The Good Stuff: What Is Collagen, and How Can You Get More?
Collagen is the most plentiful protein in the human body. It’s in your muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, organs, blood vessels, skin, intestinal lining, and other connective tissues. While you can’t gauge your collagen level, you will see it start to decrease after approximately your 35th birthday. One of the earliest signs of lost collagen is wrinkles and sagging, crepey skin. If you’ve started noticing these issues, you may be wondering what you can do to reverse them.
You Are What You Eat
Sadly, most Americans are accustomed to eating overly processed foods that do not contribute to anti-aging results. However, some whole foods are natural sources of collagen, including the following.
- Bone broth: Broth is not only soothing, but is also an excellent source of collagen, thanks to the gelatin it contains.
- Dark, leafy greens: Kale and spinach provide antioxidants that fight free radicals, which break down collagen at the cellular level.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Foods rich in omega-3s, such as fatty fish like salmon, plump skin cells and provide amino acids that contribute to maintaining your skin elasticity.
Laser Skin Rejuvenation
Resurfacing skin with an innovative laser such as Fraxel can help stimulate the production of new collagen by kickstarting your skin’s natural aging process and leading to a smoother, brighter skin surface with more even tone and texture. As its name suggests, Fraxel is a specialized type of tool called a fractionated laser, which treats skin in sections while leaving the remaining skin untouched. After your laser skin care procedure, you will notice gradually improving results for the next three to six months, as your body continues to create new collagen.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a unique, non-surgical procedure that helps thicken collagen within the skin. The technique relies on a specially designed device that exfoliates the top layer of your skin with a stream of aluminum oxide crystals. The old, tired skin cells then get suctioned away. People love microdermabrasion because it is a quick, painless in-office procedure that leaves skin looking young, healthy, and revitalized, and requires no recovery time after treatment.
Ultherapy®
If you want to see dramatic improvements to the skin on their face, neck, and chin, Ultherapy is a treatment you should consider. Uniquely, it uses ultrasound energy to penetrate the deepest layers of the skin, triggering a healing process that leads to the production of new collagen – a process known as neocollagenesis. You are a good candidate for Ultherapy if you have become frustrated by sagging skin and visible wrinkles, but do not want to undergo a more invasive surgical intervention. After your brief in-office treatment, you will be able to continue your normal daily activities immediately, so even people with packed schedules can find room to fit Ultherapy into their lives.
IPL
IPL, which is short for intense pulsed light, is another minimally invasive procedure that can drastically improve the amount of collagen your body produces. IPL therapy works by subjecting the skin to intermittent pulses of laser light. By introducing the light to the deeper layers of the skin, it causes the tissue to vibrate, allowing the body to initiate the healing and repair process, which in turn allows it to boost collagen production. It also results in increased blood flow, which ensures an increased rate of collagen cells. After IPL, you will notice a marked correction in the firmness, texture, and tone of your skin.
San Francisco’s Skin Solution
Naturally beautiful, younger-looking skin is one of the most desirable qualities to have, which is why many people invest in expensive creams and tonics that claim to have collagen-boosting benefits. If your typical skin care regimen isn’t giving you the results you want anymore, it’s time to consider other ways you can get more collagen, including changing your diet and getting one or more of the innovative procedures designed to quickly and conveniently improve your appearance. Call our office to learn more about ways to turn back the clock.