Why Collagen is Important for Your Skin

Collagen is a vital protein fiber for healthy skin. Read on to know more about how collagen can do wonders for your skin.

Nowadays, people have become more concerned about skin care with the growing level of pollution and stress in our regular lifestyle. Every single person talking about skin care uses the word collagen at least once. Collagen for skin is considered the fountain of youth by many skincare specialists. It is essential to have an adequate amount of collagen in your skin. Many beauty care products also use collagen in product manufacturing, but many questions might come to your mind while using these types of products about the benefits. This article will try to find the answers to all your collagen and how it can give your skin the utmost benefits.

Definition of Collagen

It is time to know what collagen is. To know that, a little biological knowledge is needed. We have all heard about proteins. Collagen for skin nothing but a structural protein present in our body. Collagen is not only present in your skin.

Along with the skin, it can also be found in the bone, ligaments, and tendons between the bone and the muscle. The protein structure looks like thin fibers under the microscope. This protein's fiber-like structure holds the cells present in your skin's epidermis together and provides strength to the skin. Fibroblasts produce the protein. From several research pieces, it can be said that 80 percent of the skin is made up of collagen for the skin.

Types of Collagen for Skin

There are several types of collagen present in nature. In the human body, four main types of collagen play essential roles: Type I collagen, Type II collagen, Type III collagen, and Type IV collagen. So let us take a closer look at the collagen types for skin present only on the skin.

• Type I collagen: Almost 90 percent of the body’s collagen are of this type. This type of collagen fiber is made up of densely packed fibers. This type of collagen fiber maintains the structure of the skin.
• Type IV collagen: This particular type of collagen helps in the filtration process of the body. The skin layers have a high density of this type IV collagen for skin protein fibers.

Benefits of Collagen for Skin

One-third of the total body protein is collagen. Collagen holds the skin together. If you can maintain the collagen at a certain level in your body, your skin elasticity can improve. The skin will also remain moisturized and hydrated. The density of the collagen can maintain all these factors related to the skin. 

The collagen present in the body can also help in losing weight by increasing metabolism. High amounts of fat lead to obesity, and that, along with several other effects in the body, produce wrinkles and fine lines in the face.

Gut health is very much related to skin health. Decreased collagen level in people leads to damaged skin and aging like fine lines and wrinkles. So maintaining an adequate level of collagen for skin benefits is essential.

Causes of Losing Collagen for Skin

There are multiple reasons behind the loss of collagen fibers from the skin.

1. Skin aging's molecular process: The cells present in the human body lose the ability to repair the damaged DNA. It leads to skin aging. But more than intrinsic factors, extrinsic factors like UV rays, tobacco is responsible for reducing collagen for skin benefits.
2. Telomere Shortening: With the increasing age, the cells reach senescence, and the telomere shortens. The deficiency of the telomerase enzyme reduces the regeneration of collagen fibers. It also suppresses the epidermis, in which layer the collagen for skin is present.
3. Oxidative Stress: The presence of free radicals in the human blood leads to oxidative stress. It affects the body’s ability to detoxify the blood that eventually leads to collagen fibers' functionality.
4. Too much sugar intake: Intaking too much sugar with regular foods and drinks has several impacts on the body. This thing also damages the collagen for the skin that leads to instability in your skin.

Ways to Enhance the Production Collagen for Skin Benefits

If you are experiencing early aging of your skin, then it is evident that this problem's leading cause is collagen fiber amount in the skin. The lack of collagen can be prevented, and you can get the youthful look back once again. To stimulate the amount of collagen production, you can do the following things.

1. Try to increase the number of antioxidants in the body.

Researchers have proven that antioxidants can increase the function of collagen for skin present in the body. One of the primary reasons behind early aging is the stress that a person encounters in life. Suppose you start consuming foods and drinks high in antioxidants like berries, green tea, cinnamon, and few others. In that case, it can increase the number of antioxidants, and also, the antioxidants will work against oxidative stress. The oxidative stress is caused mainly by the free radicals present on the surface of the skin.

  2. Consume more Vitamin C

Along with several other benefits of vitamin C, it also induces collagen production. You can decide to take vitamin C by taking supplements. It can also be done by consuming foods that are rich in vitamin C. Some vitamin C enriched foods are - Broccoli, Strawberry, Papaya, Lemon, Oranges, other citrus fruits, etc.

3. Use of retinol serum

We have all heard about vitamin A. just like vitamin C, a vitamin A derivative called retinol can also boost the level of collagen for the skin. It also prevents the breakdown of collagen fibers and keeps the anchoring effect of collagen intact. It is better to use the retinol serum right after the skin cleansing process.

4. The gel of aloe vera

 The use of aloe vera to smoothen the skin is increasing with time. If aloe vera gel can be consumed orally by mixing it with a drink like water or milk, your body's collagen level will rise automatically. Scientists have proved that the aloe gel can prevent UV ray damage and reduce free radicals to produce collagen for skin benefits. 

5. Hydration effect of hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid, due to the hydrating property of it promotes collagen formation in the body. The elasticity and the moisture of the collagen fiber remain intact due to the hyaluronic acid. It can be gained from foods like soya chunks, beetroots, and also hyaluronic acid supplements.

6. Ginseng roots

Ginseng, which has fleshy roots, boosts collagen for skin production in the body, and the anti-aging, antioxidant properties reduce aging signs.

7. The process of micro-needling

Microneedling is done by making small holes in your skin by using tiny needles. A dermatologist performs the procedure. One of the main goals of this process is to produce more and more collagen in the skin. The fine lines and wrinkles are also reduced automatically.

8. Consuming collagen supplements

The collagen supplements increase the hydration and the strength and elasticity of the collagen for the skin. Collagen supplements are produced from seafood sources mostly.

9. Regular facial massage

From your late 20s or your early 30s, you should start taking facial massages. Many skincare experts also suggest this remedy. A facial massage will automatically increase blood circulation and also collagen for skin benefits in the epidermis cells. The holding ability of the existing collagen fibers is also improved with facial massage. Always make sure that the facial strokes are gentle and it does not lead to damage to collagen fibers.

Food Sources for Increasing Collagen for Skin

Other than the multiple ways to enhance collagen for skin production by following several ways, there are several foods that you can consume directly to increase the amount of collagen along with its effects. The food sources include -

• Bone broth: the bone broth is made from bone and connective tissues. It contains a high amount of collagen. The bone broth is prepared by simmering animal bones in water. Several animal bones are used in the making process.
• Fish: fish body parts like the head, eyeballs, and scales have the highest collagen amount.
• Chicken: chicken is high in connective tissues. The chicken neck contains a high amount of collagen.
• Garlic: adding garlic to your food can also bolster collagen production.

Other than these food sources, the foods mentioned earlier, like citrus fruits, beans, mulberries, blueberries, can also be consumed to increase collagen for skin benefits.

Conclusion

The information in this article will be helpful enough to understand the value of sufficient collagen levels in the body and the importance of Collagen for skin, maintain an adequate level of collagen on skin to remain young, youthful and flawless.