Collagen is a crucial element of your skin. This protein is
responsible for giving your face that youthful bounce, and as it declines, fine
lines appear. Collagen literally holds us together it makes up 30% of the
body's protein and 70% of the skin's protein. The No. 1 cause of skin ageing is
the loss of collagen. So how does it decline? There are a few reasons some are
in your control and others are not.
Below are the factors that deplete your collagen levels,
plus what you can do to support them naturally:
1. UV damage
There is a proven link between UV damage and loss of
collagen. One study exposed collagen to UV light and found that there was a
significant decrease in collagen structure afterward. UV rays damage collagen
through various mechanisms, including DNA damage to the cells that make
collagen as well as the production of free radicals that can damage collagen
directly.
2. Age
Collagen production starts to dip in most people's bodies
from the time they're in their late teens or early 20s and decreases about 1% a
year. However, the exact age that this process starts is different for
everyone. Regardless, the process is inevitable and, unfortunately, outside of
your control. Our bodies always balance collagen production and degradation.
When we are young, our bodies produce more collagen than we break down. That
balance tips the wrong way with age since tissue regeneration decreases.
3. Smoking
You've likely heard by now that smoking is, uh, not good for
you and causes premature aging. Well, the main reason it does so is because it
directly damages collagen. In fact, smoking is the big one for collagen damage.
Smoking decreases the amount of oxygen delivered to tissues. Therefore, tissue
cannot regenerate and is more likely to become damaged and die. And that can
lead to premature wrinkles.
4. Inflammation-triggering diets
Inflammation is one of the main enemies of any tissue, and
the connective tissues fuelled by collagen are no exception. Inflammatory
diets, which often include eating plans that are high in sugar, simple
carbohydrates, and processed meats, activate the immune system and promote
inflammation throughout the body. This may interfere with wound healing,
including healing of environmentally damaged skin cells. Sugar, in particular,
can be tough on collagen. High sugar levels can lead to hardening and
fragmentation of collagen, weakening the skin foundation, and promoting
premature skin aging.
5. Stress
Research shows that stress can spark inflammation and,
again, that can lower your ability to naturally produce collagen. Stress also
causes an increase in hormones like cortisol, which research has found can
decrease the production of collagen. Less collagen is produced in high-stress
states since more of the body's resources are used to combat stress and the
inflammation it produces.
6. Genetics
Genetics are an important factor in determining how much
collagen your body makes and breaks down. So, if your parents and grandparents had
great-looking skin for years, the odds are high your skin will be similar as
you age. Of course, you don't have control over this, which is why it is
important to focus on things you can control like diet, stress management,
skincare and UV protection.
How can you support it naturally?
You can't stop the natural drop in collagen production, but
there are some things you can do to help promote healthy collagen levels in
your body.
Take a collagen supplement.
Collagen supplements or more specifically, hydrolyzed
collagen supplements have been shown to promote collagen production. These
supplements are made of collagen peptides, which are short chains of amino
acids that make up collagen but are small enough to be absorbed easily by your
body. Hydrolyzed collagen can be absorbed as is and circulate throughout the
body.
But collagen does more than promote your body's natural
production, it also helps temper some of the causes of collagen's decline.
Namely? Inflammation. Collagen's anti-inflammatory powers come from the role
that it plays in our gut health. A healthy gut can reduce inflammation
throughout the whole body. Poor gut health, on the other hand, leads to stomach
lining permeability, where particles can leak into the rest of the body, which
then triggers inflammation in the body. Collagen has been shown to support the
gut's lining and has key amino acids for gut health. It containsglycine, an
amino acid with proven anti-inflammatory and immune system-supporting effects.
Eat antioxidants, especially vitamin C and apply
topically to the skin.
Antioxidants like vitamin C fight free radical damage, whether
taken internally or applied to the skin, antioxidants can reduce collagen
breakdown by decreasing the amount of free radicals in the skin. Vitamin C, in
particular, has been found in research to support the production of collagen
and to help manage its stability. Vitamin C is a necessary co-factor for the
production of healthy collagen, and without it, new collagen cannot be properly
made, as it promotes fibroblast proliferation, and fibroblasts are the cells
that produce collagen. Phi Cosmeceutical products have strongly focused on
ingredients which reduce inflammation, provide high antioxidants to target free
radical damage.
Make good lifestyle choices, like wearing SPF and eating
a healthy diet.
There are certain factors in collagen decline that you can't
control, like your genes and your age. But there are some things you can do to
slow the decline. Wearing sunscreen regularly is one of them. Sunscreen is one
of the most important anti-aging skin care products, since UV exposure is a
direct hit to collagen in your skin. Diet is also crucial. A healthy diet is
necessary to provide the body with the necessary building blocks for optimal
functioning.
The bottom line:
There's only so much you can do to slow the natural decline
of collagen in your skin. But knowing the factors you can control, like
avoiding UV damage and doing your best to support your collagen production by wearing
SPF, using good active skincare and watching your diet can go a long way toward
giving you healthy-looking, firm skin in the future.
