Collagen is a protein that our cells produce to keep skin held together, giving it firmness and elasticity. When you are young, skin stays plump and smooth because the collagen constantly regenerates itself. However, as we age, the production of collagen slows and existing collagen gets damaged due to sun exposure and other bad skin habits. Then our skin begins to sage and wrinkles start to appear. Luckily, if you act early enough, there are many things you can do to preserve your skin’s collagen and even boost its productivity.
Start by upping your Vitamin C intake. Studies have shown that women over 40 with the highest amounts of vitamin C in their diets were less likely to develop wrinkles than those who consumed lower levels. This is because Vitamin C is crucial to the formation of collagen, without it amino acids cannot be linked to form the protein. Luckily Vitamin C can be found in all different forms such as: red peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, oranges, and kiwi. Also, look at skincare products that contain vitamin C , this is also thought to encourage collagen repair.
Stop smoking, this creates enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases which damaged the collagen in your skin, just another harmful effect brought on by smoking. The skin will sag, betraying smokers of their ideal of youth and beauty portrayed by smoking ads.
Also, stay sun safe. Sun explore is a prime reason for the quick loss of collagen. UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin and damage the collagen support structures. Make sure to wear at least a SPF15 broad spectrum cream if you plan to be outside. Try finding moisturizing face creams or foundations that already have SPF in them as a helpful way to stay sun safe. Retinoid Creams are another alternative to face moisturizers, as they can help boost collagen productivity. However, most are available through a prescription only, retinoid reduce substances in the skin that break down collagen after sun exposure and also target certain receptors that increase the production of collagen.
In terms of more skincare, it is good to exfoliate your skin. Removing the top, dead layer of skin helps speed up the natural process of skin and collagen renewal. The best way to exfoliate is with chemical exfoliates such as glycolic acid and lactic acid. These acids can dissolve the glue-like substance that bonds dead skin to the surface rather than spreading it around like some scrubs do. This gives a better result, leaving skin looking healthier and radiant. Also add antioxidants to your skincare regime. Antioxidants help protect against free radicals that cause the skin to age. A free radical is a damaged skin cell, it is free because it is missing an electron. These free radicals attach themselves to healthy skin and basically suck out the healthy electron they need, leaving healthy skin damaged. This process then triggers an enzyme in the skin that breaks down collagen. Antioxidants help this process by neutralizing the free radical so it does not feed off of the healthy skin cells. The great thing is that antixoxidants can be found in creams and serums, as well as green tea. Green tea contains antioxidants called catechins and also eat foods that are high in lutein, like spinach.
According to some studies, eating too much sugar can be a beauty disaster, not just on your hips, but on your face. It can cause premature ageing of the skin by a process called glycation. This is where excess sugar in the blood attaches itself to lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins, like collagen, to accelerate the ageing process. This in turn causes skin to wrinkle and sage at an earlier age. Make sure to eat lots of food containing plant-estrogens. When women go through menopause, the skin becomes wrinkley, and starts to sag because our estrogen levels drop. Estrogen plays a vital role in making healthy collagen, so by eating plant-estrogens (phytoestrogens) this can help replaces the effects of lost estrogen. Try eating such foods as hummus, nuts, soy, and pinto beams to supplement. You can also find creams or serums with phytoestrogens in them.
Lastly, try relaxing with a massage. By massaging your face daily, this will help boost the production of collagen, giving your skin a more plump appearance. It will also help stimulate the lymph glands to promote clear skin. Why not try a Massage in London or any one of our Beauty Spa Treatments in London at the luxurious the Montcalm Spa
By adding any one of these treatments into your daily regime, you will certainly notice a huge difference in your skin. It is also ideal to start these regimes as early as possible to prevent damage to your skin, keeping it plump and refreshed longer.
