My 5 Favourite Techniques to Boost your Collagen
If you are looking for ways to protect your skin from the effects of time, it must be obvious by now that collagen is the key. Collagen is the protein that gives our skin volume, support, elasticity and firmness. It is secreted by fibroblasts, cells found in the dermis of the skin that also produce elastin and hyaluronic acid fibres, which are structural materials of the skin. By the age of 20, both the number of fibroblasts and their production capacity are reduced by 1% every year, leaving our skin unprotected against the effects of aging. But the good news is that there are many simple, natural and economical techniques to boost collagen production and put the brakes on time. Here are my top 5 favourites!
Dry brushing: An anti-ageing technique that you can try alone at home, as it is very simple and inexpensive. As its name suggests, it involves brushing dry skin with a body brush. I prefer to apply it before the morning shower and not at night, because this technique stimulates the nervous system and can cause difficulty in sleeping. Dry brushing improves blood and lymph circulation, removes dead cells, but its ultimate purpose is to stimulate the production of collagen, dramatically increasing the elasticity and volume of your skin. Start with gentle circular movements from the legs upwards, paying special attention on the areas with the least mobility, such as the inside of the thighs. In the abdominal area, the movements should be done in a clockwise direction. Also, do not forget the back and arms.
Ice therapy: The sessions are short with no recovery time. The skin is exposed to extremely low temperatures for a few minutes. In response to the cold, the blood vessels contract and the pores close. Once the epidermis returns to its normal temperature, the blood vessels dilate rapidly, allowing increased blood and oxygen flow to the skin. Fibroblasts are stimulated, collagen production is increased and the epidermis recovers its lost elasticity and radiance.
Microneedling with Dermapen: With the help of micro-needles that cause controlled micro-injuries during their penetration into the upper layers of the skin, the body's natural healing process is activated, which entails the intensive production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid by the fibroblasts. The skin is rejuvenated, wrinkles are smoothed out and the appearance of scars is significantly improved.
PRP: It instantly improves the appearance of dull, tired skin and fine lines, while it can also lead to gradual improvement of skin quality. PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) has become known as “Vampire Lift”, precisely because it relies on the valuable components of our own blood and not on foreign substances to provide a skin rejuvenation and regeneration boost. It is a favourite treatment not only for me, but also for many models and actors abroad, who choose PRP to offer spectacular facial, neck and décolleté renewal. The process is simple: after a simple blood draw, the blood is centrifuged in order to separate its basic components. To produce PRP, only blood plasma, which is rich in platelets and growth factors, which stand out for their regenerative and healing properties, is isolated and used. Injecting the enriched plasma into the middle layer of the skin stimulates the fibroblasts to produce more collagen to correct the effects of aging. PRP softens wrinkles, improves skin tone and texture, increases skin thickness and reduces dilated pores.
Exercise: Research has shown that frequent exercise improves skin health, as it can reverse to some extent the changes that occur over time in our skin cells and lead to the appearance of the effects of aging. The increase in heart rate enhances blood circulation, thus increasing the flow of oxygen, vitamins and nutrients to the cells of the epidermis. This process results in better cell reproduction and the boosting of the skin's natural repair mechanism. In addition, these nutrients also nourish fibroblasts, which in turn produce more collagen.
To learn how to boost collagen levels through diet, you can watch the video “Collagen: Foods that boost its production” on my YouTube channel GoodLife by Gina.
