In essence, collagen is a structural, fibrous protein that’s found in various parts of the body, most notably in connective tissues. Working in tandem with elastin, another fibrous protein, collagen is vital to your skin’s structural network. It’s one of the main components that promotes and maintains dermal elasticity and skin cell renewal, especially when we’re young. However, since all good things must come to an end, collagen follows suit and its production declines at around 1% per year after approximately age 25. From this point on, most of us will start to notice fine lines here and there and, further down the line, gradual volume loss in certain facial areas. This is partially due to not just collagen loss, but degradation. Our skin slowly thins as we age, which isn’t helped when the fibers of both collagen and elastin thicken (thus becoming less elastic), loosen their previously tight formation and finally degrade, which prompts the strands to break.
An interesting fact about collagen, as we covered in our post about dermal aging, is that it’s responsible for establishing up to 35% of our body’s protein content and around 80% of our skin’s makeup. Various types of collagen have been discovered in the body (around 16 to be exact) but these are most commonly broken down into five main types.
– Type I is that which makes up approximately 90% of the collagen found in our body. It’s recognized for its tightly packed fibers, which act like a framework for the skin, connective tissues, tendons, fibrous cartilage and even teeth and bones.
– Type II is typically composed of a looser formation, which is located in the elastic cartilage that is responsible for protecting and cushioning the joints.
– Type III is the variation that behaves like a supportive framework for arteries, muscles and organs.
– Type IV is the kind of collagen that is found in your skin’s layers. It also plays an integral role in the process of dermal filtration.
– Type V is the type that’s found in hair, the surface of your body’s cells and even in placenta.
With age comes not only the deterioration of such vital proteins but also cartilage and bone, which gradually lose their density. This results in the loss of our previously youthful facial shape and tautness, the outcome of which is the visible slackening of skin as it fails to maintain its structure and elasticity. Though the skin still continues to produce collagen (albeit at a decreased rate) as our bodies age, it is of a much lower quality and not capable of restoring youth to our faces.
A helpful thing to bear in mind when it comes to collagen is that it’s been reported that you can actually further aid your body in its production of it. By consuming additional quantities of glycine, proline, copper and vitamin C, these collagen-forming ingredients work together in harmony to make the skin appear younger and more invigorated. Glycine is located in various protein-rich foods like legumes, fish, meat and dairy products. Proline is found in dairy products, mushrooms, cabbage, asparagus, egg whites and wheat germ. Copper can be sourced from cocoa powder, lentils, organ meats, sesame seeds, cashews and even cucumber. Citrus fruits, strawberries and bell peppers, on the other hand, are rich in vitamin C. In order to fully benefit from such nutrients, however, your body demands protein that is of a high standard, and a source that provides the amino acids required to create the protein building blocks of collagen. Alongside animal products like seafood, poultry, meat and dairy, tofu and legumes are great for getting your amino acid quotient if you are endeavoring to avoid animal-derived substances.
Especially when it comes to this structural protein, it’s helpful to be familiar with the things that pose a threat to it. UV radiation is one of collagen’s most formidable foes since it has proven to be responsible for causing a decline in its production, not to mention its degradation. Likewise with smoking and an excess of refined carbohydrates and sugars, which have all been recognized for their ability to impede collagen production by inflicting damage on its structure.
At least in the skincare world, it’s almost impossible to mention collagen without talking about hyaluronic acid. Although we cover this ingredient in more detail in our blog post which we will link to at the end of this article, this anti-aging ingredient is defined by its ability to help boost collagen production. Though not a permanent anti-aging fix, it’s one that is highly valued, especially given its admirable anti-aging track record when applied topically.
As well as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C can be equally beneficial to your anti-aging routine – it’s a potent antioxidant that has the ability to boost your collagen levels naturally. One particular study divulged the positive effects of vitamin C on collagen production, more specifically on the synthesis of collagen type I. A decrease in oxidative stress was also noted, which was another positive outcome. This study aside, vitamin C has gained recognition over the years for its ability to boost collagen and hyaluronic acid production as well as encouraging a dermal repair response and reducing oxidative stress, as we mentioned above.
If you’d like to discover more about antioxidants like vitamin C, check out our post on What Are Antioxidants? If you’d prefer to delve into the effects of dermal aging to its full extent, read What Is Dermal Aging? If you’re curious about the effects of oxidative stress on the skin, we suggest What Is Oxidative Stress? If you’re intrigued by hyaluronic acid’s effects on collagen, check out our post on What Is Hyaluronic Acid?