What is collagen?
Collagen is a protein found in muscles, tendons, skin, ligaments, and bones. It is the most abundant type of protein in the body and a key component of the skin. Collagen is a glue that helps the body maintain its shape and structure by binding tissues and cells. Due to aging and environmental factors (i.e. smoking and sun exposure), collagen production in the body slows down. As we age and our bodies start producing less collagen, the skin becomes thinner and drier and loses its elasticity, resulting in the development of lines and wrinkles in the skin. Boosting collagen levels can result in soft, firm, and smooth looking skin.
Can you boost and restore collagen?
The answer is yes! Here are a few ways to boost collagen production.
- Dermal Filler injections: Dermal Filler helps boost the amount and quality of collagen in the skin and enhance skin elasticity, restore volume, and smooth out the signs up aging.
- Laser Skin Rejuvenation: Laser skin rejuvenation is used to treat a variety of skin conditions, such as brown spots and sun damage and vascular conditions, such as broken capillaries (“spider veins”) and Rosacea. But, laser skin rejuvenation, also stimulates the production of collagen and tightens large pores. It destroys undesirable collagen structures, which allows the body to initiate the healing process and in turn allows it to stimulate collagen production, and encourages blood flow to treated areas.
- Protect your skin from the environment: Environmental conditions along with certain lifestyle choices may impact the levels and quality of collagen in the skin. Exposure to UV light damages collagen in the skin in a similar way aging does. Make sure to always protect yourself from the sun by wearing an SPF of 30 or above daily, sunglasses, and a hat. Eating foods that contain vitamin C and antioxidants, avoiding smoking, and limiting caffeine intake, may all help preserve collagen or boost its production.
- Skin Tightening: Ultherapy® uses ultrasound to lift skin on the neck, under the chin, and the eyebrow, and to improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles on the décolletage. Ultherapy® works by stimulating collagen over time. Over 2-3 months following your treatment, new collagen is produced naturally, lifting and tightening the skin.
