Nothing in life lasts forever – especially collagen. As we age, the production of collagen slows down, which is why we tend to notice sagging skin, less skin elasticity and more prominent wrinkles – and this process can start as early as your 20s.
Sun exposure, pollution and other environmental factors are to blame for this (on top of the natural ageing process), but there are certainly ways we can counter this and boost the collagen found in our skin.
Read on for tips on how to increase collagen production in your skin.
1. Use products with the right ingredients
Boosting your skin’s collagen using topical skincare products isn’t a straightforward process, as you’ll definitely need to research and experiment to find out what works best for your skin. For example, retinoids are dubbed the “fountain of youth” ingredient, but this can prove to be too harsh for certain skin types.
If you observe that retinol has adverse effects on your skin, you might want to consider bakuchiol – a plant-based alternative to retinol, which helps to stimulate skin cell turnover to jumpstart collagen production.
Another great option is, of course, Vitamin C. It is an antioxidant that protects the skin against UV damage and stimulates collagen formation.
2. Change your diet
If you haven’t already, be sure to load your plate up with a healthy amount of protein (such as fish, seafood, chicken, etc.), as it contains amino acids that are crucial for collagen synthesis. Your diet should also contain antioxidant-rich produce like fruits and vegetables as it can help to fight free radical damage, which affects collagen production.
Aside from this, be sure to cut out sugar whenever you can, as a diet rich in sugar actually causes collagen to break down faster.
3. Pack on the supplements
If you’re open to taking multivitamins for health reasons, you might want to include ones that will promote and support collagen production. Most collagen supplements are hydrolysed or broken down into collagen peptides, which means that your body will be able to absorb them better and easier.
These supplements will stimulate your skin cells (otherwise known as fibroblasts) to produce new collagen and elastin in your skin.
4. Get enough sleep
How do you increase collagen naturally with the least effort possible? By getting enough sleep, of course! The term “beauty sleep” doesn’t get thrown around for nothing. Getting enough sleep is essential for good skin, because it gives your skin the chance to repair itself. Sleep deprivation causes oxidative stress, which in turn breaks down collagen.
So, if you find yourself getting less than 7 hours of sleep daily, it’s time to change that to ensure that your body remains in the best condition to regulate collagen synthesis.
5. Say no to smoking
We mentioned oxidative stress previously, and one of the other ways this can happen is through smoking. Smoking decreases the blood flow and oxygen to the skin. All the toxins produced by smoking also damage collagen and elastin fibres, which can exacerbate ageing.
In short, smokers are more likely to experience skin sagginess and wrinkles so if it is at all possible to avoid this unhealthy habit, it’s best that you do – all in an effort to preserve your youth.
6. Try to relax
It’s important that you engage in activities you enjoy to help you cope with your stress. Stress causes inflammation and weakens the body’s ability to repair itself (which is why you find yourself prone to sickness whenever you’re stressed out).
In the same vein, stress harms your body and skin’s ability to renew and rejuvenate itself. Just as you need to prioritise sleep, it’s crucial that you invest in de-stressing activities as well.
7. Exercise regularly
Keeping active is one of the best ways to not only keep your skin young, but also your body and mind. Exercise has been proven time and again to slow down the ageing process, counter stress, protect your skin’s collagen and keep your bones, muscles and joints healthier for longer.
8. Consider skin tightening collagen treatments
You may already be doing all the previously mentioned tips regularly, and yet the results do not seem satisfactory. There is a way around this, of course, and that is through Ultherapy.
Ultherapy is an effective treatment that helps to boost our skin’s collagen in a non-invasive way. It uses micro-focused ultrasound with real-time imaging or visualisation (MFU-V) to deliver ultrasound energy deep within the skin to stimulate the skin’s new collagen and elastin production, which will then result in a lifted and firmer skin on the face, neck and décolletage.
Plus, unlike the other tips mentioned here, you’ll be able to see results faster (we’re talking about noticing a difference in just a few weeks). Boost your skin’s collagen without going under the knife or taking drastic measures – speak to the experts at an aesthetic clinic near you today!
