin younger and brighter by stimulating collagen and elastin activity in the skin.
As far as the combination of using Polyglutamic Acid and Retinol together is concerned. It is already evident that Polyglutamic Acid is an ‘environment-friendly’ compound. It can easily accommodate other compounds, owing to its flexible nature.
Therefore, using Polyglutamic Acid and Retinol will not prove to be any problem. If anything, both their effects could be felt in a much more coordinated. And helpful manner without proving to be harsh on your skin.
Polyglutamic Acid Side Effects
Just like everything else, there are two sides to a story. The same is expected from Polyglutamic Acid as well, and it has both advantages and disadvantages.
However, it is crucial to assess whether the side effects being experienced by a person are due to their skin being sensitive or just because Polyglutamic Acid has been used recklessly or without any precaution in these individuals. [11]
Assessing this is important because it helps judge whether the side effects occurred due to skin sensitivity or not.
Some of the most commonly experienced side effects of Polyglutamic Acid include:
- Dry and scaly skin,
- Skin blisters,
- Urticaria (hives),
- Burning sensation on the applied areas,
- Itching and swelling following a skin reaction.
However, most of these effects are short-lived and usually resolved with immediate treatment in no time.
Conclusion – Is Polyglutamic Acid Worth The Hype?
It definitely is! Polyglutamic Acid is indeed one of the most helpful and fruitful products for your skin. With its application, your skin can start feeling healthier, younger, and radiant than ever before.
Polyglutamic Acid has several benefits for your skin that you are bound to experience once it gets added to your daily life as a mandatory skincare product. It is definitely going to help you take care of several of your drying, wrinkled, and dehydrated skin concerns.
Ultimately, by integrating both hyaluronic and polyglutamic acid within your skincare program, you’re ensuring that you hydrate the lowest levels of your skin, and ‘seal in’ the upper levels, resulting in maximum hydration. This mixture is an excellent remedy for tight, dehydrated skin
Therefore, using Polyglutamic Acid is indeed worth the hype, and you should definitely give it a try to make the most of its benefits.
Disclaimer: This article is only a guide. It does not substitute the advice given by your healthcare professional. Before making any health-related decision, consult your healthcare professional.
Editorial References And Fact-Checking
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (2022). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 33032, Glutamic acid. Retrieved September 15, 2022 from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Glutamic-acid.
- Ogunleye, A., Bhat, A., Irorere, V. U., Hill, D., Williams, C., & Radecka, I. (2015). Poly-γ-glutamic acid: production, properties and applications. Microbiology (Reading, England), 161(Pt 1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.081448-0
- Wang, G., Liu, Q., Wang, Y., Li, J., Chen, Y., Wen, Q., Zheng, D., Kang, W., & Quan, H. (2020). The Application and Functional Progress of γ-Poly-Glutamic Acid in Food: A Mini-Review. Current pharmaceutical design, 26(41), 5347–5352. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612826666200717090016
- Wang, G., Liu, Q., Yang, Y. M., Lee, S. U., Han, J. S., Jang, K. J., Kang, D. Y., Sp, N., Li, Z., & Tong, T. (2021). Applications and Functions of γ-Poly-Glutamic Acid and its Derivatives in Medicine. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology, 22(11), 1404–1411. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389201021999201118161155
- Bajaj, I., & Singhal, R. (2011). Poly (glutamic acid)–an emerging biopolymer of commercial interest. Bioresource technology, 102(10), 5551–5561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2011.02.047
- Choi, J. C., Uyama, H., Lee, C. H., & Sung, M. H. (2015). Promotion Effects of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid on Wound Healing. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology, 25(6), 941–945. https://doi.org/10.4014/jmb.1412.12083
- Yu, G., Yang, C., Dan, N., Dan, W., & Chen, Y. (2021). Polyglutamic acid grafted dopamine modified collagen-polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel for a potential wound dressing. Designed monomers and polymers, 24(1), 293–304. https://doi.org/10.1080/15685551.2021.1984007
- Lee, N. R., Go, T. H., Lee, S. M., Jeong, S. Y., Park, G. T., Hong, C. O., & Son, H. J. (2014). In vitro evaluation of new functional properties of poly-γ-glutamic acid produced by Bacillus subtilis D7. Saudi journal of biological sciences, 21(2), 153–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2013.09.004
- Luo, Z., Guo, Y., Liu, J., Qiu, H., Zhao, M., Zou, W., & Li, S. (2016). Microbial synthesis of poly-γ-glutamic acid: current progress, challenges, and future perspectives. Biotechnology for biofuels, 9, 134. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-016-0537-7
- Richard, A., & Margaritis, A. (2001). Poly(glutamic acid) for biomedical applications. Critical reviews in biotechnology, 21(4), 219–232. https://doi.org/10.1080/07388550108984171
- Xu, C., Selhub, J., Jacques, P., Paynter, N. P., MacFadyen, J. G., Glynn, R. J., Ridker, P. M., & Solomon, D. H. (2021). Adverse effects related to methotrexate polyglutamate levels: adjudicated results from the cardiovascular inflammation reduction trial. Rheumatology (Oxford, England), 60(6), 2963–2968. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keaa650