Healthy collagen stores are crucial for smooth, radiant skin. This essential protein plumps and
supports the skin, preventing the onset of fine lines, sagging, and thinning skin. But, the aging process robs the skin of its collagen stores, contributing to the telltale signs of aging.
Thankfully, there are ways to boost and restore collagen in every stage of life. In this article, we’ll explore these methods, including collagen-boosting skincare products, to help protect your skin.
Collagen: The Key to Smooth, Healthy Skin
Collagen is a common skincare buzzword. But, we can assure you, it’s worth the hype. It’s a protein that provides structure and strength to your skin, found in the skin’s dermis layer.
Youthful skin appears plump, even, and smooth largely due to high collagen stores. But, around age 20, the body begins to gradually produce less collagen at a rate of around 1% per year. As collagen stores decrease, the skin may appear thinner and less radiant, with greater susceptibility to damage.
The natural aging process isn’t the only factor that can contribute to dwindling collagen stores. Ultraviolet light exposure from the sun, smoking, consuming a high-sugar diet, and low protein intake can all negatively affect your skin’s collagen.
Nutrients for Collagen Production
To create collagen, the body repurposes amino acids, which are found in high-protein foods. A variety of nutrients, including vitamin C and zinc, are also used in this process.
With age, the body’s ability to absorb and synthesize nutrients tends to decline, which can compromise collagen production. However, making sure to include enough lean protein and nutrient-rich foods (like citrus fruits, greens, and broccoli) in your diet can support your body’s production of this essential protein.
Signs of Collagen Loss in the Skin
Collagen loss in the skin may cause the following signs and symptoms:
Fine lines and wrinkles
Sagging skin
Thinning lips
Hollow eyes
Skin aging can develop from a combination of factors, including collagen loss, sun damage, smoking, and poor diet. Your Reston cosmetic physician can help you learn more about the factors affecting your skin’s collagen levels.
Microneedling
Microneedling is one of Reston’s most popular aesthetic treatments. It’s a minimally invasive treatment involving a small device inserting microneedles beneath the skin’s surface. This creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating its natural repair process.
At Dr. Dima’s medical practice, WellMedica Aesthetics & Anti-Aging Medicine, we use the SkinPen by Bellus Medical, the only FDA-approved device for aesthetic treatments. It creates thousands of microscopic injuries simultaneously in the targeted tissue.
Clinical research has found that microneedling reorganizes old collagen fibers and stimulates the formation of new collagen and elastin. Typically, four to six treatment sessions are recommended for noticeable results. The skin continues to produce new collagen for several months after microneedling treatments.
To prevent damage to the epidermis, it’s essential to visit a licensed medical provider, like Dr. Dima, for microneedling treatments. Dr. Dima has more than 20 years of experience in providing expert microneedling treatments to patients across Reston.
Microneedling with RF
Microneedling can be coupled with radiofrequency (RF) energy to further stimulate collagen production. Radiofrequency energy devices, like Profound RF, deliver safe, low-frequency electromagnetic wavelengths to the skin. This energy penetrates through the epidermis and into the dermis, stimulating collagen and elastin production. It also promotes new skin cell production to further enhance the skin’s appearance.
Radiofrequency energy is clinically proven to stimulate collagen synthesis, providing an improvement in wrinkles, skin laxity, and scarring.
Hydrafacials with Lymphatic Drainage
Hydrafacial is another non-surgical cosmetic treatment that can provide a notable improvement in collagen production. It’s a multistep treatment that uses a specialized handheld device to deeply cleanse, exfoliate, and detoxify the skin.
First, the hydrafacial device is moved across the skin. In a process known as hydradermabrasion, the device gently sloughs off dead skin cells and debris, stimulating the skin’s regeneration process.
Your provider will then use a device attachment to vacuum away the impurities, leaving your pores clear. This primes your skin to absorb an antioxidant-rich serum, with ingredients chosen specifically for your skin concerns.
Hydradermabrasion ramps up collagen production in the dermis without irritating the skin, making it an excellent choice for people with sensitive skin.
Lymphatic Drainage
The hydrafacial can be performed with lymphatic drainage for additional benefits. Lymphatic drainage is a gentle facial massage designed to remove accumulated fluid in the face and neck.
Lymphatic drainage improves blood circulation to the skin. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients, which support the skin’s healing process, including collagen production.
Additionally, by flushing excess fluid and toxins from the lymph nodes, lymphatic massage helps reduce inflammation in the skin. Chronic inflammation is known to damage the skin’s fibroblasts, which are the cells responsible for producing collagen. So, in alleviating inflammation, regular lymphatic massage may help prevent collagen damage over time.
Collagen-Boosting Skincare Products
With skincare products that contain potent, research-backed active ingredients, it’s possible to boost collagen production with your daily routine. Dr. Dima Cosminology features a line of carefully formulated skincare products rooted in science and ancient holistic healing methods to promote healing from the inside out.
The following products from Dr. Dima’s line contain targeted ingredients to boost collagen production:
Fault Line Defender is an antioxidant-rich facial cream specifically formulated for aging skin. It effectively promotes skin cell turnover and collagen production to diminish signs of aging.
The key active ingredients in Fault Line Defender include:
Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, offers many benefits for aging skin. It helps neutralize free radicals in the dermis, boost skin cell regeneration, and stimulate new collagen production.
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that offers free radical protection, helping to prevent the effects of oxidative stress on the skin. Vitamin C is also essential for collagen synthesis and may help protect the skin against sun-related collagen damage.
Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant that increases collagen production and blood flow to the skin.
Hyaluronic acid is deeply hydrating and improves the skin’s elasticity, leading to an improvement in fine lines. It’s also been found to help boost collagen production in the body.
Aloe is a soothing ingredient that helps reduce inflammation while stimulating the skin’s repair process, providing a boost in collagen production.
Green tea is antioxidant-rich and calming for the skin. Its antioxidant properties may help accelerate collagen production and improve the skin’s elasticity.
Vitamin C serums have become a popular skincare staple to fight free radicals, rejuvenate the skin, and boost collagen production. But, not all vitamin C products provide the same level of protection.
With a recently upgraded recipe, Hi-Plutonic C stands apart from the crowd. It combines vitamin C with vitamin A to produce a synergistic effect, which enhances the repair of existing skin damage while preventing future cell damage.
Hi-Plutonic C is the strongest and most deeply penetrating vitamin C serum formula available on today’s retail market. It’s a must-have for anyone looking to boost their collagen stores while diminishing the appearance of skin imperfections.
We recommend applying this serum in the morning for all-day protection against free radicals from environmental stressors.
Given that sun exposure is a prevalent cause of damaged collagen, sun protection is a crucial step in your morning skincare routine. The Cosmic Ray Shield from Dr. Dima Cosminology contains vitamins A, E, and C to protect against free radical formation in the skin. In stimulating collagen production and the skin’s natural repair process, this moisturizer and primer can help heal photodamaged skin.
We recommend applying this product every morning after Hi-Plutonic-C. Or, you can simply apply it to clean, dry skin before putting on your makeup.
The Galactic Glove Anti-Aging Serum creates a protective, hydrating layer for the skin. It protects against future skin damage while helping to diminish fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, inflammation, and enlarged pores.
Along with vitamin E, this anti-aging serum contains vitamin F and ceramides. Vitamin F reduces inflammation and strengthens the skin barrier, helping to protect your existing collagen from damage. Ceramides bolster the skin’s defense against environmental stressors, like pollution and the sun’s UV rays.
The Galactic Glove can be applied any time of day or night if your skin feels dry or irritated.
Adjusting Your Self-Care Routine for Collagen Protection
While it may be discouraging to learn that the body gradually produces less collagen with age, it’s not the end-all-be-all for youthful skin. With a thoughtful self-care routine including a combination of powerful skincare products and targeted in-office treatments, you can preserve and improve your skin’s collagen levels. Over time, the strategies listed above can enhance your skin’s appearance, even as you reach older age.
To learn more about the products featured in this article, contact the team at Dr. Dima Cosminology today!