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Collagen: The Skin's Essential Foundation
Why Your Skin Needs Collagen
Collagen is a fibrous protein crucial for the elasticity, firmness, and youthful appearance of your skin. Along with elastin, it forms the structural framework of the dermis, preventing aging and sagging. After the age of 25, collagen synthesis significantly slows down. Can cosmetic procedures increase collagen in tissues? Is it necessary to take collagen supplements to compensate for an existing deficiency? And what other methods exist to boost this protein? Let's delve into the subject in more detail.
What Exactly Is Collagen?

Collagen is a structural protein of connective tissue and a key component of the dermis. It's also found in sufficient quantities in hair, nails, bone, and cartilage tissue. Collagen's role extends beyond maintaining the beauty and youthfulness of the skin; it also supports the proper functioning of all bodily systems.
The complete production of collagen requires amino acids that form the protein's "basis." These include glycine, proline, and lysine. While glycine and proline are synthesized in the human body, lysine can only be replenished through diet, supplements, and medication.

Optimal levels of vitamin C, selenium, and copper are also essential for collagen production.
While we barely feel a lack of collagen in our youth, its production sharply declines with age. This decreased production leads to a decline in the appearance of facial and body skin, impaired vision, bone tissue pathologies, and other issues.

Collagen's Role in Skin

Collagen is the most vital component of the skin, its very foundation. It ensures the hydration, density, and elasticity of the dermis, enabling complete tissue restoration and renewal.

Structure and Elasticity

This fibrous protein boosts the density and firmness of the dermis, preventing sagging and wrinkle formation. A lack of collagen leads to thinning, flabbiness, and skin folds, loss of facial contour definition, and a dull, uneven complexion.

Moisture and Hydration

Collagen fibers prevent transepidermal water loss, maintaining optimal skin hydration. Dry and dehydrated skin is one of the primary indicators of insufficient collagen in the body.

Cell Regeneration and Skin Healing

With optimal levels of this structural protein, dermal cell regeneration processes are faster and more active. Collagen aids in fibroblast formation, which promotes the growth of new cellular structures and plays a crucial role in renewing the epidermal horny layer.
To maintain youthful and healthy skin, prioritise a balanced diet rich in collagen-boosting nutrients, protect yourself from UV damage, and consider supplements that support your body's natural collagen production.
Reasons for Decreased Collagen Levels

A reduction in collagen fibres in tissues can be linked to age-related changes, unfavourable environmental conditions, stress, and other factors. The combination of these causes significantly slows down their synthesis, initiates ageing processes, and inflicts noticeable harm to health.

Aging

With age, the collagen content in the skin decreases. This happens due to a slowdown in protein production by tissues and the gradual destruction of existing fibres. Natural collagen loss begins around 25 years of age, with the body losing at least 1% every year after 40.
With the onset of menopause in women, due to decreased oestrogen levels (after 50), fibrous protein reserves diminish much faster, impacting all organs and tissues. The skin loses its turgor and elasticity, muscles lose their flexibility, bones become brittle and prone to fractures, and joint function deteriorates.

UV Exposure

Ultraviolet rays destroy collagen fibres in the skin, transforming them into a loose mass unable to perform the skin's structural function. Excessive UV exposure leads to photoaging.

Poor Nutrition and Bad Habits

Inadequate nutrition and a lack of selenium, silicon, and other components in the body impair collagen synthesis. Alcohol and smoking have an equally negative impact. Ethanol activates the glycation process of proteins, which in their altered form cannot support the skin's framework. Nicotine triggers the synthesis of free radicals, accelerating skin ageing by destroying cells and structural proteins.
Signs of Collagen Deficiency in the Skin

Since collagen is the fundamental basis of the dermis, a deficiency or destruction of its fibres can manifest as premature aging and a decline in skin condition.

Loss of Firmness and Elasticity

The skin becomes easily stretched, losing its smoothness and turgor. In patients over 35, the facial contours "sag", indicating a chronic lack of connective tissue proteins.

Appearance of Wrinkles and Fine Lines

The skin loses firmness and undergoes texture changes, which leads to the development of persistent wrinkles and creases. After sleep, fine lines can remain on the face for quite some time. If you gather ageing skin into a fold, it will smooth out quite slowly. Besides the face, wrinkles and creases also form on the chin and when turning the neck.

Dryness and Dehydration

A lack of collagen fibres in dermal tissues leads to rapid moisture loss. As a result, the skin appears dry and dehydrated, with a dull complexion.

Ways to Increase Collagen Levels in the Skin

A chronic lack of collagen, in addition to structural changes in the skin, can contribute to the development of various pathologies and diseases—such as joint damage, multiple tooth decay, and more. Cosmetic methods provide a local therapeutic effect, indirectly or directly increasing protein production in tissues. However, this isn't sufficient for all patients; to comprehensively raise fibrous protein levels in the body, they take collagen supplements and incorporate collagen-rich foods into their diet.

Diet and Supplements

Consuming foods rich in collagen, vitamin C, and omega-3 fatty acids positively impacts skin health.
Collagen-Rich Foods: You can replenish your body's collagen stores by including meat broths, fatty fish, seafood, eggs, fresh greens and vegetables, berries, and seeds in your diet. Your daily diet should be varied, providing the necessary complex of vitamins and trace elements.
Collagen Supplements: Supplements most often contain hydrolyzed collagen, a protein obtained through breakdown or hydrolysis into amino acid compounds that are effectively absorbed by the body. They enter tissues in two forms:
  • Free amino acids form the foundation for synthesising new collagen and elastin fibres.
  • Oligopeptides work like keys that attach to the fibroblast membrane and start the production of new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid proteins.

Collagen in cosmetics is highly valued for its skin-hydrating properties; it provides elasticity by attracting moisture, preventing its evaporation, and smoothing the skin's surface. We offer a limited edition series using plant-derived collagen and an active peptide that combat age-related changes, restoring skin smoothness and elasticity. In cosmetic formulas for ageing skin, collagen specifically targets creases and wrinkles due to its ability to increase in volume, effectively pushing wrinkles out from within. Daily use of collagen-infused cosmetics perfectly softens and heals the skin, providing a cumulative rejuvenating effect.
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