Here’s a not-so-great reality: “Every year after 30, we lose collagen, and our ability to produce high-quality collagen can diminish,” says Robinson. She recommends using topicals that enhance collagen production to help replenish collagen stores. One is retinoids or retinols, often formulated in anti-aging creams and serums. A study published in 2016 found that retinoic acid and retinol stimulate collagen synthesis in the skin. (8) Zeichner adds that applying products containing alpha hydroxy acids, like glycolic acid, and peptides can trigger collagen formation.
There are several treatments, performed in-office at the dermatologist, that help increase collagen. “Studies prove that a variety of procedures are able to increase collagen production and improve the appearance of skin,” says Yag-Howard. These include lasers, radiofrequency, ultrasound, microneedling, and fillers, she says.
You’re also best served by maintaining a healthy diet. Protein-rich foods will supply the amino acids your body needs to produce collagen. It also gets some help from other nutrients, like vitamin C, zinc, and copper. (3) To maximize collagen production, eat a varied diet filled with whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lean meats, seafood, and nuts. And yes, that sounds like the healthy eating advice you’ve long heard.
Finally, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30. “This is the best way to ensure healthy collagen,” says Zeichner. “Make sure to wear it every day, as even incidental sunlight exposure adds up over a lifetime,” he says. Your first line of defense is to protect the collagen you have, rather than trying to make up for bad sun protection habits later. (9)
Practice self-care with skin massage. There’s a small amount of data suggesting that regular skin massage may help encourage the formation of procollagen-1 and enhance the benefits of anti-aging creams. (10)
Also, don’t work against your body’s natural production of collagen. That means reducing alcohol consumption and stopping smoking. Those two habits are associated with collagen loss that leads to the formation of wrinkles in the forehead, between the brows, in the crow’s feet, and etches “smile” lines in deeper. (11) Additionally, limit sugar consumption, which causes formation of advanced glycation end products (“AGEs”) that eat away at collagen. (12)
Learn More About Ways to Increase Collagen in Your Face
Read the full article here