Collagen is becoming well-known as a factor in youthful looking skin, as well as healthy hair and joints, but sadly the collagen in our body depletes as we age. What can we do to correct this depletion? Many people know collagen as something that is used as a cosmetic filler in the skin – say to create full, plump lips. Collagen is actually a protein that is found in the body and is the main protein on connective tissue, responsible for the elasticity of the skin.

The benefits of collagen
Collagen increases hydration in the skin, and, as it increases the natural elasticity of the skin it is considered very beneficial to decreasing the extent and depth of wrinkles. As we age the levels of collagen and hyaluronic acid in the skin diminish and as a result, wrinkled skin becomes apparent.

But it’s not just about fine lines and wrinkles, the firmness of the skin is also relative to the amount of collagen in our bodies. After the age of 25, the amount of collagen breaks down at the rate of approximately 1.5% every year.

Collagen is also known to be helpful in the health and regeneration of joints, bones, tendons and ligaments.

So what can you do to maintain healthier levels of collagen in your skin as you age?

Don’t smoke. There are plenty of good reasons not to, and the fact that it depletes the amount of collagen in your skin is just another to add to the list.

Wear sunscreen religiously, every day – including in winter. Excessive sun exposure is said to be another contributing factor to depleting levels of collagen in the skin.

Include loads of fresh fruit and vegetables in your daily diet for their antioxidant content and remember that topically applying antioxidants A, C and E to your skin will also help protect it from free radical attack.

Vitamin C when applied topically also helps trigger collagen production, however, as Vitamin C is extremely hard to maintain in an effective form, you must be sure to purchase a stabilized form of Vitamin C – brands such as Cellex-C, Philosophy and Skinceuticals all offer exceptional Vitamin C products.

Collagen supplements can also be taken to boost collagen levels – try the pure form of collagen found in Pureaz Health Collagen supplements.

Retinoid creams are also reportedly effective in preventing and treating the collagen loss caused by photodamage. The research indicates that although UV exposure decreases collagen type I and collagen type III with 24 hours, treatment of the skin with all-trans retinoic acid helps prevent the loss of these types of collagen synthesis.

Some laser treatments available at special skin clinics are said to stimulate the skin to produce collagen. The Polaris Laser is designed for this purpose. The laser will feel as if you are being flicked with a hot rubber band, but the pain is tolerable. It treats the skin at multiple levels as it is able to target fine surface lines as well as deeper wrinkles. You will require several treatments to get the desired effect.

Dermal Rolling / Needling can be done at various skin clinics and a dermal roller can also be purchased for home use. The theory is to create tiny pin pricks in the skin using multiple needles which create channels whereby skin products can intensively penetrate the skin as well as induce the production of collagen.

Facial Light Therapy helps repair sun damage as well as increase collagen and elastin production. While results are less impressive than lasers, light therapy has less side effects and is safe on all skin tones.

A final word – don’t think that by purchasing a cream with collagen in it and applying it to your skin that you will stimulate collagen levels in your skin. Sadly, it doesn’t work that way. According to Dr. Leslie Baumann in Cosmetic Dermatology, topically applied collagen is too large to fit through the stratum corneum (uppermost layer of the skin), as collagens have a molecular weight of 15000 to 50000 daltons, whereas only molecules of molecular weight 5000 or less can typically penetrate the skin. Therefore, collagen when applied topically serves to only moisturise the skin.