Collagen and Elastin

Collagen and Elastin in our skin is a lot like the foundations of a building. In order to have strong and stable homes, we need good foundations, and it is exactly the same with skin. We need collagen and elastin to maintain structure and form. The thing with collagen and elastin though, is that it depletes and degrades as we age. Unless we actively stimulate the renewal of collagen, it will, like the foundations of the colosseum, crumble and perish (slightly dramatic, but you know what I mean).

Collagen

Collagen is a protein. Its strength and rigidity makes it a key component in our body’s connective tissues and accounts for about 80% of the dermis. There are 28 different types of collagen, but our skin is composed mostly of two types. 

Our body makes an abundance of collagen in our youth, but as we age these fibrous proteins degrade and we generate less. Around the age of 25 is when it starts to taper off, around 1% fewer each year. This means that the visible signs of aging begin; wrinkles, sagging, hollows, sallowness and crêpey skin. External damage can also occur from things such as smoking, free radical damage, environmental pollution, refined carbohydrates and exposure to ultraviolet rays. This damage breaks down the collagen further by causing small tears in the fibers, which slowly diminishes the integrity of the proteins. While there is no way to completely prevent collagen degradation, there are easy ways to stimulate production of healthy new collagen, and this is key to maintaining good foundations – more on this later… 

Elastin

Appropriately named, elastin is responsible for the elasticity of our skin and is another protein found in the dermis. Working together with collagen, which provides structural support, elastin gives our skin suppleness and the ability to bounce back.

About a thousand times more flexible than collagen, elastin gives resilience to our body’s tissues. After puberty, our bodies usually stop producing elastin, so it’s easy to imagine how it can wear out as we age. As elastin ages, it calcifies or hardens, lessening our skin’s ability to stretch and return to its original position.

There are not as many studies on elastin as there are on collagen, however, what we do know is that by stimulating collagen, we get a domino effect – the more collagen you stimulate, the more your body is able to make and maintain, and the better the elastin we do have works!

Collagen and Elastin Treatments

There are a variety of treatments that offer significant results in terms of stimulating the generation of new collagen, from topical creams to skin needling.

In our clinic, we like to use a combination of topical serums and SkinPen treatments. Studies have shown that skin treated with four microneedling sessions (such as SkinPen) 1 month apart show up to a 400% increase in collagen and elastin deposition at 6 months after the treatments. It also proves that Microneedling leads to reorganisation of old collagen fibres and laying down of new collagen, elastin, and capillaries – which leads to the effect of skin tightening.

SkinPen is one of our favourite treatments in The Skin Care Clinic. It’s great for all skin types and can help with a myriad of skin problems from acne and pigmentation to anti-aging and scarring. Since it’s one of the few treatments that can effectively stimulate production of both collagen and elastin, it’s the perfect procedure to keep your skin in great shape. 

Skin Care products rich in antioxidants and peptides are a must for collagen production too. Vitamins A and C along with Peptides will all do wonders for not only stimulating collagen, but also for fighting damage that has contributed to collagen and elastin degradation. 

Supplements For Collagen and Elastin

There are also many collagen supplements on the market too, and this market seems to be growing by the second. We stock the Osmosis Wellness range, which includes a Collagen Activator, in a pill form. It works by stimulating ATP production (ATP builds molecules such as protein – among other things) and encourages your body to use stored fat as an energy source. Improved ATP production encourages your body to release collagen-creating hormones that boost overall vitality.

Osmosis Collagen Activator contains natural vegan ingredients like thiamine, riboflavin, and a patented version of cat’s claw. Creatine offers an extra boost to plump skin cells and supports brain health. I have been taking these on and off since we started stocking them about one year ago. I like them for the energy boost that they give me too.

If you are still confused about what to do with your skin, remember you can’t go wrong with a good vitamin A and C and of course a Sunblock. 

And remember you can always drop us an email or call us at the clinic. We are always here to help 🙂

Meg

Our Top 3 Collagen and Elastin Recommendations

If you need any help in choosing your skin care, you can email us at info@theskincareclinic.com.au.

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