Collagen levels decrease with age and, unfortunately, there's no way to prevent this. The good news is that there are several cosmetic treatments that can rebuild or restore collagen.
So what's the best way to rebuild collagen in your face? Tretinoin, a prescription-grade retinoid, is an excellent treatment for rebuilding collagen. Almost 30 years ago, a small study showed that tretinoin application increases collagen by up to 80% in the skin after 1 year of treatment.
Collagen replacement therapy is a safe, non-surgical procedure that replenishes depleted collagen by injecting skin with highly purified bovine (cow) collagen. This collagen is so similar to human collagen that your body will readily accept it as its own.
The collagen tissues support the formation of bones, tendons, and cartilage that form depending on the level of mineralization. However, an individual can lose collagen components in the body due to exposure to ultraviolet light, tobacco, excessive intake of sugar, and aging.
Collagen restoration results may become visible immediately. But collagen growth can take up to 12 weeks to complete. It is also important to note that the result is not permanent. It means that you need to undergo another procedure or follow-up treatment to further encourage collagen growth.
Ultraviolet rays, aka sunlight, cause collagen to break down faster. With sun exposure, those UV rays damage the skin by entering the dermis (the second and thickest layer of our skin) which causes collagen to break down faster.
As we age, our body produces less collagen; the protein involved with skin strength and elasticity. Time causes this collagen to degrade, leading to the wrinkles we all associate with aging.
As you age, your body naturally makes less collagen. The slow-down can start in your mid-to-late 20s. That causes a variety of conditions that we usually accept as part of getting older. Signs of collagen loss include wrinkled skin due to elasticity loss and stiff joints.
Does Collagen Tighten Saggy Skin? Studies have indicated that supplemental collagen is beneficial for skin health, including tightening sagging skin (known as elasticity), boosting hydration, and lessening the appearance of wrinkles.
Does collagen work? Some studies show that taking collagen supplements for several months can improve skin elasticity, (i.e., wrinkles and roughness) as well as signs of aging. Others have shown that consuming collagen can increase density in bones weakened with age and can improve joint, back and knee pain.
There are a few ways that exercise can boost collagen levels: Exercise delivers nutrients, like vitamins and oxygen, to skin cells, helping them repair and multiply. Specifically, these nutrients feed the fibroblast cells in your skin that produce collagen.
Just five minutes a day of regular tapping:
plumps the face and smoothes wrinkles by stimulating collagen production; normalizes the activity of oil and sweat glands.
Collagen can't be absorbed by the body in its whole form. This means collagen proteins must be broken down into smaller peptides or amino acids before they can be absorbed.
Beef, Pork, Poultry, Eggs, and Fish
Since collagen is in the skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments of animals and fish, then it makes sense to eat them if you want a diet rich in collagen.
It is well known that Vitamin C is essential to the manufacture of collagen, it seems that it is involved in every step of the manufacturing process, making vitamin C a vital molecule for skin health. Adding vitamin C to a culture of skin cells (fibroblasts) dramatically increases the synthesis of collagen.
Collagen can be restored, because when these treatments happen, the body forms new collagen to repair damage and injuries. Alternatively, food is an excellent way to stimulate collagen production, leading to its restoration within the body.
While there is no conclusive evidence that using collagen boosters improves skin health or thickens the skin, some people find them beneficial. Eating a balanced diet can help support overall health.