An Optimistic Story of Collagen

Collagen 101

Let’s start with collagen first. This protein comprises 30% of your body’s protein. It is the powerhouse behind your skin’s strength but also your bones, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels and gut lining. Young vibrant skin; strong, healthy bones; powerful, injury resistant muscles- they share the attribute of abundant collagen molecules.

We start our lives programmed to make LOTS of collagen. In the skin, special cells called fibroblasts create collagen molecules from amino acids and beautifully process these long chains into triple stranded fibrils. In our twenties, we take these tireless dedicated fibroblasts for granted. But somewhere in the mid-thirties, the balance of making and breaking down collagen begins to tip toward collagen loss. 

In our skin, we lose roughly 2% of our dermal collagen each year. As the decades advance, there are telltale signs of critical losses: the first wrinkles clock in during the late 30’s, sagging in the jowls and cheeks in the 40’s and 50’s, vertical lines on the chest are 60’s surprise. The biggest shock seems to be what happens next and seemingly overnight: a diffuse crepiness of arms, legs, abdomen, knees and more.

Why the increased breakdown? Chronic sun exposure, inflammation anywhere in the body, stress, poor diet and nutrition are factors leading to collagen damage. The microscope shows this damage convincingly. What once looked like bright pink orderly arranged wavy fibers of dermal collagen in twenty year old skin now looks like amorphous chewed bubble gum two decades later.

Collagen Building 

OK, where’s the optimism here, you ask? It’s this:  everything we do and recommend for your skin at GPD is focused on promoting healthier, more abundant collagen. Every laser and radiofrequency treatment delivers energy into the dermis, signaling the fibroblasts (our collagen producing cells) to ramp up collagen production. The antioxidants, sunscreens, peptide molecules, and growth factors we recommend help to lessen the ongoing daily loss of collagen by preventing damage/breakdown while simultaneously stimulating more fibroblast activity. Every filler has been shown to positively influence our skin and increase collagen output. Look at the picture below for proof: it is a close up view of our patient’s fibroblast after filler treatment. You can see hundreds of new collagen fibers seen lengthwise (blue arrow) and on end (red arrow)!

Collagen Peptides

Most recently, we did a deep dive into the science of collagen peptides as a dietary supplement. These are fragments of the collagen molecule and they contain all the building blocks (aka amino acids) that your fibroblasts need to fuel their productivity of collagen. Published studies show the benefit of daily ingestion: increased hydration, improved elasticity, and a decrease in fine lines- as early as 4 weeks in. To reap these benefits, we recommend your collagen peptide powder has at least 10 grams of protein per serving. This ensures that the amino acids can reach an adequate level in your body after ingestion. Also, the glycine content in the product must be higher than the other amino acids by a factor of two to three. The reason for this is simple math. Every third amino acid in the collagen molecule is a glycine which allows the long chain to twist upon itself to form the triple helix fiber which will beautifully support your skin! There are many products available, but suggestions are Live Conscious Collagen Peptides, Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate (Trader Joe’s), Vital Proteins, and Maxi-health Collagen Powder.

Mix the powder into whatever you drink in the morning. Follow a healthy diet to ensure adequate vitamin and mineral intake. Vitamin C, zinc, and copper are also necessary for collagen production. Finally, protect your skin’s collagen from sun damage with a daily sunscreen. Your fibroblasts will stay busy and your skin, happy!