Busting the myths and understanding the facts about collagen 

When it comes to skin we have all heard the ‘It Word‘ collagen being used at some point, but what is it? Why is it so important and how to we build up our supply?… Is collagen the answer to our skins fountain of youth…..I decided to take away all the jargon and in understandable terms explain the science of collagen to you…. here are some truths about how collagen works and what it can do for you. 

What is collagen? 

Collagen is an important building block for the skin. It makes up to 30% of the protein in our body and 70% of the protein within our skin. Collagen helps our skin stay toned and supple. The dermis, which provides the foundation for the skin, is closely involved in the skin’s elasticity and flexibility, and the main source of collagen in the skin. Getting an adequate amount of collagen help to ensure our skin looks glowing.

What causes collagen to deplete or break down? 

In our skin we have an abundance of cells called Fibroblast cells, fibroblasts cells are directly responsible for the production of collagen. As we age this production slows down so for example if one fibroblast cell can produce collagen let’s say 50-100 times in its life span, as we age these cells get lazy and go to sleep( become dormant) this cell may have only produced collagen 20 times and so has not reached its full potential. The dermis  becomes thinner, showing a marked loss of collagen and other fibres. Changes in the dermis are in large measure responsible for the loss of elasticity and wrinkling that is the hallmark of aging skin. In addition, wound healing slows with age. Aging is particularly sensitive to environmental influence in the skin: skin exposed to the sun (ultraviolet light) ages much more rapidly than sun-protected skin.

Why is it so important to regenerate collagen supply and what does it do? 

In our skin we have an abundance of cells called Fibroblast cells, fibroblasts cells are directly responsible for the production of collagen. As we age this production slows down so for example if one fibroblast cell can produce collagen let’s say 50-100 times in its life span, as we age these cells get lazy and go to sleep( become dormant) this cell may have only produced collagen 20 times and so has not reached its full potential. The dermis  becomes thinner, showing a marked loss of collagen and other fibres. Changes in the dermis are in large measure responsible for the loss of elasticity and wrinkling that is the hallmark of aging skin. In addition, wound healing slows with age. Aging is particularly sensitive to environmental influence in the skin: skin exposed to the sun (ultraviolet light) ages much more rapidly than sun-protected skin.

How do aesthetic treatments build collagen? 

Most aesthetic treatments from mild skin peels, to laser treatments and skin needling treatments at some level work on the bodies wound healing response. They place the fibroblast cells under attack by causing a micro injury( in a controlled manner, please don’t try this at home) when this happens the fibroblast cells need to protect themselves and can only do so by waking up and creating more collagen , therefore unlocking their full potential. 

What treatments do my patients find most effective and why do we chose them over other treatments? 
Skin Needling 

There are many forms of skin needling but I definitely have 2 firm favourites, the Dermastamp when I’m looking for a lower inflammatory response and the Eclipse Micropen Elite when I’m looking for a treatment that will be a little more intense. To understand needling I usually explain it like this; You get 2 types of healing in the skin,

•  Healing by primary intention– I take all the skin off the back of my hand and its red raw a and painful, I then heal by producing new cells (collagen) from underneath. This is a slow process with lots of down time, that can be compared with Fractional ablative lasers. 
• Healing by secondary intention– I cut the back of my hand and heal from the sides and underneath. This can be compared with skin needling. This way I have less downtime can go deeper and get a double hit of collagen supply a fraction of the down time. 

Skin needling treatments are extremely popular and when done correctly can effectively treat advanced ageing, Acne scarring and even reduce pore size.

Laser skin tightening  

The treatment uses a safe infrared light that heats the skin and the tissue immediately under the skin’s surface. The heat produced during the treatment stimulates the infiltration of fibroblast and the formation of new collagen, while also tightening the existing bundles of collagen and elastin in the skin. This “double” stimulation both thickens and tightens the skin, strengthening the natural “scaffold” that gives our skin structure. This treatments really shines when tightening body areas and the jowls and neck. 

IPL 

Photo Rejuvenation is a non-invasive treatment that provides an effective way to correct and treat skin damage without disruption of the skin’s surface, producing younger and healthier looking skin on the face, neck, chest and hands. This treatment is best when wanting to also even out the colour of the skin as it treats sun damage and broken capillaries too 

LED Light therapy 

LED sends light rays into the Fibroblast cells, which in turn excite the Mitochondria into producing in some cases up to 10 times more ATP(fuel for cells), but usually 2 to 4 times. This fuels the cell’s activities, which causes more of the needed Collagen and Elastin to be produced, as well as other needed materials for the skin. 

Do collagen creams build collagen? 

Collagen creams have been around for decades. At the first glance, they seem useful. After all, the skin is made of collagen; so if you put on a cream with collagen, the skin should absorb it and thereby improve. This does not work. Let me give you an analogy. Imagine you live in a brick house and your neighbour is throwing bricks at it. Will your walls become stronger or smoother? Of course not: those bricks will simply lay scattered on the ground. Same happens when you apply a collagen cream. Collagen is a large molecule, it does not penetrate the skin but stays idly on top of it, only to be washed off during your next shower. Traditional collagen creams are not entirely useless because collagen can hold moisture and makes a decent moisturizer. But do not expect these creams to strengthen your skin. I prefer topical treatments that work on regenerating your own skin like Retinol, vitamin C and the crème de la crème, Human Growth Factor started in the treatment of burns victims when applying skin grafts) as these are the only ingredients proven to aid in collagen formation in the skin. That is not to say that proteins etc aren’t useful but they may aid the skins hydration levels more than actually rebuilding it 

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Recovery Serum Benefits 

• Effective combination of Growth Factor technology and antioxidants to achieve younger looking skin 

• Supplements the skin to address signs of aging 

• Can encourage healing after skin resurfacing procedures 

• May calm inflammation and irritation caused by some skin treatments 

This highly concentrated formula is excellent for helping to improve the appearance of aging, damaged and post-procedure skin. The formula may enhance the natural restorative processes of the skin, which can repair and regenerate skin tissue by stimulating collagen production, circulation, antioxidant activity and cellular renewal. 

Do collagen supplements really work?  

If you want a true collagen supplement that works for your skin, look for one that contains Type 1 Hydrolyzed Collagen with High Bioavailability. n anti-ageing super Hero with multivitamin additives. The main constituents of collagen, glycine, proline, alanine and hydroxy; replenishing these amino acids which are be needed to maintain the amount of collagen at healthy levels and thus prevent skin ageing. What’s exciting is that you can directly influence the dermis, the deepest layer of the skin, by supplementation with BioDermal Hydrolysed Collagen. Peptides generated by hydrolysis of a large collagen molecule can have great benefits on health and can improve skin properties. 

Biodermal Hydro-Collagen is formulated to improve fine lines and wrinkles, boost skin hydration/firmness and post-operative healing and improve aesthetic treatments results like micro-needling. Other benefits: Improves hair condition, enhances bone health, repairs ligament injuries/ wear and tear of muscles, aids in weight management and boosts muscle growth.