When it takes several hours instead of 20 minutes to get that line out of your face from sleeping on your side, you know your youthful collagen is being depleted. Collagen levels deplete at a rate of 1.5% every year after the age of 25. It's estimated by 40 years of age, your body stops manufacturing it altogether. Collagen can be injected into wrinkles and facial folds, to firm and plump the skin. But if you want Angelina Jolie lips or Eva Longoria’s skin you’ll have to part with $450-600. If you don't have the extra cash or can't stand injections there are non-invasive ways to increase collagen for the face and body.
From the inside out there are vitamins, certain foods and hormones that help produce collagen. From the outside in, there are creams and potions you can apply directly to the skin but I’ll devote an entire article to that in another post. Subscribe to posts with your email and be alerted when that information arrives.
Vitamins - Vitamin C's prime function is to make collagen. Some people can’t tolerate straight C because of the acidity. Luckily there’s C Ester which provides the same benefits as regular C. Alpha Lipoic Acid is a noteworthy ingredient that boosts the effectiveness of Vitamin C nutrients already in your body. I have found a couple creams containing C and Alpha Lipoic Acid and I’ll post those in the follow up.
The recommended dose for adults varies widely from 120 to 2000 mg. I take 1000 and have no side effects. It is not recommended to go past 2000 mg as you may experience nausea, heartburn, intestinal cramps or diarrhea.
Food - While increasing collagen tissue, you should remember that overall protein intake - both quality and quantity - is important. You may need to go beyond the RDA protein level of 46 grams (for adult women) and 56 grams (for adult men) to achieve this goal. Samples of quality protein are: egg whites, lean meats, fish, low-fat dairy and nuts. You can go to “Worlds healthiest foods” to get a complete list. http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php
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Hormones - Estrogen increases collagen and skin moisture and promotes wound healing. When skin is estrogen-deprived it thins, loses collagen, and slows down its cell renewal. By the time a woman becomes perimenopausal (35-45) estrogen levels start to take a nose dive. Talk to your doctor about hormone replacement therapy or seek out over the counter estrogen. Dosing is extremely variable depending on the individual. BodyLogic MD http://www.bodylogicmd.com/ can point you to a doctor in your state who specializes in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. Not all physicians practice this.
Of course, I need to mention that getting enough sleep and 30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week supports the body’s ability to make collagen. So bust a move.
NeoCell Super Collagen + C Type I and III - 350 Tablets
Omnilux New U - LED Light technology to stimulate collagen & improve skin tone, clarity
MyChelle The Perfect C Serum, 15 ml
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