The science: your skin.Skin is the largest organ in the human body and as it is exposed to environmental stress, it is the most tell tale indicator of our age and lifestyle.Your skin can be divided into two layers:
- The epidermis: an outer barrier layer
- The dermis: an inner structural layer
Collagen is a simple protein made up of amino acids.The collagen matrix is responsible for skin support, firmness, elasticity, hydration, and the constant production of new skin cells.The more collagen you have, the more healthy, elastic and supple your skin is and the more youthful it appears. Alarmingly, we lose 1% of the collagen in our skin each year after the age of 20. This loss results in skin ageing, including wrinkles, fine lines, dry, blemished and thinning skin.Skin ageingFine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin and loss of youthful plumpness, combined with a natural decline in the body’s ability to regenerate new cells, are all visible signs of ageing. Environmental aggressors such as UV rays, cold and pollution cause dull, rough, dry skin and fine lines and wrinkles.Over the past decade, intensive research into skin ageing has shown that the major differentiator between youthful and ageing skin is the health and integrity of the collagen matrix in the dermis, the support structure below the skin’s surface.In ageing skin, the collagen matrix is weakened, broken and fragmented, impairing the structure of the dermis. As the collagen matrix degenerates it becomes brittle, fragile and loses its capacity to maintain hydration.Maintaining the health and structure of the collagen matrix is key to targeting these skin concerns and can dramatically improve the skin’s youthful, healthy appearance.Studies show that the most effective way to maintain the collagen matrix is to boost the body’s own production of collagen by ingesting collagen peptides.Mechanism of actionThe Hydrolysed Marine Collagen Peptides in skinade have a low molecular weight. The collagen fibres formed, strengthen the collagen matrix in the dermis. Collagen improves skin elasticity by increasing the density of fibroblasts (the cells responsible for rebuilding connective tissue) and improves skin hydration and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.Drinking skinade also stimulates the body’s own natural collagen production. When the body senses collagen in the blood stream, it stimulates the proliferation of fibroblasts reinforcing the collagen matrix and playing a critical role in wound healing.This dual action makes skinade a highly effective skincare solution. Consumed on a daily basis, skinade aims to return your body to a younger state of collagen production, resulting in a visibly more youthful appearance.Your collagen - the key to youthful skinCollagen accounts for 75% of youthful skin, forming the main structural element of the skin in the collagen matrix in the dermis. It provides the structure supporting the epidermis and gives your skin its youthful fullness. When collagen molecules are damaged, skin loses its elasticity and begins to sag, wrinkle and age.Collagen’s structureCollagen is composed of three chains wound tightly around each other creating a three-dimensional, triple helix structure. These chains are made up of the amino acids glycine, proline and hydroxyproline. Hydroxyproline plays a particularly important role in stabilising the collagen triple helix, preventing it from being broken down and eliminated by the body; a process that causes skin ageing.Results show that replenishing these three amino acids, the vital building blocks of the collagen in our skin and connective tissue, helps slow down the ageing process.The vital hydroxyproline is created by modifying proline after the collagen chain has been formed - a process which requires vitamin C. Our bodies cannot produce vitamin C naturally, and if we don’t get enough in our diets, the results can be dangerous - not only for our skin, but for all the connective tissues in our body.In order to maintain healthy skin function, and to help with the natural production of collagen, it’s imperative to have a bio-available source of vitamin C.The role of fibroblasts.In addition to its structural role, collagen also regulates the activity of fibroblasts in the skin. Fibroblasts are the cells that are responsible for rebuilding the connective tissue, including the collagen matrix in the dermis, and they play a critical role in wound healing.