How to Naturally Boost Collagen

Publish date: 2023-03-16

Time and gravity will eventually leave you with hard evidence that you're growing older by the day -- fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin. Blame it on genetics; if your parents developed wrinkles at an early age, chances are you will, too. You can also blame it on all the relaxing days you spent in the sun, or on bad luck and stress. No matter what the reason, wrinkles can be unpleasant and unwelcome. The good news is that it's possible to reduce those signs of aging with natural, noninvasive methods.

As you age, your skin loses some of its elasticity and firmness. Some of this is due to the loss and breakdown of collagen in the dermal layer of your skin. Collagen exists naturally in your skin as a structural support. As you lose collagen throughout the aging process, your skin gets thinner, and wrinkles begin to set in [source: New Zealand Dermatological Society]. Furthermore, when collagen breaks down, your skin becomes weaker, and this can lead to sagging.

There are a number of ways to slow down or turn back the hands of time. Modern science has provided plenty of options that attempt to deal with the inevitable signs of aging. Many plastic surgeons and dermatologists, for instance, can give you an injection of soft tissue filler, which is simply a shot of a flexible, tissue-like substance, such as human fat or cattle collagen [source: American Academy of Dermatology]. But if you're not comfortable with needles or plastic surgery, you might find natural solutions to smooth out and tighten up your skin.

If you're ready to take on the effects of time and naturally boost your skin's collagen production, read on to find out about collagen supplements, creams and foods that can help you age a bit more gracefully.

Contents
  • Collagen Supplements
  • Collagen Creams
  • Amino Acids and Collagen

    • Collagen Supplements

    Even though your body may not produce the same levels of collagen as it once did, stimulating your collagen production has the potential to reverse some signs of aging. It might be easy to jump to the conclusion that taking collagen supplements for your skin would help, just as you can take calcium supplements to maintain strong bones.

    However, the solution isn't as simple in the case of collagen, because you're trying to affect the way your body produces a protein, not just the way it absorbs a mineral. Collagen supplements come in pill and liquid form, and because collagen is found in your skin, bones and cartilage, you can combine it with other supplements. Collagen supplements may be mixed with glucosamine or chondroitin, two supplements used for joint and arthritis problems.

    Since collagen gives cartilage its strength, it can also be helpful for those suffering from osteoarthritis [source: WebMD]. However, if you don't have joint problems, you might want to opt for collagen hydrolysate or collagen peptide supplements instead. Additionally, if you decide to give collagen supplements a try, you should also boost your vitamin C intake, as vitamin C helps the body produce collagen [source: Medline Plus].

    As with any treatment, how soon someone see results after taking collagen supplements will vary from person to person. Be aware that dietary supplements are not regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and they do not undergo the same testing as prescription drugs. If you are not sure whether taking a collagen supplement is right for you, ask your doctor.

    If taking a pill doesn't sound right for you, perhaps a topical treatment is more acceptable. Read on to find out about collagen boosting creams.

    Gelatin and Collagen

    Since gelatin is denatured collagen, it might just improve your body's own collagen levels. However, if gelatin is not your snack of choice, you can also use gelatine or gelatine hydrolysate supplements in pill or liquid form.

    Collagen Creams

    If you've watched television or flipped through a magazine lately, you may have seen advertisements for anti-aging moisturizers and anti-wrinkle creams that claim to promote collagen production. The key to choosing the right product is studying what's on the label. If you're looking for an anti-aging moisturizer that will give your daily cleansing and moisturizing routine a collagen boost, look for these key ingredients:

    Collagen creams can help improve the firmness and texture of your skin in the short term, but the overall goal is to stimulate your body's ability to increase collagen production [source: American Academy of Dermatology]. While creams can give your skin a healthy glow, however, there's no guarantee they will make you look like you're 20 again.

    Now that you've explored the possible benefits of supplements and creams, read on learn about how certain foods may increase collagen production.

    Moisturizers vs. Collagen

    Skin hydrated with moisturizer will most likely look younger, and fine lines and wrinkles will appear smaller and less visible. While moisturizers work on the outer layer of skin, creams and supplements that boost collagen production work on the deeper layers of your skin.

    Amino Acids and Collagen

    The building blocks that make up all proteins, including collagen, are called amino acids. If you lack the amino acids that combine to form collagen, your body's cells can't produce enough of it. What are the amino acids necessary for collagen production, then, and how can you make sure you're getting enough for your body?

    Threonine is an essential amino acid for collagen production. An essential amino acid is one your body cannot make, so you have to get it from food or dietary supplements. You can get threonine from foods such as lentils, peanuts, eggs, milk, pork, beef and chicken. If you prefer a vegetarian diet, you can also get threonine from soybeans, chickpeas, hummus, snap beans and asparagus [source: Das]. Everything from a chicken dinner to a mid-day peanut snack may provide a benefit to your skin.

    Another amino acid that aids in collagen production is proline. Unlike threonine, proline is a nonessential amino acid; nonessential amino acids are ones that either the body or other essential amino acids can produce. You can also help your body by eating foods high in proline, such as gelatin, soy, milk, cheese, beef and cabbage [source: Nutrition Data]. And as we mentioned before, vitamin C works along with proline to promote collagen production. Foods such as oranges, lemons and limes contain vitamin C.

    You don't have to wait until the fine lines on your face turn into heavy wrinkles to think about preventing the signs of aging. You don't have to resort to expensive plastic surgery, either. To find out lots more information about collagen and basic skin care, see the links on the next page.

    The Sun and Collagen

    If you think your body's natural aging process is harsh on your collagen levels, you might want to stay out of the sun. The sun speeds up the breakdown of collagen, and if you want youthful skin later in life, you'll want to protect yourself daily with sunscreen [source: American Academy of Dermatology].

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