We are pro-aging at Elevated Aesthetics – just also pro- looking good for your age! Our aging series continues this week, and so far we’ve talked about how and why our skin looks older including fat pad deflation, fat pad hypertrophy (growth), even down to the cellular level of fibroblast senescence. A major contributor is the loss of collagen, which you know by now if you’ve been following us for a while!
What is collagen?
Collagen is a protein secreted by fibroblasts (our connective tissue cells). Skin is 80% Type I and 20% Type III collagen. Type I is responsible for support and strength; Type III is responsible for elasticity and strength.
Collagen’s role in our skin is to provide support between the bones/muscles underneath it (the foundation, remember?) and the skin above it (the roof). Without it, the “roof” sags. It is also responsible for creating an elastic bounce to our skin.
Aging & collagen
Production of collagen begins to slow down by our mid-20s at a rate of about 1% a year, and dramatically slows down during and after menopause. In addition, not only does it slow down in production, but it is also broken down faster as we age.
Things that lead to collagen damage & deconstruction:
- UV Radiation (sun exposure, tanning beds)
- Microscopic aging (fibroblast senescence; see my previous blog post on this)
- Genetics
- Smoking
- Poor diet
- Pollution
- Chronic disease
- Hormonal changes
The results of less collagen:
- Sagging skin
- Crepey skin
- Volume loss
What can we do about collagen loss?
Slow down the degradation of collagen now by:
- Avoiding UV ray exposure
- Wearing sunscreen (especially tinted!)
- Quitting smoking
- Eating a balanced diet including plenty of nutrient-rich veggies, grains, & proteins
- Getting your hormones balanced. Contrary to previous (incorrect) reports, HRT does not increase the risk of breast cancer.
Stimulate new collagen growth (a medical term called neocollagenesis):
- *PLLA (Poly-L Lactic Acid, “Sculptra”) injections
- CaHa (Calcium Hydroxyapetite) injections
- *Radiofrequency
- *Radiofrequency Microneedling
- *FDA-cleared microneedling pens
- *Lasers
- *Chemical peels
- Exosomes
- *PRF (platelet-rich fibrin)
- Polynucleotides
* = offered at Elevated Aesthetics
We will cover these treatments in a separate blog post and how they can rev up your collagen, soon! Stay tuned! In the meantime, make an appointment for a consultation with our board-certified Nurse Practitioner, Tara McLamb. She can get you on the right track to a fresh collagen glow!
