Jan. 26, 2023

Collagen

Collagen is a crucial molecule in the fight against skin aging. Many products counteract the loss of collagen from our skin by lubricating, drinking or swallowing remedies that affect this process. But does this really help and what is the best method to prevent skin aging?

What is collagen and why is it so important against skin aging?

Collagen is a body's own protein that is part of the connective tissue, for example in the bones, blood vessels and in your skin. Collagen is present in the skin in the middle layer of skin, also called the dermis. It gives structure and firmness to your skin. Collagen is produced by fibroblasts and broken down by enzymes, namely matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). With a good balance between collagen production and breakdown, the extracellular matrix ensures beautiful, firm skin. When collagen is broken down more than produced, the firmness decreases and wrinkles appear.

Skin aging is a natural process that starts around the age of 25 but only really becomes visible around the 35th to 40th year of life. The speed and extent to which the skin ages is determined by hereditary and environmental factors (stress, UV exposure, nutrition...). The amount of collagen present in our skin is also influenced by both internal (hereditary) and external (environment, lifestyle) factors. It is therefore not only important to pay attention to the external factors, but also to your genetic profile. When MMP genes show mutations, variations or 'mistakes', the corresponding protein can become 'overactive' and break down collagen more quickly. This creates an imbalance that causes the firmness and elasticity of your skin to decrease faster than you would normally expect. You then carry a "higher risk" for accelerated collagen breakdown.

How can we increase the amount of collagen in our skin?

To increase the amount of collagen in your skin, it is important to both stimulate collagen production and inhibit collagen breakdown. There are several ways in which you can do this, one way being more efficient than the other.

SMEAR COLLAGEN

Although collagen from the inside ensures firmness and suppleness of the skin, applying collagen to your skin will not help to prevent skin aging. Why not? Collagen has a structure that is too large , so that it does not penetrate the top layer of skin (epidermis) and cannot reach the dermis (where it should be). The presence of collagen in your cream can have a moisturizing effect on the skin, but will unfortunately not prevent skin aging.

You can of course lubricate other creams with active ingredients that affect the collagen process. You can do this on the one hand with ingredients that stimulate collagen production , such as a cream that contains the correct form, concentration and composition of vitamin C or a cream with 'signal transduction peptides' .
Read more about this in the previous blogs: 'The function of vitamin C in skin care'. and ' What are peptides and what are they used for in skincare? '

Another possibility is to add active ingredients that inhibit collagen breakdown . Enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) that break down the collagen can be inhibited by certain active ingredients.

At Nomige we strongly believe that it is important to work on both aspects : stimulating collagen synthesis and slowing down collagen breakdown . The Nomige night cream is a collagen booster that contains active peptides that stimulate the production of collagen and slow down its breakdown. This results in a tighter and more elastic skin. Wrinkles fade and your skin looks fresher. The perfect anti-ageing product!

SWALLOW COLLAGEN

Collagen that is eaten / drunk is broken down by the stomach and intestines and breaks down into peptides, which then end up in the skin via the blood. This stimulates the fibroblasts and makes them produce more collagen. You can include collagen in your diet in 2 ways; you can opt for a collagen supplement or you can select food that naturally stimulates collagen production. Examples of foods that give your collagen a big boost are avocado, red vegetables and fruit, fish (omega-3 fatty acids), carrots, garlic and citrus fruits.

There is still much debate about the effectiveness of oral collagen intake. In recent years, many studies have been conducted that investigate this, for example, in 2013 a double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted that investigated the effects of oral collagen intake. The study showed a significant reduction in wrinkles compared to the placebo group after 4 and 8 weeks of oral intake of collagen. After 8 weeks there was also a significant increase in the amount of collagen type I and elastin in the skin. This study was conducted on 57 subjects (plus 57 placebo), a larger study population in the future could provide stronger evidence for the effects of oral collagen supplements.

DRINK COLLAGEN

Collagen drinks are also becoming increasingly popular, especially in Asia. They work on the same principle as collagen supplements. You can buy them as a collagen 'shot' or as a powder to mix with water. In addition to collagen, collagen drinks often also contain other active substances such as vitamin C , peptides and anti-oxidants.

Small-scale studies have also been carried out with collagen drinks. In 2014, for example, a study was carried out with the collagen drink 'pure gold'. The study found that 15% of participants had fewer facial lines and wrinkles after 60 days and 39% experienced less dry skin. Of course, these improvements can also be due to other factors such as nutrition. The study was also unblinded (investigator and participants knew what was being administered) and not placebo controlled, which makes the scientific evidence of this study less strong.

INJECT COLLAGEN

The last technique to increase the amount of collagen in your skin is through injections . By injecting collagen directly into the skin, the problem of permeability through the epidermis is avoided. An injection has immediate results and lasts about three to six months. After that period, the collagen is broken down by the body and the effect is gone. The effect is therefore temporary and the injections also come with a price tag. Nowadays, hyaluronic acid is mainly used for injections, which has greatly reduced the use of collagen injections.

Which product do you use best and what should you pay attention to?

When lubricating, it is important to know where your needs lie: do you benefit more from stimulating collagen production or from inhibiting the breakdown? Or both? If you would like to find out more about your genetic profile and needs, request a DNA test via the website.
As for oral intake : studies clearly show positive effects of collagen intake. Perhaps it is better to opt for collagen supplements in the form of capsules instead of drinks. The capsule provides better protection against the acidic environment in the stomach, but more studies are needed to confirm the distinction between supplements and drinks.
A collagen injection is the most effective way to increase the amount of collagen in your skin, as it is injected directly into the dermis. Disadvantages are the high price and the short-term effect.