Collagen makes up around 75% of the skin and is responsible for a healthy youthful look. It is a nutural protein which gives structure, firmness and support to our bodies; not just the skin. It is the primary connective tissue of our bodies making up about 25% of muscle tissue. Collagen plumps the skin and prevents wrinkling. Collagen forms much of our cartilage in our joints and muscles. It has been called the glue that holds our bodies together.

Unfortunately, as we get older collagen depletes and we may begin to notice our skin not looking quite so young anymore and our joints not as mobile, perhaps getting a bit stiff at times. The depletion of collagen begins at around 25 years of age as we begin to produce less collagen ourselves and as we further age the depletion of collagen accelerates.

Intoducing collagen to our bodies is one way of attempting to slow down or even reverse this aging process. Some turn to facial injections of collagen to prevent wrinkles. Bovine collagen is usually used for this. It can plump the skin for a few months but is eventually metabolised by our bodies and so the procedure needs to be repeated. If the procedure is not done well the patient can end up with a rather bloated or distorted face. I am sure we can all think of a few exmaples. A much less intrusive form of skincare is collagen supplements. Collagen supplements not only help the anti wrinkling of our skin but also help our joints. But you should choose wisely. You may not always be getting the type or quality of collagen that you think you are.

Points to Consider in choosing a Collagen Supplement

There are two main points to consider when choosing a collagen supplement.

1. How Pure is the Collagen?

There are two main sources of Collagen, Bovine derived collagen and Marine derived collagen. Marine derived collagen is up to 60% purer than Bovine collagen. It is naturally more expensive than the cheaper alternative but probably worth the extra expense. High end cosmetics do not include bovine collagen for that reason but it still may be found in cheaper brands.

2. What are you taking the Collagen for?

Type 2 collagen is good for the joints so if that is your primary concern that’s what to look for. However, it has no effect on the skin. The skin requires types 3 and type 7 collagen so for anti wrinkling collagen supplements make sure it contains those types.

There are no less than 28 types of collagen in all. Nowadays it is possible to buy collagen supplements which are blended to include type 2 for the joints but also type 3 collagen and type 4 collagen for a healthy rejuvinated skin. The best of both worlds. But again, look for a pure marine blend of collagen too so as to ensure that overall you are selecting a super collagen.



Thanks to John Tidswell for contributing this article to our Anti-Aging blog:

Cellex C Skin Firming Cream

Collagen. Everyone who’s interested in serious skin care has heard of collagen. And that the destruction of collagen is one of the main factors causing the deterioration of our skin as we age. Is it possible to do anything about the destruction of collagen in our skin as we age?

First, lets look at collagen, and what it does for our skin and our skin health. Collagen is an essential component of our entire bodies, and is, in effect, a form of glue that helps hold us all together. It is the main component of what is called “connective tissue” in our bodies.

“Connective tissue” is the tissue that helps hold us together, like bone and cartilege, and more. And collagen makes up about 25% of the protein in connective tissue. Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies.

Collagen is a fibrous tissue that is strong and elastic, and, along with elastin, is responsible for holding it all together. Collagen is an essential component of skin, along with elastin, and helps promote the firmness and elasticity of our skin.

Pinch a piece of your skin and pull. The let go. If you’re young and do that it will snap back into place. If you’re older it won’t do so very well. This is a result of the destruction of collagen in our bodies, and skin, with aging, together with the destruction of other substances like elastin as well.

There are various forms of collagen. There are in fact 28 different forms of collagen described by the relevant literature.

The destruction of collagen, and elastin, is a major factor in skin aging and skin deterioration. The destruction of collagen is a natural part of aging, both of our skin and our whole body.

So if our bodies destroy out stores of collagen and elastin as we age, can we combat this destruction of collagen to reverse the process and return our skin to the state it was in years ago?

If you look at the skin care products on the shelves of your local store you will see both collagen and elastin listed in the ingredients of so many skin care and anti aging products. These products add collagen and elastin for one purpose. To put them on the label to sell more of the product.

So many people are aware of the problem of the destruction of collagen and elastin with skin aging that they will buy anti aging products if they see collagen and elastin listed on the label. But do these skincare products actually work?

The idea is that by rubbing a skin care product containing collagen and elastin on your skin the collagen and elastin will get into your skin and replace what has been destroyed. Problem is, the molecules of collagen and elastin are too large to penetrate the skin, and so they don’t get in. They just remain on the surface of the skin and do nothing.

Why do the big brand skincare companies continue to add the collagen and elastin to their products if they don’t work? Because people will see them listed on the label and buy them.

If the destruction of collagen can’t be combated by adding it to the bottles is there anything you can do about it? Yes there is. One extremely competent niche skin care company has found a way to actually make the skin regrow it’s own collagen and elastin. This overcomes the problem that they won’t penetrate the skin. If the skin can regrow it’s own collagen and elastin then the problem of the destruction of collagen with aging can be reversed.

This tiny company actually makes the worlds best skincare and anti aging products, but they are too small to compete head to head with the big brands who spend up big on saturation TV advertising. So if they can’t compete with them on TV advertising they market their products another way.

They put their budget into research and product development, and make the best skincare products it’s possible to make. Then they offer a money back guarantee so that anyone, including you, can try their skin care products risk free.

And once people have tried the products and seen the results they keep coming back for more. That’s how this extremely small skincare company competes against the big boys with the big budgets.

So if you’re aging and looking for a solution to the skin problems caused by the destruction of collagen in your skin, there is a solution. But it’s not on the shelves of your local department store.



Thanks to Peter Clark for contributing this article to our Anti-Aging blog:

Glycolic Acid Chemical Peel