Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body making up from 25% to 35% of our whole-body protein content!
It is the major component of connective tissues that makes up our tendons, ligaments, skin, and muscles. Collagen is an important protein for providing our skin with its supportive structure. Collagen keep our skin looking tight, taught, plump and young looking. Without collagen our skin would be sagging, loose, thin, and have no contour or shape.
There are 3 types of collagen, types I-III:
Type I exists mainly in the skin, tendons, vascular system, organs, and bones.
Type II is in cartilage.
Type III is in reticular fibers found in connective tissue.
As we age our body's production of collagen also decreases. Recent studies have reported females at all ages found to have a further reduction in collagen production compared to males. Type I collagen is dramatically reduced by up to 57% in sun-damaged skin compared to sun-protected skin.
When we lack in collagen, you will notice a reduction in your skin elasticity and epidermal thickness leading to skin damage and an increase in wrinkles, crepe and sagging skin. A decrease in collagen may also lead to stiff, tight tendons and ligaments, weakness in muscles, joint pain, osteoarthritis, and gastrointestinal problems. Reduced hair growth or hair thinning can also be noticed when lacking in collagen.
One study suggests that hyaluronic acid can help boost collagen production. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the body, but as we age this also decreases so eating foods rich in vitamin C and amino acids can increase the levels of hyaluronic acid in turn boosting our production of collagen.
With amazing technology we are able to offer non-surgical and non-invasive treatments to help with the production of collagen, with treatments such as Microdermabrasion, Peels, HIFU, Clear + Brilliant, IPL, and Skin Needling just to name a few. The way these treatments are able to promote new collagen is due to the way our body responds to these treatments. Our body responds as if it has received an injury and the body initiates its natural defence by releasing and producing a wound healing response and in this response the main protein that is stimulated are the collagen proteins. Collagen is produced at the highest level when the body perceives the treatment as a skin injury.
To find out more about skin regeneration treatments you can find more information here or call True Dermal clinic on 03 9882 8228 xx