Collagen: What Is It, and Why Is It Important?

Oh, collagen.

We’ve seen creams, serums, and gels all claiming to be chock-full of this buzz-word ingredient, promising plump skin, a glowing complexion, and ultimately your skin’s eternal youth. This word is often used to capture attention and promote products that, in all honesty, may or may not work. We’re here to clear that up!

What Is Collagen?

The body naturally produces collagen, which is a protein that helps bind together bones, muscles, skin, hair, ligaments, and tendons. It’s made up of amino acids - glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline (1) - that combine with other collagen molecules to form a network in the dermis (the layer of skin between the epidermis and subcutaneous fat). This network is what provides a level of support and structure to the skin (almost like a framework) that keeps the skin lifted.

In the skin, collagen is what gives the skin a bouncy, youthful look and feel; it’s responsible for the skin’s structure and strength, keeping the skin from sagging and wrinkling. Collagen is even more present than you might think - it makes up about 75% of the skin’s support structure! (2)

Unfortunately for us, collagen reserves start to deplete in our 20’s; this is a natural process that takes place as the body starts to age. This is why you start to see fine lines and wrinkles starting to form and stick around; the body doesn’t have the same level of collagen available to support and lift the skin as it did when we were children or teenagers.

How Can You Protect Your Collagen Reserves?

The first step in maintaining youthful skin is this: preserve and protect your existing collagen!
Because we lose collagen as we age, we need to remain mindful of how to preserve these precious reserves (Sunscreen! Retinols! Peptides! Hurray!) as well as using methods to help the skin naturally build up collagen again.

Daily items for preserving & protecting include:

1. Use sunscreen every day: this one everyone knows, but we have to say it anyways! Use sunscreen daily to avoid UV damage and free radical damage to the skin - these degrade your skin’s collagen and elastin, resulting in premature aging.

2. Look for makeup and daily care items that incorporate SPF; think lip balm, foundations, powder SPF, lip gloss, and more! You’ll easily be able to find makeup and additional skincare that have at least SPF 30, giving you options for protection your face even when you want to apply lip care, makeup, or add extra coverage. This is an easy win - most of the time, you won’t feel like you’re wearing sun protection.

3. Keep your skin hydrated. The backbone of any great skincare routine starts with keeping your body hydrated - and it’s as simple as drinking enough water every day! Good hydration supports your existing collagen to help you with the all-important maintenance of your existing collagen reserves.

Is It Possible to Build Additional Collagen?

The short answer is yes! However, it does take time and patience to see your results; your skin can’t produce this overnight! With care, attention, and patience, you will see the difference in your skin that greater collagen production promises: fewer fine lines and wrinkles and a smoother, plumper complexion!

The trick here is that you want to engage in practices that build healthy, high-quality collagen. Our body’s ability to produce high-quality collagen decreases with age, so we need to be mindful of using quality products and proven treatments!

What Treatments Should You Be Doing?

While consultations are the best way to find out what will work for your skin in particular, there are some treatments that are universally accepted as fantastic ways to increase collagen production. They all work in different ways to reach the deepest layers of your skin and stimulate fresh, healthy collagen to produce naturally.

1. Microneedling
   Microneedling utilizes a tool with very short, fine needles that create tiny micro punctures in the skin. When the tool creates these pinpricks (we use the Eclipse MicroPen®) the body reacts by rushing to heal these micro wounds - and in the process, the skin is plumped by the stimulation of collagen production (among other healing processes). While this might sound intense, this is actually a minimally invasive and extremely safe procedure, and the downtime typically lasts a maximum of about 3-5 days.

2. Radio Frequency Microneedling (Fractora)
   Fractora combines the magic of microneedling with radio frequency treatment to penetrate deeper into the skin and provide more dramatic skin tightening results. This process can also be used to treat cystic acne and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), and will typically deliver results for deeper lines and wrinkles than its counterpart.

3. Laser Genesis
   Laser Genesis, one of our most popular treatments, uses micro-pulses of laser energy to active collagen and elastin remodelling and production in the deeper layers of the skin. This is a completely non-invasive treatment that’s quick, easy, and painless. Often called the “lunchtime treatment” it can be done quickly and there’s no downtime! It’s a pleasant treatment that feels warm and offers fabulous results. Typically, you’ll start to visibly see your results after a few sessions!

4. Deep Dermal Tightening
   Deep Dermal Tightening is a laser rejuvenation treatment that stimulates the dermis, a deep layer of the skin, using light and heat energy. This is a gentle treatment but the skin responds dramatically to the stimulant; the heating tightens the existing collagen and helps keep the skin from wrinkling and continuing to fall with age. Think of this almost as the natural, laser version of a facelift! This treatment typically results in having a tighter appearance and smoothes out fine lines and wrinkles. This is an incredibly satisfying treatment because you’ll typically see some of your results right away! You’ll also begin to produce new, healthy collagen within a few weeks of treatment.

5. Photo Firm
   Photo Firm is truly one of those all-in-one magic treatments! If you want to stimulate new collagen but also need to treat skin redness, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles, this is the treatment for you! A hybrid laser combined with the laser application for Deep Dermal Tightening is used, giving you a widen range of benefits in one go. This allows for the first set of lasers to calm redness and reduce brown spots; this process is followed by the Deep Dermal Tightening application to tighten and firm the skin.

What Products Should You Be Using?

Topical treatments like retinol and tretinoin are scientifically proven to promote collagen formation. Additionally, antioxidants such as vitamin C can reverse the inflammation that causes damage to the collagen in your skin. While you don’t necessarily have to use all of these, incorporating some into your routine is a great way to ease into an elevated skincare regime that actively promotes collagen formation for healthier skin. Always ask your esthetician to make sure it’s right for your skin before starting any of these!

1. Introduce a retinol into your routine
   Retinols are a nighttime routine must! Retinols are proven to stimulate collagen production in the skin and thicken the epidermis (3), providing a smoothing, resurfacing, and plumping effect.

2. Introduce a vitamin C serum into your routine
   Vitamin C serums use this powerhouse ingredient to encourage new collagen production. Vitamin C applied topically with a product help protect the structure of your existing collagen and protects it from damage!

3. Marine collagen supplements
   Ingesting collagen supplements is a way to allow the additional collagen into the dermis, a deep layer of the skin (sometimes called our “true skin”). This allows a boost to collagen production from a cellular level, providing the dermal layer with additional support.

4. Periodically use products with AHAs/BHAs
   Among a host of other benefits, AHAs and BHAs encourage collagen synthesis. AHA’s in particular work in both the epidermal and dermal layer, penetrating deep to promote cellular renewal and allow collagen production and new formation.

5. Growth factors, antioxidants, and peptides, oh my!
   These are more than just buzz words - products like the Growth Factor Serum, Renewal Crème, Copper Firming Mist, and Poly-Vitamin Serum provide essential nutrients to the skin and help to both preserve and build collagen!

What Other Daily Habits Can I Do?

Eat a healthy, protein-rich diet! Protein will provide your body with amino acids, which are necessary to build additional collagen. Look to incorporate fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meat and seafood, nuts, and beans. You’ll also get a boost of other great vitamins and minerals from these foods that help your skin glow - you can’t go wrong by eating right!

I Need More Info!

Contact us any time! We’re always happy to provide more comprehensive education on the products and treatments that we offer at the clinic. We’re committed to not just providing treatments that work in general - we want to get it 100% right for your specific skin concerns! Call, text, or email anytime, or book in for a consultation to get a personalized approach to skincare created for you.

References:

(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21475/

(2) https://jddonline.com/articles/dermatology/S1545961619P0009X

(3) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26578346/