All About Collagen

Collagen. It’s present in nearly every part of your body. This versatile protein provides a structural foundation for your bones, muscles, internal organs and skin but it is so much more than simply a building block. 

Why Collagen is Important

Collagen plays a role in how our bodies heal and repair itself. If you’ve glanced in the mirror and noticed a few lines forming you have collagen depletion to thank for this unwelcome development. The older we get, the more collagen we lose. Starting in our mid 20’s you can expect to lose about 1% of your collagen a year, and this number will only increase. For women starting menopause, collagen levels decrease at a rate of about 30% a year. As the scaffold of the skin is weakened, the skin’s surface support is diminished, meaning wrinkles start to form.

In addition to collagen being depleted, existing collagen begins to reorganize itself in less than optimal ways. Fibroblasts, the cells that create collagen, also age. Due to this, younger skin has a tight, uniform collagen matrix, while older skin has a sparse and less uniform organization of collagen fibers.

It’s not all bad news when it comes to your skin’s collagen. Thankfully, the skin is a resilient organ that can be quite responsive to efforts to increase collagen. 

What to Avoid

Sunlight

UVA and UVB rays can speed up the aging process. The last thing you want is for your body to start breaking down collagen any sooner! Wearing an SPF every single day, rain or shine, indoor or out is the first step in reducing collagen loss.

Smoking

Smoking can age the appearance dramatically since it constricts blood vessels that transport vital nutrients to the skin. Oxygen levels in the skin are significantly lower in those that smoke in comparison to non-smokers. You can’t get a great glow if your skin isn’t getting the nutrients and oxygen it needs. Besides, smoking can cause a host of serious illnesses including cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Sugar

A high sugar diet is a lesser known culprit for causing premature wrinkling and loss of collagen. Through a process called glycation, excess sugar creates an inflammatory environment that damages our skin’s collagen. Eating less sugar will not only help your waistline but your skin will benefit in the long run.*

Boost Collagen Levels 

Now that you know what not to do, what proactive steps can you take to increase your own skin’s collagen? In addition to wearing your sunscreen, eating less sugar and kicking a smoking habit, topical serums and creams containing Vitamin A derivatives such as retinol or tretinoin can help the skin increase collagen production.*

Recent studies show that direct supplementation with collagen taken internally supports healthy collagen levels in the skin.* Nature's Lab Gold Turmeric + Joint Complex contains clinically researched BioCell Collagen® which contains a form of hydrolyzed collagen that is easier for the body to absorb.* Breaking the collagen down into smaller elements makes this a more bioavailable form of collagen supplementation.* This formula also offers anti-inflammatory turmeric and moisture enhancing hyaluronic acid, both of which are great for overall skin health.* Learn more about Turmeric + Joint Complex here.