The Importance of Collagen for Skin

15th March 2022

The levels of collagen you have will naturally diminish as you age. We explore how important collagen is for your skin and how you can improve your skin once your collagen levels begin to deplete.

Collagen is a naturally-occurring protein that is important to body functioning, making up around 90% of the proteins in your body used for tendons, bones, teeth and ligaments. It also plays a major role in your skin’s health.

Over your lifetime, the levels of collagen you have will change, naturally diminishing as you age. We explore how important collagen is for your skin and how you can help improve your skin once your collagen levels begin to deplete.

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the most important protein in the human body. Your body contains around 30% protein, and around 90% of that is collagen. One of the most well-known uses of collagen in the body is for our skin, but it is also used to keep tissues of the muscles, bones, tendons and blood vessels healthy.

What Does Collagen Do For Skin?

Collagen plays a major role in your skin’s health. It helps to strengthen skin, providing it with structure, elasticity and hydration. Collagen is what makes our skin look plump and youthful.

As you get older, your body slows down its collagen production, causing wrinkles to form and skin to become drier and start to sag.

When Does Collagen Production Decrease?

Collagen levels in your body begin to decrease after the age of 20, with around 1 percent less collagen produced each year. By 25-30 years old, this could contribute to fine lines and wrinkles appearing on the face.

During the first 5 years of the menopause, skin will lose around 30% of its collagen, contributing to skin sagging and deeper wrinkles.

Post-menopause, the skin continues to lose collagen at a rate of about 2% a year.

How to Boost Collagen in Skin

There are a few ways to help support your collagen production.

Collagen in Food

One of the best ways to improve the collagen levels in your skin is through dietary choices. Add more foods that are rich in vitamin C, like citrus, bell peppers and broccoli, to help increase the levels of hyaluronic acid and collagen in the body. For those who eat meat, the protein we get from our diet should provide the collagen we need.

Collagen Supplements

Ingestible collagen supplements have increased in popularity in recent years, with those concerned with ageing seeking a way to boost the production of this protein.

While they can have a beneficial impact on the body, research suggests you can get the same result from eating a balanced diet containing animal-based proteins. Therefore, collagen supplements can be better for those who follow more of a plant-based diet.

Collagen from Skincare

Despite the claims of many skincare creams that contain collagen saying they can boost collagen levels, the truth is that collagen molecules are too big to penetrate the lower levels of skin, meaning they don’t actually have an impact on our collagen levels. However, topical collagen creams can help moisturise and superficially plump skin, improving the appearance of your skin.

There are other skincare ingredients you can use that can help boost collagen, though, such as Retinol. Retinol is an antioxidant that helps to protect collagen and boost its lifespan.

Skin Treatments to Improve Collagen Levels

One of the most effective ways of boosting collagen, and to help reverse the aesthetic impact of collagen depletion, is to have a skin treatment.

Not only do these non-surgical skin treatments help to stimulate the production of new collagen, but they can also improve the appearance of existing lines, wrinkles and skin sagging.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound uses ultrasound to lift, tighten and firm skin, without the need for surgery.

The ultrasound is focused below the skin’s surface, causing the skin to contract and stimulate the creation of new collagen. This helps make the skin stronger, firmer, tighter, and appear lifted.

Radio Frequency Microneedling

Radiofrequency Microneedling is a non-surgical treatment that helps smooth skin, improve fine lines and wrinkles and boosts collagen production, leading to tighter skin.

This treatment pairs microneedling with radio frequency energy that gently heats the skin under the surface, stimulating collagen production.

If you are interested in finding out more about these collagen boosting treatments or are looking to book your first session with us, then please get in touch with our expert team today.