Collagen is the newest buzzword that is taking over beauty products, supplements, and spa treatments. An incredibly essential protein, collagen keeps your tissues and bones together for optimal health. Collagen helps to give your skin structure and elasticity, which is especially crucial for our skin as we age.
All of this proven information may leave you asking if collagen supplements are the secret anti-aging and staying forever young.
What Is Collagen
Collagen is sourced from the bones, cartilage, and skin of animals, including cows, chickens, and fish. This increasingly popular protein is sold in almost all forms in today’s health and beauty markets. Collagen is being sold in powders, protein bars, gummies, and creams. It isn’t just found in animals either. Our bodies naturally produce collagen, and it’s the main component in our connective tissue. Collagen is found in our bones, tendons, ligaments, hair, skin, organs, and muscles.
Our bodies produce collagen from amino acids, which we gain from protein-rich foods. Research has shown that other essential nutrients are involved with collagen production levels too, including copper, vitamins A and C. Additionally, plant pigments commonly found in blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries all offer anthocyanins that are commonly found in deep red, purple and blue produce.
How Do Collagen Supplements Work?
As our bodies age, our collagen production decreases, which leads to wrinkles, sagging skin, and weakened joints. Lifestyle factors can also interfere with your collagen production levels. Consuming excess sugar and alcohol, smoking, and frequent sun exposure all decrease your production levels.
Collagen supplements use hydrolyzed collagen, which has already been broken down into amino acids. These amino acids will not have to be broken down by the stomach, meaning your body can directly absorb them into the bloodstream.
Benefits of Incorporating Collagen Supplements
Incorporating collagen supplements into your diet is extremely simple. You can easily add a scoop of collagen into your smoothie, yogurt, coffee, or juice. The increased levels of collagen can lead to many benefits.
Increased Skin Elasticity
As our bodies age, skin becomes less elastic. You may begin to notice a lack of skin elasticity on your face, neck, chin, and hands. Collagen supplements can boost your skin’s elasticity significantly after four weeks of collagen supplementation.
A Boost In Skin Hydration
Dry skin is another common side effect of aging. Skin dryness can accentuate the look of fine lines and wrinkles. One of the reasons for increased dryness is often a lack of hyaluronic acid. This molecule called hyaluronic acid exists in your skin and works to keep moisture locked in. As we age, it tends to disappear on the outer levels of your skin, which leads to symptoms of dryness and increased lines and wrinkles.
Smoothed Appearance of Wrinkles
With a healthy amount of collagen, the appearance of your skin looks smoother and firmer. As production levels slow with age, the skin begins to develop the tell-tell sign of aging: wrinkles. Collagen can help to smooth out the appearance of wrinkles.
A Decreased Appearance of Cellulite
Cellulite, which commonly appears on the thighs and buttocks, can give your skin a cottage cheese-like appearance. This dimpling is the result of abnormalities in the structure of fat and skin tissue that results in a bulge-like appearance under the skin. Cellulite affects approximately 80-90% of women. Collagen supplements do offer hope for reducing the appearance of cellulite. A 2015 study showed positive results after six months of collagen supplementation, and their findings showed a decrease in the appearance of cellulite.
Proven Ways to Increase Natural Collagen Production
A scoop of collagen powder added into any beverage can help you drink your way to a more youthful appearance. While collagen supplements can increase skin hydration and minimize the look of wrinkles, sagging, and cellulite, certain skin care treatments can also greatly increase your collagen production levels. If you’re looking for additional ways to improve your natural collagen production levels, schedule a consultation with Radiance Skincare & Laser Medspa today.