It is important to know what is already in your body, how it works and what you are putting in your body. Collagen is fundamental to the success of many cosmetic procedures and is sold as a supplement but what is this protein and why is it so important?

Collagen is a molecule that makes up the structure and strength of the body in areas such as skin, bones, tendons, blood vessels, cartilage and ligaments. Youthfulness can be linked to collagen as it helps with the firmness of the skin. Collagen loss impacts the shape, structure and texture of your face, creating premature ageing.

What Causes Your Skin to Lose Collagen?

Ageing
As you age, production of natural collagen decreases coupled with reduced collagen quality, creating noticeable wrinkles. Ageing is a fundamental part of our lifecycle however it’s not just skin wrinkles we notice. Overtime collagen degrades throughout your body, weakening your muscles and creating problems with your tendons, ligaments and joints, causing numerous changes in our body’s structure.

Smoking
Whilst bad for your lung health, smoking is also an important cause of several dermatological problems including accelerated skin ageing. Collagen production is negatively impacted by smoking, making smoking cessation a must for anyone wanting to reduce further skin damage and lessen premature ageing of your skin.

Exposure to UV Rays
Being outside in direct sunlight inevitably damages your skin but not everyone realises that we can still get UV sun damage indoors and sitting close to windows. There is also increasing evidence that blue light emissions from computers and mobile devices, may also damage fragile skin collagen. UV rays of any kind, whether in summer or winter time can have an adverse effect on the quality of your skin.

High Sugar Consumption
High sugar consumption is another factor that causes damage to collagen fibres in your skin. Sugar molecules can have a detrimental effect on proteins such as collagen fibres, causing alterations to the form and functioning of these crucial skin proteins. This can also result in accelerated skin ageing. For glowing healthy skin it is worth cutting down on dietary sugar levels to minimise the damaging impact on skin health.

How To Prevent Collagen Loss

Skincare Routine
A Skincare routine is important to help keep the skin looking fresh and feeling great. There are many skincare products that claim to improve collagen production and to stimulate the skin. By maintaining and moisturising your skin, you are keeping your face looking fresh and healthy. Active skincare products such as Vitamin A and C have also been shown to have a potent effect on both collagen quantity and quality and should be added to any skincare routine focused on anti-ageing.

Lifestyle Changes
Including more foods that store Vitamin C and E, along with antioxidant rich foods into your diet, can increase the skin’s collagen production and also reduce the damage caused by free radicals. Behaviours such as smoking, illicit drug use and high levels of personal stress should also be avoided to protect the skin.

Sunscreen
Reducing UV exposure from sunlight and using regular sunscreen is an important step in boosting your collagen levels and protecting the structure and texture of your skin.

Collagen supplements
The role for collagen supplements is less clear. Supplements have been proposed to improve joint pain, bone deterioration, muscle mass and gut health. They are also reported to improve the body’s collagen production and overall skin health. The scientific evidence for their benefit is less clear but they appear to have a low risk associated with their usage.

Professional Cosmetic Procedures
Professional treatments are the most effective way to improve our skin’s ability to maintain collagen levels and volume. The results of dermal fillers, laser and energy-based devices, skin boosters and collagen stimulators leave clients with firmer, healthier skin and a more youthful appearance.

The Benefits of Collagen Stimulators and Skin Boosters

Two of our most popular treatments to improve skin quality are collagen stimulating fillers and SkinBooster injections. Collagen stimulators create a gradual and progressive improvement to your appearance by steadily stimulating the production of new collagen fibres deep within the skin.By stimulating the growth of collagen and elastin (the other important skin protein responsible for skin elasticity), this injectable treatment firms the skin whilst creating volume and helping to restore and more youthful but natural appearance. For the right people, this can be an alternative to plastic surgery. Even if surgery is required, collagen stimulators can serve to improve skin quality to complement the surgical result. This procedure targets areas such as your temples, cheeks, jawline and chin to add natural looking volume and leave your skin looking smoother and lifted.

Our Skin Booster treatment utilises a South Korean system called Dermashine Balance which helps deliver micro-droplets of thin and hydrating dermal filler in to very top layers of the skin. This filler integrates into the skin to create firmer skin, less wrinkling and brighter, more radiant skin. Skin Boosters target the face, neck, decolletage and hands to combat signs of ageing and dehydration. By combining this treatment with your personalised skincare regime you can enhance the results and provide long lasting effects.

Those looking for a more youthful appearance should consider either of these procedures to halt the skin’s ageing process and maintain collagen production, for incredible looking skin.