Collagen is a hot topic in the beauty sphere. It is a protein that can help keep the skin looking smooth. As age and other factors reduce collagen levels, the skin loses its elasticity, and lines can form.
Collagen is the protein that gives skin its structure, suppleness, and stretch. There are many types of collagen, but our body mainly consists of type 1, 2, and 3. As we age, we produce less collagen in our skin every year, hence the tendency toward wrinkles and thinning skin we see the older we get.
Injectable fillers are the medical aesthetic solution for degrading collagen. They contain primarily hyaluronic acid, which provides immediate benefits by increasing the skin’s retention of moisture, but more significantly has recently been proven to stimulate the body’s natural collagen production over significant periods.
The use of hyaluronic acid thereby provides a double-benefit – injection of the filler, which resolves several age-related cosmetic issues immediately, and the long-term stimulation of collagen production that allows benefits to be seen well after the body absorbs the filler.
Cell stimulating fillers like Radiesse and bio-stimulators like Sculptra are used to activate your cell’s production of Type 1 collagen. Type 1 collagen is abundant in the body when we are young, providing the infrastructure for our naturally-abundant hyaluronic acid and elastin and therefore the appearance of firm and youthful skin. Collagen loss begins in our late 20s and by our 50s, we've lost roughly half of our Type 1 collagen.
So what can we do to keep up the collagen stimulation? We’ve had the fillers, now how do we combat collagen loss, or slow down the process in our daily lives?
1. Get Good Sleep
Beauty skeep is neessary for gloeing skin and is directly related to the creation of human growth hormone. Collagen actually increases its level in the body once you start getting good sleep at night. It is important to note that at least 7 hours of sleep is vital for collagen production.
2. Diet
A diet full of protein-rich foods, whether from plant or animal sources, can help supply these critical amino acids. Other nutrients that aid the process of collagen production include zinc, vitamin C, and copper. So, fruits and vegetables high in vitamins and minerals are also a friend to supple skin.
Some great collagen building foods include:
Proline: egg whites, wheat germ, dairy, mushrooms, asparagus
Glycine: chicken skin, gelatin, pork skin, bone broth
Vitamin C: Citrus, bell peppers, berries
3. Retinols
Carotenoids, such as retinol and beta carotene, are antioxidants that can help boost skin health. They are derivatives of Vitamin A. Research indicates that topical retinoids may help protect the skin from sunlight by preventing UV rays from breaking down collagen. Ask your Body Tonic provider what medical-grade topical lotion is best suited for your skin.
4. Red Light Therapy
RLT and other types of light therapy may increase collagen growth and improve wrinkles and skin elasticity.
Researchers looked at the effect of red light combined with near-infrared light on skin cells in a laboratory. They found that it stimulated the production of collagen and elastin. This could help prevent wrinkles and other skin changes commonly associated with older age.
5. Lifting Weights
Lifting heavy weights is said to increase collagen in the bones. Squats, rows, bench press, and deadlifts are some workouts you should focus on for increasing collagen. The high-intensity workout stimulates the production of collagen.
6. Supplements
A 2019 blind study on 72 females 35 years or older who consumed a drinkable blend of collagen peptides confirmed that skin aging could, in fact, be combated with nutrients that restored skin hydration, elasticity, density, and roughness, following three months of intake. The study also highlighted the safety of the collagen drink.
Plasma-rich therapy treatments can dramatically reverse years of skin damage in one session. By penetrating deep into the dermis to stimulate collagen production and connective tissue regeneration, skin will tighten and appear more lifted post-treatment. We often recommend combining platelet-rich plasma therapy with other treatments for the best results. Plasma-rich therapy combined with our HALO laser treatments, hydrafacials, or microneedling can dramatically improve skin elasticity and texture.