Loss of Collagen

The loss of collagen in the skin is to blame for many of our wrinkles. So that's it! And here I thought it was "old age." Well, that's partly true. Here's what I found out about it.

What is It?

Collagen is the main protein in our skin. Elastin is a protein that is elastic and allows the tissue in our body to resume its shape after stretching. Both are important to the makeup of our skin. They give it strength and elasticity.

Unfortunately, the amount of both drop 65% between the ages of 28 and 80. That's a lot! And if our skin doesn't bounce back after smiling, frowning, etc., what do we have? Wrinkles!

In addition, the thickness of our skin decreases 6% every 10 years. Thin skin has a poor ability to hold moisture. That's a double whammy!

So what Steps Can You Take?

There are some products on the market that contain collagen and claim to put it back in your skin. Most of these are derived from animal sources which may not be the best for our skin. In addition, used cosmetically they have the potential to cause allergic reactions resulting in redness.

A better choice would be to use plant based products that support skin strength. Vitamin C, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, a biologically-active form of vitamin C helps support strength and elasticity. Elhibin is another ingredient that is a plant-derived protectant that contributes to the skin's elasticity.

I use and recommend antiaging products from Arbonne. If you purchase products from this link I will get a small commission, but I'd recommend them even if I didn't. They made such a difference in my skin. While the loss of collagen is one of the factors that we can't stop, we can slow it down and strengthen and hydrate our skin. Click on this link to check out some of the other antiaging ingredients that promote good skin health.