Collagen – The Secret to Ageing Gracefully

As we age our bodies produce less collagen year on year. But what is collagen and why is it important?

Collagen is a type of protein that your body produces in the extracellular matrix, secreted by various cells- mainly our connective tissue cells.

Decreased collagen production can lead to:

• Thinning skin
• Sagging skin
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Hair loss
• Weaker joints
• Stiff joints
• Painful ligaments and tendons
• Loss of bone density

Collagen not only makes us look younger but also affects the way we feel and function because several types of collagen make up parts of our tendons, ligaments, supports bones, and joints.

Collagen and Our Skin

Collagen is one of the major building blocks for your skin, bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. You can think of it like the “glue” that holds everything together which helps to maintain healthy joints and skin’s elastic nature. So you can especially thank collagen for giving you that firm, glowing, and bouncy skin everyone starts out with.

What destroys collagen?

UV rays all year round

UV rays that are present all year round cause our collagen to break down faster. UV rays also carry free radicals that result in oxidative stress that drains your healthy cells of energy.

Excess sugar and refined carbohydrates in our diet

Sugar and refined carbohydrates interfere with your body’s natural ability to heal itself which also impairs the collagen regeneration process.

Smoking

Cigarette smoke slows down your body’s ability to heal wounds and contributes to wrinkles and sallow, sunken skin.

Lack of sleep

When sleep, our body takes that valuable time to heal and restore itself. So, when you are cutting down on that time to heal and restore it affects our immune system and our collagen production.

How can we increase the collagen in our skin?

Unfortunately using skincare creams and lotions that include collagen will not help in replenishing the collagen in our skin. This is because the collagen molecule is too large to penetrate into the skin.

Instead, I suggest opting for a skincare routine that will encourage new collagen to be produced by your mast cells in the lower layers of the skin paired with a good quality collagen supplement to support the health and appearance of your skin and helping with joint and bone health!

An ideal routine for protecting and improving our collagen production.

Vitamin C

Once applied topically, vitamin C works to stabilize the collagen fibres in your skin which helps to minimize collagen breakdown and promote healthy collagen production. With this support in collagen synthesis, the look of your skin can be dramatically improved. And since vitamin C is acidic, like your skin’s natural state, it can even work to accelerate the production of collagen and elastin making it the ultimate ally for your skin.

Vitamin C is also an antioxidant protecting the skin from free radicals that can damage the skin and affect the collagen production as well as the moisture barrier.

Vichy Liftactiv Supreme Vitamin C Serum 20ml

Vichy Liftactiv Supreme Vitamin C Serum is an anti-aging formula that not only targets wrinkles and fine lines but also visibly improves radiance. Specially developed as your skin’s daily boost of vitamin C, this Vichy Liftactiv Supreme Serum fights damage linked to both external aggressions and the aging process.

Retinol

Retinoids serve as an excellent treatment for restoring collagen in your face. Retinol will work to increase the cell turnover in the skin meaning that damaged cells will be cast away and the new cells made in the lower layer of the skin will be healthier. Retinol is a must have ingredient in your skincare if you want to to increase and restore the production of collagen to noticeably reduce and prevent the look of fine lines and deep wrinkles.

Pestle & Mortar Superstar Retinoid Night Oil 30ml

Pestle & Mortar Superstar Retinoid Night Oil is night-time anti-aging treatment, packed with potent ingredients to help reduce fine lines, wrinkles and pore size while evening skin tone for the ultimate beauty sleep.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is also known as Vitamin B3. Niacinamide is a derivative of niacin, which is found in all cells and plays a pivotal role in the cell’s energy production. Niacinamide has been shown to be beneficial to all skin types and skin ages, particularly acne-prone skin and aging skin. Niacinamide has also been shown to boost the production of collagen. Collagen works with the protein elastin to create the skins’ support structure, making it firm, yet flexible. Niacinamide also helps to boost fibroblast production, which is responsible for creating elastin.

La Roche-Posay Pure Niacinamide 10 Serum 30ml

La Roche-Posay’s first 10% niacinamide concentrate. Multi-tasking dermatological serum. Evens skin tone, repairs and brightens, whilst improving the appearance and prevention of dark spots. Specifically developed for sensitive skin

SPF

UV rays play a significant role in the breakdown of collagen in the skin, using an SPF every day throughout the year will help protect your collagen from the damage posed by UV rays.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Age Correct SPF50+ Cream 50ml

La Roche-Posay presents the Anthelios Age Correct SPF50+. This anti-ageing sun cream guards the skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays, offering high / very high protection. Ideal for mature and sensitive skin types, the formula helps improve the look of wrinkles, dark spots and skin elasticity.

Skin Massage

A simple massage can both strengthen muscle memory and spur collagen production. Gently massaging your facial muscles daily can also boost blood circulation, making the skin look refreshed and more youthful. Simply apply moderate (not heavy) pressure in circular movements along the cheeks, chin, and forehead.

Mollmill Facial Jade Roller & Gua Sha Kit

Mollmill Facial Jade Roller & Gua Sha Kit makes facial massage simple with a Gua Sha and a Jade roller along with full instructions on how to use it.

Collagen Supplements

Using a collagen supplement helps support your skins health as well as the health of your joints, bones, and connective tissue. Feed your collagen from within with the Your Zooki Liposomal Collagen supplement that will absorb into the body effectively and deliver results faster than other supplements on the market.

YourZooki Liposomal Collagen Zooki

Using a collagen supplement helps support your skins health as well as the health of your joints, bones, and connective tissue. Feed your collagen from within with the Your Zooki Liposomal Collagen supplement that will absorb into the body effectively and deliver results faster than other supplements on the market.

Containing 5000mg of Hydrolysed Marine Collagen and 30mg of Vitamin C, Collagen Zooki contributes to natural collagen formation for the normal function of skin, cartilage, bones, gums and teeth.

If you have any questions about your skin health or the health of your joints and bones get in touch with our team of experts here at Meaghers.

Oonagh O’Hagan

Meaghers Pharmacy

Paid Partnership with Meaghers.