Like so many dermatologist buzzwords, we hear about Collagen all the time. We’re told we need to increase our production of it and that we are constantly trying to protect it, but how many of us actually know what it is?
Collagen is like the glue for your body. It is a protein and it accounts for one-third of the total protein in the human body. Collagen is in your bones, muscle, skin, and tendons.
But it is different from many proteins in our body because of the extremely high levels of amino acids that makeup the collagen protein molecule. All of which help our body’s connective tissue, skin, hair, nails, as well as gut health stay as healthy as possible
Why do we lose collagen?
We naturally lose collagen as we age and production of it slows down when we get older, but there are lots of other ways you can be harming your collagen production.
Make sure you’re keeping safe from UV rays which can wreak havoc on collagen production. Also, make sure to watch things like your sugar intake or bad habits like smoking which can also cut down your production of collagen.
Aging alone can affect your collagen levels too. Around the age of 40, your collagen production will decline and most women notice a dramatic difference after menopause. Your skin will get looser, more wrinkles will appear and you will have less elasticity in your skin, resulting in lines and wrinkles throughout the face.
So how can you help the production of collagen in your skin to keep you looking youthful and wrinkle-free?
Eat The Right Foods
There are lots of foods that can help increase your collagen production. Anything with high protein, Vitamin A or Vitamin C will do the trick like berries, almonds or avocados. Dark green vegetables have also been known to benefit your collagen production too.
Face Massage
Not only does it feel GREAT, but giving yourself a face massage can actually stimulate the collagen in your skin and help plump already existing wrinkles. It also helps increase the circulation in your face which can do wonders to fight future signs of aging.
Use The Right Ingredients
When purchasing and applying skincare products to your face, make sure they have a specific function to aid in producing collagen. Ingredients like Matrixyl 3000 which can be found in the South Beach Skin Lab – Repair and Release Cream and has been lab proven to increase the production of collagen and help plump wrinkles and lines with continued use.
