Inevitably, we all naturally experience sagging of the skin due to a slowing down of collagen production as we age. Collagen acts like scaffolding in your skin that helps it hold its plump, firm shape. When collagen production slows or isn’t properly stimulated, skin anywhere on your body will start to droop, sag, look crepey and eventually wrinkle.
While this process happens to everyone, there are indeed some environmental and lifestyle influences that can speed up the degradation of collagen. The most likely culprits are sun damage and smoking cigarettes. The defense is pretty straight-forward: wear sunscreen every day of the year and quit smoking by any means possible.
You can also promote collagen stimulation in the foods you eat. Processed foods that are loaded with sugar will cause internal inflammation that messes with collagen formation, so instead opt for lots of greens and omega-3 fatty acid foods like fish and nuts to reduce inflammation.
Many product ingredients, like vitamin C, amino acids and peptides will help boost collagen topically, and you might consider injectable fillers like Radiesse and Sculptra Aesthetic to work under the skin. Lasers also work by heating or wounding the skin, which the skin reacts to by producing more collagen to result in smoother, firmer skin once it has fully healed.
Read more about boosting collagen production in the Winter issue of NewBeauty magazine, on newsstands now!
Related Links:
Collagen-Boosting Foods
3 Key Collagen-Boosting Treatments
