We start losing collagen from the age of 20, starting the creation of lines and wrinkles. Healthy skin reflects overall health, and poor nutrition can contribute to factors that accelerate skin ageing.
Environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation, pollution, nutrition and stress, play a key role in the way we age. Research also suggests that a diet rich in sugar contributes to the loss of collagen in the tissues as the result of a process known as glycation, which can destroy collagen. Smoking kills vitamin C and in turn damages collagen.
Inflammation and oxidation
These two factors not only wreak havoc on your health, but they damage collagen and elastin, the proteins that give skin and connective tissues, elasticity and strength. If you want to age well on the outside and the inside, it’s important to protect against the cascade of events that leads to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, and nutrition plays a major role.
Your body constantly produces free radicals, which can damage your DNA and cells. At normal levels, free radicals help your body function. In excess, free radicals lead to oxidative stress, which contributes to premature skin aging by destroying collagen and elastin. Sun damage, excessive alcohol intake and cigarette smoke can increase free radicals and oxidative stress, while eating foods rich in antioxidants can help prevent oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals.
Antioxidants and phytonutrients may help protect against UV rays, especially vitamins A, C, D and E and the carotenoids, which include beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein. Increasing the level of antioxidants, including carotenoids, in the skin helps neutralize free radicals before they can cause damage. Studies have found that people with high levels of carotenoids in their skin look young for their age, with fewer wrinkles and furrows and less skin roughness. The yellow-to-red carotenoid pigments in fruits and vegetables also contribute to healthy skin colour.
Diet and the impact on your skin.
The modern diet is laden with processed, fried and sugary foods that contribute to accelerated ageing from glycation, the linking of sugars (glucose and fructose) to amino acids (the building blocks of protein) to form advanced glycation end products, or AGEs. In youthful-looking skin, collagen and elastin, both proteins, are flexible and repairable. When sugars in the skin bond to collagen and elastin, they become stiff and unrepairable. Even worse, AGEs also can contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress.
AGE’s and skin ageing.
Our body can form AGEs, or they can come into our body already formed. Dry, high-heat cooking methods form AGEs — note the skin of a roasted chicken. Reduce incoming AGEs by eating a diet that focuses on fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and using moist cooking methods such as poaching, steaming, stewing and boiling. Cooking and marinating with herbs and spices, including cinnamon, cloves, oregano, allspice, ginger and garlic, can also inhibit AGE formation. This type of cooking enhances digestion and absorption of nutrients.
What treatments can I use?
Remedies can include skin care containing retinol, which apart from removing layers of old, dead skin cells and promoting skin renewal stimulates collagen production. However, it can irritate the skin – start slowly – maybe once or twice a week – 0.3%. Another tip is to go up earlier in the evening and cleanse your skin thoroughly – dry the skin and apply a small amount of retinol – sufficient to apply a thin layer to the face and neck. Later prior to bed apply a moisturiser or a night time antioxidant with an inbuilt moisturiser. Always apply retinol at night and apply a good quality SPF in the morning.
Nutraceuticals
Nutraceuticals marine hydrolysed collagen can help to rebuild your own collagen. Skinade liquid drink is an example of marine origin variety and which has added vitamins. Its six active ingredients work synergistically to promote optimal skin function. As a liquid supplement, its innovative formulation is highly bio-available, meaning that the body can absorb and make use of a higher proportion of the active nutrients. Skinade active ingredients are 100% in solution allowing for an absorption rate reported as high as 95%.
After completing a course of Skinade, consumers have reported the following results:
• Increased skin hydration and radiance
• Reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Increased skin suppleness
• Healthier looking hair and nails
Devices
Energy devices can stimulate collagen production by delivering energy to the skin, tightening it and stimulating new collagen production over time. Radiofrequency and ultrasound have been used widely to treat sagging skin, promising tightening and a lifting effect.
Devices differ in their efficacy and a device is only as good as the person using it. Beware of cheap imitations and make sure that the person treating you has had adequate training and experience.
Profhilo
Profhilo is is an injectable treatment administered by a skilled medical trained practioner. It is a remodelling treatment designed to give your skin a glowing complexion. It is perfect for dull, tired, ageing skin that is in desperate need of a burst of vitality. From the age of 30, our skin begins to lose precious vitamins and proteins that keep our skin firm and youthful. Collagen, Elastin and Hyaluronic Acid are lost as we get older, causing the skin to wrinkle, sag and fold. By stimulating the production of Collagen and Elastin within this treatment, it will emit a slow release of Hyaluronic Acid, which improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Profhilo works to intensely hydrate your complexion and restore a smoother, glowing appearance. It is an injectable treatment which infuses a very high concentration of Hyaluronic Acid into five different key points on each side of the face. The injections work to stimulate the production of Collagen and Elastin, boosting firmness and hydrating the skin as it goes.
For the best results, Profhilo works in two stages and requires two treatments within a month. After the first treatment, the injections begin to stimulate four different types of Collagen and Elastin and slowly releases Hyaluronic Acid: this acts like the activation stage. Then, after the second treatment, you will see instant results – the elevation stage. Immediately there will be a boost of hydration from within, leaving your skin feeling smoother, tighter and intensely nourished. Profhilo remains in the skin for around 28 days and works hard to activate the production of essential anti-ageing proteins and antioxidants in the skin. This cosmetic treatment is semi-permanent, usually lasting up to 6 months, yet this can vary depending on the individual and on their skin’s ageing process
What else can you do?
1. Cleanse the skin twice daily to unblock pores and remove dead cells. Double cleanse when wearing makeup. Always cleanse again after exercise, when the skin sweats.
2. Use a good quality medical grade skincare line which has the ability to penetrate in to the dermal layer which is where the magic happens when it comes to anti-ageing activity of skincare.
3. Protect your collagen & elastin from UV damage with a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily.
4. Use antioxidants daily to neutralise free radical damage.
5. Exfoliate the skin with AHA’s (e.g. glycolic acid) and BHA’s (salicylic acid) for renewal & radiance.
6. Fortify the skin with nourishing & stimulating ingredients e.g. retinol, niacinamide, vitamin C, Vitamin E etc.
7. Hydrate the skin with Hyaluronic Acid serums.
8. Repair the skin with Vitamin A (retinols).
9. Use Skinade supplements alongside your skincare for ultimate cellular strength & support.
Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin ageing https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583886/
