When it comes to skincare, collagen is a word you need to know. It is the most abundant structural protein in your body, and collagen is important for the health of your skin, bone and joints.1 So, what is collagen, why is it important, and what can you do to support your collagen levels?
Let’s find out…
What is collagen?
Collagen is a type of protein that makes up 30% of your body’s overall protein. It provides structural support for your tissues and is produced by connective tissue cells called fibroblasts.2
Collagen is a protein made up of amino acids glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. There are 28 different types of collagen, however, type I accounts for 90% of the collagen found in your connective tissue, skin, tendons, bones, and cartilage.1
Produced naturally by your body, collagen levels can be supported through diet, supplements and skincare products. There are also medical interventions such as aesthetic treatments and cosmetic injectables that can support your collagen levels.2
What happens to your skin's collagen over time?
Over the course of a lifetime, natural collagen production slows down. When they decrease in size, the fibroblasts are not as tightly packed together, resulting in a loss of elasticity. As collagen production declines, you may start to notice signs of aging, such as wrinkles, sagging and drying skin. Reduced collagen production can also be exacerbated by lifestyle factors, including smoking, excessive drinking, sun exposure and sugary foods and drinks.1
Why is collagen important for your skin?
Collagen plays a major role in providing structural cell support to aid in tissue repair, immune response, cellular communication and cellular migration. To put it simply, collagen helps to keep your skin looking firm and youthful.1
Typically, you start to lose up to 1% of your body's collagen per year from around your mid-twenties, but you can consider increasing your collagen intake prior to then.7,8
How to support your collagen
The good news is you can support your collagen levels in many ways.
Diet: To support collagen levels, the body needs amino acids, glycine and proline, along with vitamin C. One of the easiest ways to support collagen is by incorporating foods rich in these nutrients into your diet. These can include citrus fruits and berries for vitamin C, chicken skin and bone broth for glycine, and dairy and mushrooms for proline. A protein-rich diet can also be beneficial for collagen production as it provides a solid amino acid profile for the making of new structural proteins.4
Supplements: Collagen supplements come in a variety of forms and an option for supporting collagen levels if you’re not getting enough nutrients through your diet. Simple to incorporate into your daily routine, you can purchase collagen supplements in powder forms for drinks, pills, liquids and gummies.4
Serums & creams: A big player in the skincare world, collagen-rich serums and creams can be found in a range of dosages. Products with amino acids and peptides can help your skin to naturally produce more collagen. It’s also good to look out for vitamin A derivatives and retinols. Retinol has the ability to assist in the stimulation of collagen production and ‘switch on’ the fibroblast cells.5
Aesthetic enhancements: Aesthetic injectables such as Sculptra® act as a stimulator for collagen production. Sculptra® has poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is the main ingredient, where the PLLA microparticles work with your body once absorbed into the skin. By boosting collagen levels, Sculptra can assist in restoring facial volume and overall ‘plumpness’, as well as helping to lessen wrinkles and fine lines. However, as with any therapeutic cosmetic procedure, there could be possible side effects. Ensure you consult a suitably qualified healthcare professional for any aesthetic procedure.6
______
References:
1. Healthline.com, What Is Collagen, and What Is It Good For?. Accessed 30 September 2022., 2. Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23089-collagen. Accessed 5 October 2022, 3.Healthline.com, How Much Collagen Should You Take per Day?. Accessed 5 October 2022., 4. Byrdie.com, How to Increase Collagen, According to Experts. Accessed 4 October 2022., 5. Mecca.com.au, Three ways to boost and protect your skin’s collagen levels. Accessed 4 October 2022., 6. Healthline.com, Benefits (and Side Effects) of Collagen Injections. Accessed 5 October 2022., 7. Reilly DM and Lozano J. Plast Aesthet Res 2021;8:2. DOI: 10.20517/2347-9264.2020.153 , 8. Shuster S, Black M and McVittie E. Br J Dermatol. 1975 Dec;93(6):639-643. TAPS NP18717.