Best Ways To Boost Collagen Levels For A Healthier Skin
What are the best ways to boost your collagen levels using skincare products? If you have ever tried feeling the cheeks of a baby, you would notice how soft and firm it is. There is only one protein responsible for that and that is collagen.
The skin contains a very high amount of collagen in the skin and it makes the skin look young and firm. But before going into how to boost collagen, it is important to know what collagen is.
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So what is collagen?
Collagen is the strongest natural protein that is in the body as well as in the skin, it gives the skin the firmness that you see. It is within the dermal layer alongside elastin and hyaluronic acid to make sure that the skin is firm, elastic, and voluminous. Many skin care industries focus on how to boost collagen by using the term “anti-wrinkle creams”.
But due to the large molecular size of collagen, lots of anti-wrinkle creams are not as effective as they as marketed to be. The collagen molecule is so big, it sits on the epidermal layer of the skin where the effect can be seen but it usually does not penetrate the dermal layer to stimulate collagen.
Habits that breakdown collagen
Sun exposure
Exposure to sunlight causes the skin to be exposed to reactive oxygen species which breaks down collagen. The breakdown of collagen also disrupts the bonding of elastin and hyaluronic acid in the dermal layer. Thereby resulting in wrinkles, loose skin, and hyperpigmentation.
Poor Diet
Diets that contain high sugar, high fat, and not processing your food properly will lead to an event called glycation. Glycation is caused by inflammation where sugar binds to collagen and breakdown collagen within the skin. The breakdown of collagen then results in wrinkles and fine lines.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle such as smoking, excessive intake of alcohol, or living in a polluted area can cause oxidative stress.
Top 5 ways to boost collagen levels
In other to boost collagen with topical creams, antioxidants with ferulic acid alongside sunscreens must be used together. The topical application of ascorbic acid will stimulate fibroblast cells that makeup collagen proteins
Sunscreens
Wearing sunscreen is an effective method of preventing UV-induced premature skin aging. Several studies have shown that wearing sunscreen has proved positive results in preventing signs of aging and the incidence of skin cancers. According to a survey carried out by the American Academy of dermatology, approximately one-half of Americans still believe that a base tan is enough to them from protect UV rays and are unconcerned about exposure to sun radiation. Wearing sunscreens have proven to be the first-line protection, so wear your sunscreen guys. Make sure you wear it regularly and diligently. Sunscreens not only protect you from skin cancer but are also the best cosmetic to wear to prevent prematurely
Antioxidants
Before applying your sunscreens, you must use antioxidants. Using sunscreen alone cannot protect the skin from damaging UV radiation. Studies have shown that sunscreens are only capable of blocking 55% of UV light. With that said, some companies add antioxidants to their sunscreens to help reduce free radicals from the sun. But the challenge with this idea is the stability of the antioxidants in sunscreen.
The use of antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Ferulic acid, and Vitamin E combination makes it’s able to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin to boost collagen and also serve its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants together with sunscreens are a powerful combination that reduces the signs of aging.
Retinoids
The application of retinoids has been well documented to reverse the signs of aging. Particularly Tretinoin which got approval by the FDA as the first active ingredient to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Drink Green Tea
Drinking Green Tea is highly beneficial for the skin. Green tea contains a high amount of polyphenols that have both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This research was carried out when scientists discovered that green tea consumers in China and Japan have a low incidence of skin cancer and they age slowly too.
Collagen supplements
In addition to all these steps, adding collagen supplements to your diet help to boost collagen. It also helps to heal wound faster.
Conclusion
Collagen is an integral protein that is necessary for normal body functions especially in the skin. Therefore it is important to protect our skin from UV light as much as we possibly can. I hope this guide is helpful in a quest to boost your collagen levels for healthier skin.
Source: thealcyone