Your skin is the largest organ in the body, and it is largely made up of protein. Collagen is a protein found in skin that works with elastin (another protein) to give your skin structure and strength.
As you get older, the collagen in your skin breaks down more rapidly and your body produces less of it. This results in sagging skin and wrinkle formation – some of the first physical signs of aging. Having plenty of healthy collagen is the secret to aging more gracefully, but where do you get it?
In this article, we’ll explore the subject of collagen including what it is and the role it plays in keeping your skin looking youthful and fresh. We’ll also talk about the effects of aging on collagen production and what you can do to give your body a little boost.
Collagen is the most plentiful protein not only in the skin, but in the body as a whole. It plays an essential role in providing structure for the skin and is one of the primary building blocks for healthy bones, muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. It can also be found in the eyes, teeth, and blood vessels.
In a way, collagen is like the glue that holds the different parts of the body together. In fact, the word collagen is derived from the Greek word “kólla” which translates to glue. You can think of your body as a house and collagen as the beams that hold up the ceiling and the walls.
Collagen is often described as a complex protein because it contains 19 different amino acids, both essential and nonessential. The human body produces some collagen on its own, but production slows over time and the existing collagen in your skin starts to break down more quickly.
Collagen makes up around 30% to 40% of the protein in your body and roughly 75% to 80% of the protein in your skin. It is one of three primary components of skin, working with elastin and glycosaminoglycans to provide the structure, support, strength, and stretch in your skin that keeps you looking younger longer.
As you get older, your skin changes in numerous ways. It becomes thinner, dryer, and more prone to sagging and wrinkles. What is actually happening beneath surface is the breakdown of collagen. As collagen fibers break down, your skin loses some of its elasticity and, because the body produces less collagen over time, the skin doesn’t recover as quickly. The result is fine lines that turn into wrinkles, and sagging skin.
Aging isn’t the only thing that affects collagen breakdown. Exposure to UV radiation (via the sun’s rays) deteriorates both collagen and elastin and smoking accelerates the aging process in your skin as well. Excess sugar consumption and dietary deficiencies in vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and proline are also causes of increased collagen breakdown and slowed production.
You can’t stop the progression of time, but you can reduce its effects on your skin. There are also simple things you can do to boost collagen production and slow its breakdown.
Here are some simple things you can do to boost collagen production in the skin:
While some topical collagen products plump the epidermis or the top layer of skin to improve hydration, they do not help the skin make more collagen. There are, however, certain skincare products that do stimulate collagen production. One key ingredient is peptides. Some anti-aging products from Yon-Ka Paris specifically feature peptides to build and conserve collagen for firmer, younger-looking skin.
There are more than 28 types of collagen in the body, though most of it is one of four main types. Type 1 collagen makes up 90% of the body’s collagen while types 2, 3, and 4 are found in the cartilage, muscles, organs, and joints. Collagen 1 and 3 are the most abundant in skin.
As mentioned above, as your skin matures, the body produces less collagen as a whole and the collagen it does produce is of lower quality.
Some of the top skincare ingredients you’ll find in Yon-Ka’s collagen-supporting products are:
Yon-Ka Paris anti-aging products are made with these collagen-boosting ingredients as well as other botanicals to firm, lift, and smooth the skin. Some of the top collagen-supporting products from Yon-Ka Paris include the following:
By taking better care of your skin through healthy diet and including Yon-Ka Paris products in your anti-aging skincare routine, you can keep your skin looking youthful and fresh for years to come.
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