What is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant and strong protein in your body. Occurs as a result of transverse welding and tanglement of amino acids to form collagen fibers. It accounts for about 75% of your skin’s weight and about 30% of the protein mass in your entire body. The structure consists of long fibers of proteins that give strength to the skin and hold them together. Collagen helps repair skin cells and rejuvenate and maintains skin hydration.
There are at least 16 forms of collagen in your body and can be found in connective tissue, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, teeth, bones, heart valves, and even your cornea.
Studies have shown that applying collagen locally does not help in maintaining youthful-looking skin. Because collagen consists of large protein molecules, it is not possible to penetrate the skin. Although it may help with moisture levels, if you see that hydrolyzed collagen is dubbed a local miracle ingredient, save your money, look for products that contain peptides, vitamins and antioxidants that increase collagen content and restore elastin.
What Damages Collagen?
Once we know what collagen is, let’s see what kind of collagen can destroy collagen. Some of these things easily change lifestyle choices, but others are beyond our control, it’s our belief that you control what you can do so that uncontrollable people don’t get out of hand.
- Lifestyle and environmental stress: Pollution and free radicals can reduce collagen production and reduce skin elasticity.
- High sugar intake: It was found that sugar increased the rate of the final product as final glycation (AGEs) that destroyed proteins nearby. Weakens collagen and makes it dry and brittle.
- Sunlight: UV rays damage collagen found in the dermis. This causes decay and creates abnormal elastin fibers to incorrectly regenerate wrinkles.
- Smoke: The combination of chemicals in cigarette smoke destroys collagen and elastin. Nicotine also limits blood vessels that affect the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the skin.
- Autoimmune disorders: There are certain immunity disorders that can cause antibodies to target collagen.
- Natural aging process: Collagen levels have decreased and naturally depleted throughout our life expectancy.
You can increase the production of collagen in your skin.
There are many ways to increase collagen through eating and supplementation.
- Topical Peptides : Laboratory-designed peptides have been shown to be a moisturizing cream that can stimulate skin growth and repair. Eternox Peptide Creme, Peptide Eye Creme and anti-Aging Lip Complex all contain anti-age peptides that promote collagen production. Meanwhile, growth factors have been a significant spike in market flows. Theraderm Clinical Skin Care gets even better results with a combination of lactic acid and peptides in Eternox Peptide Repair Creme and is significantly cheaper than products with growth factors! You can read more about it here.
- Chemical Peels : Chemical peeling involves the use of “chemicals”. It is one of the skin to exfoliate sun-damaged and thicker skin cells while stimulating collagen production for firmer skin. Regular peeling (once every 6-8 weeks) leads to collagen stimulation that improves the appearance of wrinkles.
- Omega fatty acids : Protect your skin’s collagen by consuming a balanced diet that contains protein in the form of fatty fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin A (which has an anti-inflammatory effect) and contains antioxidants, which eliminate free radicals and prevent the loss or degradation of collagen.
- Bone broth: Regular consumption of bone broth is considered to have nutritional and healing benefits, as collagen leaks out of the bones during the cooking process. This can also help with inflammation and improve the skin.
- Limit or cut caffeine: There is evidence that caffeine can have a negative effect on skin aging and the wound healing process of human skin.
- Hyaluronic acid: This anti-aging ingredient is an important compound for collagen in the skin. Hyaluronic acid has been advertised to speed up recovery time and relieve painful joints. One study suggests that hyaluronic acid may help increase collagen production in the human body. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body, but decreases with age. However, without adequate levels of vitamin C, your body will not fully benefit from foods containing hyaluronic acid. Theraderm OPC Reparative Serum contains this ingredient that increases hydration that will help restore the collagen base.
- Algae: Marine plant ingredients are becoming increasingly popular as part of cosmetic treatments. That’s because most skin damage is caused by “oxidation” — the impact on the skin of things like pollution that can damage cell growth. Algae are able to prevent oxidation from sawing off the skin from its elasticity and collagen. Seaweed is available in most health food stores as an oral supplement.
- Ginseng: The rejuvenating effects of ginseng are well documented. Ginseng is absorbed into the skin without causing the adverse reactions that many chemical pharmaceuticals cause and helps the skin retain its original shape. It has also been found to promote the growth of collagen. Studies have shown the ability of ginseng to keep the skin from being damaged by UVB rays from the sun. Antioxidants that are released into the bloodstream when you take a ginseng supplement or drink tea containing ginseng can protect healthy cells and promote skin radiance.
- Antioxidants: antioxidants protect the skin from the destruction of free radicals. Some antioxidants, such as pinoginols found in OPC Reparative Serum, increase collagen production and rejuvenate the skin, including green tea, blueberries, licorice extract, mulberry extract. Yerbamate pomegranate extract Astragalus Cinnamon, thyme, oregano and thyme essential oils in your diet as often as possible.
- Aloe vera: We all know that aloe vera has the soothing and calming properties of the skin when applied locally. A recent study revealed that extracting aloe vera as a supplement doubles the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid.
- Vitamin C: Eating foods rich in vitamin C and amino acids can increase levels of hyaluronic acid and collagen in the body, as both are important for the skin. Foods rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits, papaya, strawberries, broccoli and greens such as coriander.
