Why Collagen is Necessary for Your Skin

Should you’re a skin care fanatic like we are, the time period collagen likely rings a bell. From collagen face cream to collagen skin supplements, it’s possible you’ll be wondering just what skin care concerns individuals are using collagen to address. Lucky for you, you may exit out of your Google search and find everything it’s good to know about collagen for skin right right here—from collagen benefits to the best way to add collagen to your skin care routine. Let’s get to it!

WHAT IS COLLAGEN?

Ready for a quick biology lesson? We promise to keep it brief! Collagen is essentially the most plentiful protein in the skin, in response to the Cleveland Clinic. The protein makes up 75-80% of your skin, so you can understand why it performs a big position within the way your skin looks and ages. The Cleveland Clinic states that collagen, along with elastin (another protein within the skin), is responsible for warding off fine lines and wrinkles. Nonetheless, as you get older, your body’s collagen ranges go down. Acquired it?

WHY COLLAGEN IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR SKIN

Now that you just know a little bit about what collagen is, let’s answer this query: What does collagen do for skin? The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) states that as collagen diminishes, our skin loses its firmness and begins to sag, while wrinkles that used to appear only with a smile or frown turn out to be seen on a regular basis—yikes! This is where collagen skin supplements could also be beneficial. According to the AAD, one current examine showed that in individuals taking a each day complement containing collagen peptides, there was a significant reduction in eye wrinkle depth as well as improvement in their skin’s collagen and elastin after eight weeks of taking the supplements. Nonetheless, the studies on these collagen benefits are very limited and would require more studies with a bigger number of panelists to make sure there is a way to aid collagen and elastin loss.

There are additionally different ways to make up for collagen loss, together with treatments to stimulate collagen production and collagen formulated skin care products—but we’ll dive into those later.

WHAT CAUSES COLLAGEN LOSS?

So, we know that collagen is a protein that’s naturally found in our skin and that it decreases as we age, but what are the details? Although lack of collagen can start earlier, it’s most significant for girls throughout menopause. Research show that ladies’s skin loses about 30% of its collagen during the first 5 years of menopause, in line with the AAD. After that, ladies lose about two p.c of their collagen yearly for the following 20 years.

The sun may also take a toll on your skin’s collagen. In response to the Mayo Clinic, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light breaks down your skin’s connective tissue—collagen and elastin fibers, which lie within the deeper layer of skin (dermis). This sun damage and the breakdown of collagen can lead to wrinkles—so don’t forget to always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more! The Mayo Clinic also states that smoking can lead to adjustments in blood provide to your skin, which can contribute to wrinkles.

HOW TO COMBAT COLLAGEN LOSS

There are several skin therapies that can assist address the loss of collagen. These treatments contain going to a trained professional however could also be quite beneficial.