How to Keep Your Skin Looking Younger and Boost Collagen Production

 

You might not know, but collagen is a goldmine of a skincare ingredient that can help keep your skin look young, plump and wrinkle-free. When you think of “youthful skin,” you’re likely thinking of skin that’s abundant in collagen.

 

But how does collagen create a younger-looking skin?

Collagen is a protein produced by our cells that helps “hold” the skin together, keeping it looking younger and giving it elasticity and firmness. It makes up a great deal of our skin tissue – 75 percent, to be exact. It’s found in the skin, bones, muscles, blood vessels, and even teeth.
As part of the aging process, the skin’s natural collagen breaks down resulting in the loss of facial volume.

You’ve probably already seen evidence of this collagen breakdown. Maybe the frown lines between your eyebrows are becoming deeper? Perhaps you’ve noticed a few more fine lines popping up around the eyes? The face begins to look tired, angry or sad even when you are in a fantastic mood.  This decrease in collagen through the years leaves us with sagging skin, wrinkles, and lack of firmness.

What contributes to the breakdown of collagen?

 

• Intrinsic Aging: A decrease in collagen is the result of “intrinsic aging.” Growing old is an internal factor that causes collagen breakdown.

 

• Oxidative damage to collagen:  Collagen is a good target for oxygen-free radicals. These are external factors that cause collagen breakdown and can be anything from air pollution to smoking or even a diet with refined added sugars. The UV rays from sun exposure are another form of oxygen free radicals. UVA and UVB rays are responsible for 90 percent of the symptoms of premature skin aging. Yet despite this, more than a third of adults still choose to sunbathe.

 

So, the bad news is that collagen production slows down, and your existing collagen breaks down. Luckily, there are ways to preserve your collagen and even increase the amount of collagen in your body. Dr. Tahsini from Skin Works Medical Spa, California, shares with you top 5 ways you can boost collagen production.

 

1. Up your vitamin C intake for young skin

Vitamin C is a heavyweight antioxidant. It is an anti-aging superstar that delays the signs of aging by fighting free radical damage. A 2007 study published in the American Journal of clinical nutrition found that middle-aged women who consumed more Vitamin C in their diet appeared to have fewer wrinkles than those who consumed lower levels.

“Vitamin C is key to the ­formation of collagen – It can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged,” says Dr. Tahsini from Skin Works Medical Spa, Torrance.

If you’re looking to add vitamin C into your skincare routine, Dr. Tahsini notes that a serum is the best way in which to do so. “A vitamin C serum will be most effective in delivering to the cellular level,” he says.

 

2. Be Sun Safe

Sun exposure is the number-one skin-ager. Every minute you spend sunbathing is slowly unraveling your collagen fibers. This translates to sagging skin, wrinkles and fine lines. It also adds skin discoloration. It’s like throwing your finest cashmere sweater in the dryer on high heat. Protect your skin from the sun by using a sunscreen with a high SPF.

Dr. Tahsini recommends a Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 to reduce the aging of the skin caused by sun damage.

 

3. Eat collagen-boosting Foods

Have a healthy meal that includes foods containing omega fatty acids and antioxidants, and eliminate all refined sugar! Refined added sugars make your skin age more rapidly. To retain your skin’s glow increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables.

 

4. Exfoliate

Exfoliation helps speed up the natural process of skin and collagen renewal. Dr. Tahsini recommends an antioxidant-rich Exfoliating body lotion. The lotion will penetrate deeply to exfoliate, brighten and moisturize your skin for an evener skin tone. You can stop by Skin Works Medical Spa Torrance, to pick yours.

 

5.  Embrace Collagen-Boosing Skin Care Treatments – Microneedling & Radiesse

Although a healthy lifestyle will slow down aging, it isn’t enough to knock a few years off your face.

With a skillful combination of anti-aging treatments, you can avoid surgery with anti-aging treatments like microneedling. Microneedling is a “collagen induction therapy” treatment that boosts collagen to make your skin look younger, evens out skin texture and makes you look more radiant.

Radiesse is a collagen-stimulating filler that not only lifts the skin and replaces lost volume but also improves skin quality in the long-term.

 

What is RADIESSE Dermal Filler And How Does It Work?

 

RADIESSE is a volumizing filler used to plump up moderate to severe facial wrinkles and to restore lost volume, such as the nasolabial folds and the cheeks. However, it is so much more than just a volumizing filler. It works by works by stimulating your body to produce collagen.

 

It is the first and only dermal filler FDA approved filler for both face and hands. To date, it is the only dermal filler approved for this hands rejuvenation. With just one injection RADIESSE provides instant lift and stimulates your body’s own collagen production for a result that looks natural and will last at least 12 months and up to 18 months.

 

RADIESSE works via a 2-step process:

1- In the short term, it creates a supportive structure beneath the skin to instantly restore depleted facial volume.
2- In the long term, it boosts the body’s natural production of collagen, which is the protein responsible for hydrating the skin, and for keeping the skin looking soft and full.

 

At Skin Works Medical Spa in Torrance, Radiesse® and Radiesse® (+) are available. Radiesse® (+) contains local anesthetic (Lidocaine) which shown to lessen pain related to the injection. Not sure if you are a good candidate?

 

Book Your Complimentary  Skin Analysis