Collagen is getting a lot of traction in health discussions at the moment as people begin to realise how important it is, not just for keeping our skin firm and youthful but for its effect on the overall healthy functioning of our body.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our system and is essentially amino acids bundled together to form collagen fibres; think if it as a kind of adhesive that maintains the strength and shape of our body. Healthy levels of collagen production will be felt by our skin, tendons, bones, cartilage, blood, blood vessels – the list goes on!
As we age, (and sadly the tipping point for that in terms of collagen production is our late 20s), we begin to lose collagen and our skin becomes drier and less elastic. This visible sign of ageing is only the outer-most evidence of what’s actually going on with all the connective tissue in our body.
So do we have to just give in to the slow and predictable decline in our collagen production or is there something we can do? There absolutely is! But the key is to approach this from the inside and out. It’s great to look and feel good about the parts of us that the world sees but if we’re fundamentally unhealthy, a young-looking corpse isn’t really what we’re aiming for!
Skincare is vitally important and there’s some great creams and serums on the market containing the highest recommended levels of actives like hyaluronic acid, retinoids and Vitamin C. The best of these truly do repair, hydrate and nourish our skin from the outside, reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
There’s also some very effective and proven ultrasound treatments like Ultherapy, as well as IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) available now that target various layers of the skin to jump-start the growth of new and improved collagen and elastin.
So that’s half the issue. The other half is making sure your body has the building blocks for making its own collagen, which is theoretically the best way for us to look and feel our best. That may mean supplementing with collagen boosters to make sure we have enough things like Vitamin C and A, zinc and amino acids in the increasing quantities we need as we age.
The jury is still out on whether taking a collagen supplement may work because it’s laying down collagen in our body or if it’s just the amino acids in the collagen boosting our body’s own collagen-making potential. Either way, making sure our body has enough of this valuable protein is always going to make us look and feel better.
Dr Carina.
Dr Carina Joubert is a Sunshine Coast GP and owner of Nunkeri Beauty.
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