As we age, our bodies naturally produce less collagen than they did when we were younger. This can lead to the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin, as collagen is a main component of healthy skin, along with elastin and hyaluronic acid. Luckily, there are ways to stimulate collagen production in your skin without having to turn to expensive cosmetic procedures or injections—or before you even start seeing signs of aging in the first place! Here are just some of the things you can do to help keep your skin looking young and vibrant.
Don’t Worry – Let it Happen Naturally
Don’t worry about collagen; it will happen naturally. In the meantime, you can make simple changes that encourage your skin to produce more collagen as you age. Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables every day is key; foods like berries, oranges, apples, carrots and green leafy vegetables are good sources of vitamin C. Vitamin C encourages new collagen production by activating enzymes that convert amino acids into new proteins. And don’t forget your water intake – the general recommendation is 8 glasses a day for good health! Avoid caffeine, alcohol and salty foods which can lead to high blood pressure and fluid retention. Exercise regularly – many different types of exercise stimulate increased blood flow which delivers oxygen and nutrients more efficiently to skin cells which keeps them healthy, plump and strong-limbed.
Exfoliate and Use AHAs
This really is the single most important, basic but crucial step. Your skin will simply look duller and more wrinkled if you are failing to keep it exfoliated. Rough dry patches can develop on your skin and no matter how much cream you put on, these areas will never show signs of improvement. This is why you must use products that include AHAs or alpha hydroxy acids, preferably twice per week as this boosts collagen production which helps the appearance of wrinkles and sun damage, fine lines and dark spots disappear. For best results make sure to massage the AHA gently onto your skin for about 10 minutes before applying any other treatments.
Get Enough Vitamin C
Studies have shown that as we age, collagen production slows down, causing wrinkles and fine lines. To help stimulate collagen production, there are many simple steps you can take. The first is getting enough vitamin C. This can be done by eating foods such as oranges or by taking supplements or creams with vitamin C in them. You should also apply sunscreen daily, both to protect your skin from damage and help produce new collagen while shielding the skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
Know Your Antioxidants
If you want healthier, more radiant skin, one way is by eating your antioxidants. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends two cups of fruit and four cups of vegetables per day. What does this translate to? Healthy skin can be as simple as a serving of spinach or blueberries for breakfast, an apple or a grapefruit at lunchtime, and an orange with your evening snack. Antioxidants give the body what it needs to produce collagen which helps keep skin hydrated, plump and resilient. Consuming enough antioxidants on a regular basis gives skin its healthy glow!
-Another way to keep wrinkles at bay is by drinking plenty of water every day–at least eight glasses according to the AAD.
Rest, Rest, Rest
As we age, our skin loses its elasticity and collagen production slows down. It is essential that you get adequate rest so that your body can produce new collagen. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night, cut back on caffeinated drinks, find at least 10 minutes of downtime each day to just relax, and take care of your stress levels. Additionally, adding serums containing hyaluronic acid or Vitamin C can help stimulate collagen production and provide much needed hydration.
