The importance of collagen for the health and beauty of the skin throughout life.

How does collagen affect the skin?

Collagen is the main component of your skin. It plays an important role in strengthening the skin, as well as in increasing elasticity and hydration. Collagen provides the supportive matrix/mattress underlying healthy skin and is a key factor determining the preservation of firmness and elasticity of the skin.

As you age, your body produces less collagen, which leads to dry skin and the formation of wrinkles. Collagen is the most important building protein that gives the skin smoothness and elasticity, but its production decreases with age. 

What factors affect collagen?

Factors that may contribute to collagen loss or low collagen levels affect collagen production throughout life (e.g. puberty, pregnancy, menopause, andropause), internal factors (e.g. genetics, age, ethnicity) and external factors (e.g. ultraviolet radiation, pollution, smoking)

What produces collagen in the skin?

The main collagen contained in the skin is type 1 collagen and makes up 80-90% of skin collagen. It is produced by cells called fibroblasts, which are a type of mesenchymal cells found primarily in the dermis.

Fibroblasts are stimulated by biologically active peptides, antioxidants, retinoids, vitamins, ω6- and ω3-fatty acids, growth factors, hydroxy acids and a stunning set of plant extracts.

In addition, Fibroblasts produce elastin protein, which gives the skin flexibility to stretch, contributing to long-term deformation, followed by recoil, allowing the tissues to return to their original conformation. This is a critical function to maintain the elasticity and firmness of the skin.

When your body produces collagen, it combines amino acids — nutrients that you get by eating protein-rich foods such as beef, chicken, fish, beans, eggs and dairy products. This process also requires vitamin C, zinc and copper. 

What stimulates the production of collagen in the skin?

Of course, the consumption of foods containing vitamin C and antioxidants, quitting smoking, limiting caffeine intake and protecting the skin from sunlight - all this can help preserve collagen or increase its production. You can get vitamin C by eating citrus fruits, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and greens.

However, we should not forget the potential of new technologies, ingredients and devices for restoring collagen and matrix components to their optimal state improve the ability to implement anti-aging strategies with unprecedented results.

What modern technologies stimulate collagen synthesis?

Stimulation of collagen production and/or inhibition of collagen degradation can be achieved in several ways, including the use of surgical aesthetic treatments, topical treatment, or the use of oral supplements (often referred to as "nutricosmeceuticals"). In a report published by the European Union, the crucial importance of nutrition in conditions of active and healthy aging was clearly described for both macronutrients and trace elements.

However, there are preparations of professional cosmetics based on hydrolyzed forms of collagen. 

Hydrolyzed forms are elements of the collagen protein chain. Some forms are a mixture of peptide residues. More advanced - a set of amino acids and peptides necessary to stimulate the synthesis and production of collagen fibers by skin fibroblasts. Cosmetic surgery and local interventions are important strategies in the fight against visible signs of aging, especially in cases where visible results are required in a short period of time. The use of invasive forms of hydrolyzed collagen stimulates the production of skin collagen proper with the overall goal of rejuvenating aging or damaged skin, improving skin integrity, appearance, beauty and supporting personal well-being and vitality.

Confession

The authors thank Dr. David M. Reilly, Department of Research and Clinics, Minerva Research Laboratories, Santiago Cornejo, Patricia Delgado and Anita Hodja for their support in artwork, graphics and design. Thanks to Sarah Sibylla for her help in preparing the manuscript.