Collagen 101
- Posted on: Jan 15 2016
Collagen plays an important role in your body and particularly in your skin. Keep reading to learn more.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is an important protein that is found throughout your body. It is found in bones, ligaments, hair, nails, and skin and it is a major component of connective tissue.
Collagen and Your Skin
Collagen is responsible for keeping your skin firm and flexible. It helps your skin fight the effects of gravity and aging.
As you get older, collagen production slows and your skin becomes thinner and more fragile. This can leave you with more wrinkles and fine lines. It can also lead to sagging skin and the appearance of jowls.
Collagen And Your Diet
In order to protect your appearance, you should take care of the collagen that is in your body. The things you eat and drink actually make a significant difference. High glycemic foods, processed foods, and foods and beverages with lots of sugar can cause inflammation in your skin and destroy the collagen in your body. Protect your skin by eating whole grains, lean protein, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid processed foods, soda, sugary treats, and other things that can harm your health and your skin.
Collagen and Sun Exposure
You already know that too much sun exposure can harm your skin. One reason is that UV radiation speeds up the aging process and destroys collagen. Protect your skin by covering up when you go outside, wearing sunscreen, and staying indoors between 10am and 4pm .
Protecting Your Appearance
In addition to eating right and avoiding sun damage, you should also make an effort to protect your skin from toxins like those found in cigarette smoke and air pollution. These toxins can also accelerate the aging process and damage your skin.
While healthy habits can help you protect your appearance, getting older is a normal part of life and your appearance will change over time. Fortunately, there are many cosmetic procedures that can combat the negative effects of aging.
Dermal fillers, in particular, can combat the skin issues caused by lost collagen. Some dermal fillers use hyaluronic acid to restore lost volume and smooth out wrinkles while other dermal fillers acutally stimulate your body’s own production of collagen, which results in firmer, healthier, younger looking skin.
If you’d like to learn more about improving your appearance and protecting your skin, schedule a consultation with Dr. Shridharani.
Posted in: Dermal Fillers
