There’s no denying the process of aging. And as we age, our skin begins to show signs of wear and tear. Fine lines and wrinkles appear as our skin elasticity becomes a concern. This is called skin aging.

We know that one of the key components of healthy, youthful skin is collagen. Collagen production declines as we age. Perhaps you find yourself wondering this: “How can I get collagen in my skin so I can look great and have optimum skin health as I age?”

Would you like the answer to that question? Keep reading to find out how to increase the collagen in your skin and boost collagen production so you can age your best!

What is Collagen?

First, let’s look at what collagen actually is. Collagen is an essential protein that your body naturally produces. This process is called collagen synthesis or collagen production. As we get older, collagen production begins to decline. This can happen anywhere between our 20’s and 30’s pending on various factors such as our health, lifestyle, and environmental stressors.

Usually the first signs of this decline are fine lines, wrinkles, or dry skin. Our skin health is greatly impacted as we lose collagen. This is when most people begin to consider how to boost collagen production. Getting more collagen into skin becomes a very big concern as this transpires.

What Are the Different Types of Collagen?

There are many types of collagen that run through your body. All play different roles and have their own set of unique benefits but work together to support the function and integrity of the body.

Let’s explore the four main types of collagen: Type I, Type II, Type III and Type IV.

Type I Collagen

Type I collagen is the most abundant type of collagen in the human body, and it’s found in tendons, skin, and bone. It’s known for its high tensile strength and elasticity, which makes it ideal for supporting and protecting connective tissues.

Type II Collagen

Type II collagen is found in cartilage and it’s important for maintaining the elasticity and resilience of this tissue. It also plays a part in providing cushioning properties to your joints. This type of collagen is what helps prevent joint pain and muscle aches as we get older.

Type III Collagen

Type III collagen is found in muscles, blood vessels, and organs. It helps to give structure, strength, and support to your body’s inner system.

Type IV Collagen

Type IV collagen is found in the basement membrane–a layer of connective tissue that separates epithelial cells from other cells and tissues. This type of collagen helps to support and protect epithelial cells. 

What Does Collagen Do For Our Skin?

Collagen provides structural support for our skin as well as strength and elasticity. When skin elasticity begins to be compromised, we end up with wrinkles, fine lines, and eventually loose or sagging skin.

It also helps our skin maintain moisture, which is a big part of our skin health. Skin that becomes very dry can lead to other skin health concerns.

Why Do We Lose Collagen?

Let’s explore why we lose collagen. Declining collagen production is a natural process and every person has to deal with it. When collagen decline begins is dependent on a few varying factors such as overall health, lifestyle, and environmental stressors.

Medical conditions, poor diet, lack of exercise, working out in the elements every day (in particular exposure to the sun), stress, and poor sleep habits are all factors that impact collagen production and can actually quicken the decline of collagen in our bodies.

How Can You Preserve and Boost Collagen Production?

A question that’s always being asked is this: “Can you preserve and boost collagen production?” You’ll be happy to know that there are indeed some things you can do to preserve and boost collagen production.

Eat Healthily

While there’s no magic fountain of youth, eating a healthy diet is one of the best things you can do for your skin. Healthy foods are packed with nutrients that promote collagen production and preserve your skin’s youthful appearance.

Foods that are rich in antioxidants and vitamins C and E are particularly helpful in stimulating collagen production such as citrus fruits. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables like berries, tomatoes, peppers and leafy greens are high in antioxidants, which help protect skin from free radical damage.

Other collagen-boosting foods include bone broth, fish, chicken beans, nuts, soy products, and even garlic.

Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is important for many reasons. Sleep deprivation has been shown to actually decrease levels of a hormone that is involved in the production of collagen. 

Getting plenty of restful sleep can help to slow down the loss of collagen and even stimulate the production of new collagen fibers. Sleep helps to preserve collagen by giving the body time to repair and regenerate cells. This includes damage from exposure to UV rays, pollution, and other environmental stressors.

Don’t Smoke–Or Quit if You Do!

Quitting smoking is often associated with positive changes to appearance, including clearer skin and whiter teeth. Do you realize that quitting smoking can also have a profound impact on the health of your skin, hair, and nails? Smoking is detrimental to collagen and collagen synthesis.

Within just a few weeks of quitting, people start to see a difference in their skin. It will be more radiant and hydrated and fine lines and wrinkles will start to fade.

Smoking also inhibits the body’s ability to produce new collagen. As a result, quitting smoking can help to preserve existing collagen and stimulate new collagen growth, giving your skin a more youthful appearance. 

Wear Sunglasses

Wearing sunglasses is not just about looking stylish or protecting your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays. By blocking out UV rays, sunglasses help to prevent the breakdown of collagen. Sunglasses can also help to preserve collagen and stimulate collagen production producing new collagen fibers, resulting in firmer, more youthful-looking skin.

Consider Collagen Supplements

Collagen is a protein that makes up the connective tissue in our bodies. Collagen supplements can help to preserve existing collagen and stimulate new collagen production. One study found that participants who took a daily collagen supplement had less skin dryness and greater skin elasticity after eight weeks.

Another study found that taking a collagen supplement helped to reduce joint pain and improve flexibility. Collagen supplements, according to experts, are great for improving the health of our skin, joints, and connective tissue. By adding collagen supplementation to your health regime, you are providing the building blocks that your body needs to create new collagen proteins.

Limit Your Stress

Did you know that stress can impact skin health? Stress can cause an increase in the hormone cortisol, which breaks down collagen. Stress can also trigger inflammation, which can lead to further collagen loss.

So how can you protect your skin from the damaging effects of stress? By taking steps to limit stress, you’ll not only feel better overall, but you’ll also be helping to preserve your skin’s healthy appearance and skin elasticity.

What’s Better: Oral Collagen Supplements or Collagen Lotions?

Collagen supplements and collagen based creams are two popular choices for keeping your skin looking young and healthy. Is one better than the other? The answer may depend on your specific needs and goals.

Oral Collagen Supplements:

• improve skin elasticity
• reduce wrinkles and fine lines
• promote healthy hair and nails

Collagen Lotions:

• moisturize and hydrate the skin
• provide a temporary “plumping” effect

So, which should you choose? If you’re looking for long-term results, oral collagen supplements are the way to go. These supplements help to improve skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles from the inside out.

If you’re looking for a quick fix, collagen lotions are a great option. These lotions can help to temporarily reduce the appearance of fine lines and give your skin a youthful glow.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide which method of collagen delivery is right for you. Whichever route you choose, you’re sure to see some benefits!

Other Ways to Boost Collagen Production

In addition to supplements there are other ways to help boost collagen production. The following are considered to be alternatives to combating skin aging for great looking and healthy skin.

Creams and Serums

Creams and serums full of collagen peptides that also contain hyaluronic acid can help to boost collagen production. By applying a hyaluronic acid-based cream or serum to the skin, you can help to stimulate collagen synthesis.

This, in turn, can help to improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid can help to attract and retain moisture, making the skin plumper and more youthful-looking.

Chemical Peels

A chemical peel is a skin-resurfacing procedure that uses a chemical solution to remove the top layer of dead skin cells, revealing the fresh, new skin beneath. They can be used to treat a variety of concerns, including sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars and uneven skin tone.

By stimulating collagen production, chemical peels can help to reverse some of the signs of aging. They are available in a variety of strengths, so it is important to consult with a qualified esthetician to determine which peel is right for you. A series of peels may be necessary to achieve desired results.

Micro Needling

Micro needling is a popular procedure involving a device to create tiny punctures in the skin. This stimulates the body’s natural healing process, which leads to an increase in collagen production.

This process can also help to improve the appearance of scars by stimulating the growth of new skin cells.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

If you’re looking for a way to boost collagen production and achieve radiant, youthful-looking skin, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy may be right for you.

PRP is derived from your own blood, so it’s completely natural and safe. The platelets in PRP contain high levels of growth factors, which are essential for wound healing and tissue regeneration. When injected into the skin, these growth factors stimulate collagen production, resulting in firmer, smoother, more youthful-looking skin.

Skin Resurfacing Lasers

Skin resurfacing lasers are becoming increasingly popular as a way to achieve youthful, radiant skin. But how do these lasers work? By targeting the deep layers of the skin, skin resurfacing lasers stimulate collagen production.

Skin resurfacing lasers can help to reverse this process by promoting the growth of new collagen fibers. The laser energy helps to break down damaged collagen fibers, giving skin a more even appearance.

These treatments can be performed on the face, neck, chest, or hands to help reduce wrinkles and improve the overall texture of the skin.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are a popular treatment for adding volume and achieving a more youthful appearance. One of the key ways dermal fillers help to achieve these results is by boosting collagen production.

They can also help to replenish collagen levels, resulting in firmer, smoother skin. In addition to boosting collagen production, dermal fillers also help to hydrate the skin and improve its elasticity.

How to Find the Best Collagen Supplement

There’s a lot to know about collagen supplementation. It can be quite overwhelming when one sees the vast amounts of collagen supplements on the market. There are a few things to consider when seeking out the best collagen supplement for you!

Do Your Research

Every decision you make should be an informed decision. This is especially important when it comes to your health. Do your research! You want to purchase supplements from a reputable brand that does third party testing. Why is this important? Because an honest and trustworthy brand doesn’t use fillers and uses only pure ingredients. They will also make the ingredients easy to find and will be willing to answer any and all questions you might have.

Read Reviews

Part of your research should be to read reviews. You want to read what customers have to say about the supplements they have been using. You want to know what their experience has been. What has the supplement done or not done for them?

Check the Ingredients

When it comes to supplements, it’s important to know what you’re putting into your body. Just like with any other product, checking the ingredients is a good way to make sure that you’re getting what you expect. You wouldn’t want to take a supplement that contains fillers or ingredients that you’re allergic to or that could interact negatively with other medications you’re taking.

By taking the time to check the ingredients list, you can be sure that you’re getting the most out of your supplements.

Final Thoughts

There is lots to consider when it comes to collagen supplementation. From skin health to collagen synthesis and how to get collagen in collagen in my skin. Collagen makes up vital proteins that your body needs to function and maintain health as you age. 

Need more information or want to be sure you are getting quality collagen supplements? Be sure to check out our Health BLOG and collagen product page. Your skin will thank you for it! 

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