We've all heard of collagen, but actually what is it and what can we do to help it support us for longer?
Collagen is a natural protein that is found in many parts of the body’s tissues, such as bones, muscles, tendons, lining blood vessels, etc., but it is well known as having a prominent function within the skin.
In the dermis, known as the true or living skin, the protein fibres of collagen is an important part; it is the part that gives the skin its strength and structure, as it is insoluble, hard and fibrous. It is believed to be named after the Greek word for ‘glue’ (kόlla).
As our skin matures, especially after menopause, the production of collagen slows down, plus the environmental stressors such as UV exposure, high sugary diet or smoking – all add to this slow down. It causes collagen to form wrinkles, but it also causes the muscles to weaken, tightening of the joints, making your blood vessels less flexible, and even causes gut issues. One thing we must keep in mind is that the collagen production and maturing process starts around 22-23 years of age, so supporting our collagen really needs to start early, but stopping it slowing even more is crucial as you mature.
There are numerous products and treatments available to assist in giving collagen longevity, and many are amazing at helping this productive process but there are many that have little or no effect in helping us the keep our body and skin looking more youthful.
We would all love to have the 'Elixir of Youth', but sadly, although research has gone a long way in helping us live longer, it some how does not always help us stay youthful, although many have tried! Many have searched for this elixir and it is written about in many myths, in fact, even Indian Jones came across it, but like everything else it only seems to work for some!
Skin care products that contain Vitamins, Ceramide, and Collagen are all helpful externally on the skins upper layers, to give the skin a more plump and youthful appearance, but their ingredients, especially in serums, often need extra help. Application of the products often need a massage routine to work on the problem areas or even equipment, such as quartz or jade rollers or gua sha tools to aid the massage. Some salon treatments can assist in the absorption of the active ingredents too!
Many of the treatments provided do help, such as a regular cocktail of vitamins injected - this does help, and I have seen it work on people. They feel more energetic and look radiant, but for how long and the modification of the dose as you age is unknown to me, and you would need to speak to a Harley Street Specialist to get the lowdown. A couple of people I know have tried it and they swear by it, but unless you have around £5000 + per year available to spend then this would not be an option for most.
Vitamin C is actually one of the vitamins that is said to be able to help the collagen in the skin, etc., it is not just for when you have a cold! It has an essential role in connective tissue (such as collagen) healing. It helps to produce enzymes that have a catalytic action on hydroxylation of procollagen, that promote the stabilized production of the collagen's triple helix structure. In addition, to it's role in collagen synthesis - it is an antioxidant that neutralises reactive oxygen and this helps stop the inflammatory response. This helps to support collagen production and slows down collagen ageing and slower productive ability. Good for the whole body, not just the skin.
Taking Vitamin C supplements is one way to introduce it into the body, but taking natural vitamins within your food is much healthier, especially 'raw' foods, but if cooked carefully, some of the vitamins can be retained - many people overcook food, especially vegetables, and this will often strip the food of any nutritional value. There are Vitamin C capsules and powders, and this enables most people to receive the additional vitamin input into their diets.
Externally, there are many skin care products and treatments that are designed to help collagen production. Skin care products can have their use, especially if introduced into the skin through electrical or needling techniques. Some of these techniques can introduce the active ingredient into to lower part of the skin such as the dermis, as many products can only reach the epidermal waterproof barrier and not travel beyond.
Using electrotherapies such as iontophoresis have the ability to break down this barrier and allow the ingredients to penetrate, and then pushed down into the dermis, the skin is then resealed as the barrier is reformed.
Micro-needling, derma-rolling and nano-needling - all of these are a little more intrusive into the skin, and cause micro injuries in the skin. This causes a healing response to wounds in the skin, having a skin rejuvenating effect, as it stimulates the production of collagen, and this process is known to help with scars, wrinkles, and even stretchmarks. The microneedles penetrate the skin from 0.5mm to 2.5mm deep.so enters the dermal layer, where it is formed the collagen and elastin networks, and this is the area that you need the collagen stimulation to occur.
Micro-needling has been in existence since 1995, in the form of a derma-roller, but then the 'DermaPen' (a trademarked device) was introduced where the needle is pushed up and down very rapidly to enter the skin in a direct and straight puncture (the derma-roller stretches the skin open in its rolling movement). Since then, the nano-needling machine has been introduced, that have very fine needles and a rapid movement. Plus, there's something called nano-fusion which blasts the skin's surface with a very fine spray of active ingredients that a pushed into the skin, and this is also said to be effective.
So, there are some of the products with home or salon treatments can help collagen rejuvenation, together with supplements and a good diet - but it is important to look at our genetics too, we tend to take after a family member to tell us how are skin and body will react to the maturing process!
Let's just say we are never too old to start!
Love,
Shirley-Louise xx
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