Beauty Explained: The Role of Collagen in Skin Health

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies and serves as the structural foundation for youthful skin, though we naturally lose about 1% annually after age 25. The loss accelerates as we age, affected by factors like UV exposure, smoking, and high-sugar diets, but we can combat this through proper nutrition and lifestyle changes.

• Collagen makes up 30% of the protein in our bodies and gives skin its firmness and elasticity
• UV rays from the sun are a major culprit in breaking down collagen fibers
• Smoking, high-sugar diets, stress, and recreational drugs accelerate collagen loss
• Protein-rich foods like salmon, egg whites, and beans help naturally produce collagen
• Vitamin C from citrus fruits and leafy greens stimulates collagen production
• Hydration and regular exercise increase blood flow and nutrient delivery to skin
• Quality sleep reduces oxidative stress and promotes skin cell repair
• Medical treatments like tretinoin, microneedling, chemical peels, and PRP boost collagen
• Advanced options include CO2 lasers, Skinvive injections, and nanofat treatments

If you're interested in any of these treatments or want to learn more, feel free to contact my office. Subscribe and check out my other content for more ways to boost your skin's collagen.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Collagen
• 1:23 Collagen Loss and Aging Process
• 2:23 Boosting Collagen Through Diet
• 3:20 Medical Treatments for Collagen
• 5:55 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Welcome to the Beauty Standard with Dr Roy Kim. Hey there, welcome to another episode of the Beauty Standard. I'm Dr Roy Kim, and today we're diving into one of the most important and often underrated secrets for youthful, radiant skin. You might be surprised to hear that the key to maintaining healthy skin is already inside your body. I'm talking about collagen. It's an amazing protein that plays a huge role in keeping your skin looking firm, fresh and glowing. Let's talk about how it works, why we lose it over time and how we can boost our own collagen production to keep our skin looking its best. Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies, making up about 30% of the total protein in the human body. It's found in the skin, ligaments, tendons and even in bones. In terms of aesthetics, collagen is crucial because it acts as the scaffolding for your skin. This means it helps give your skin its firmness, elasticity and overall structure. But here's the catch After we hit 25, our bodies start to lose collagen at a rate of about 1% per year. This process accelerates as we get older and over time, it can lead to wrinkles, sagging and a loss of that youthful glow we all want. The good news is that we don't have to just accept it. We can actually do a lot to preserve and boost collagen production, naturally. So let's break down what's happening to your collagen and what you can do to help your body fight back.

Speaker 1: 1:23

All right, let's first talk about what happens to collagen as we age. It's not just about how much collagen we have, it's also about quality. Over time, collagen in the skin loses its structure and starts to break down. This is why we notice that as we get older, our skin starts to sag and wrinkles appear. A major culprit for collagen breakdown is UV exposure. Uv rays from the sun damage collagen fibers in the skin, speeding up the aging process. So if you're not wearing sunscreen, this is something you definitely want to add to your daily routine. But it's not just the sun that's to blame. There are a few other things that can steal your collagen. For example, smoking is a big one. It's not only bad for your lungs but also accelerates collagen breakdown in the skin. High sugar diets, stress and even recreational drugs can all contribute to premature aging by damaging collagen.

Speaker 1: 2:14

I know it sounds like a lot of things are working against us, but let's look at the good news. We can actually do a lot to boost our own collagen production and preserve the collagen we have. One of the most effective ways is through diet. Certain foods can actually support the production of collagen. For example, eating more meat, especially fatty fish like salmon, along with egg whites and beans, can help your body naturally produce collagen. And don't forget about vitamin C. Foods like citrus fruits, bell peppers and leafy greens are rich in vitamin C, which helps stimulate collagen production and preserve what you already have. Staying hydrated is also key. Water helps keep your skin plump and supports the collagen-making process.

Speaker 1: 2:55

Now let's talk about lifestyle changes. Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your skin. Regular physical activity increases blood flow, which means more nutrients are delivered to your skin. And, of course, good sleep is essential for overall skin health and collagen production. Sleep helps reduce oxidative stress and promotes the repair of skin cells, so getting a full night's rest can have a huge impact. But what if you're looking for more immediate results? That's where some in-office treatments come in.

Speaker 1: 3:23

There are several procedures that can help boost collagen production and give your skin a revitalizing boost. Let's talk about a few of my favorites. Tretinoin, also known as Retin-A, is a prescription retinoid that works wonders when it comes to boosting collagen production. It helps increase the turnover of skin cells and stimulates the skin's collagen-making process. If you're serious about anti-aging, tretinoin is definitely a go-to. In addition to prescription-strength products, there are also medical-grade skincare products like vitamin C serums and peptides that help preserve and enhance collagen. You can't go wrong with high quality, dermatologist recommended products that support skin health. Another popular treatment I recommend is chemical peels. These help remove the top layer of dead skin cells, allowing new skin to grow underneath. This new skin has a little boost of collagen, so it looks fresher and smoother.

Speaker 1: 4:16

Microneedling is another great option. This procedure uses tiny needles to create microchannels in the skin, which stimulates the production of collagen as your skin heals. It's minimally invasive and has a relatively quick recovery time. Now let's talk about some cutting-edge treatments like PRP, platelet-rich plasma and exosomes. These treatments involve injecting your own plasma or stem cells into the skin to help accelerate healing and collagen production. Adding these to your microneedling sessions can supercharge the process.

Speaker 1: 4:47

For those looking for more dramatic results, laser treatments like CO2 lasers are great options. These lasers create controlled damage to the skin, which stimulates collagen production. The recovery time is longer, but the results can be quite impressive. And last but not least, there are some exciting skin boosters on the market. These injectable treatments, like SkinVeve, help hydrate the skin and stimulate collagen production. Skinveve, in particular, uses hyaluronic acid and works wonders for giving the skin a youthful, glowing appearance. Another injectable treatment involves nanofat, which is when we extract a tiny bit of fat from your own body, process it and inject it back into your face. This gives a natural boost to collagen production and rejuvenates the skin. The great thing about using your own fat is that it helps encourage your body to produce more collagen over time.

Speaker 1: 5:36

So, to wrap up, boosting your collagen isn't about quick fixes. It's a journey Between diet, exercise, lifestyle changes and in-office treatments. There are so many ways we can enhance collagen production and preserve youthful skin. The most important thing is consistency. Small changes over time can make a huge difference. If you're interested in any of these treatments or just want to learn more, feel free to contact my office. Thanks for listening and if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and check out some of my other content. I'll link to a video that might also interest you if you're looking for ways to give your skin a little extra collagen boost. Thanks again for tuning in. Thank you for listening to the Beauty Standard with Dr Roy Kim. Make sure to follow for future topics and episodes.