3 beauty treatments to boost your skin’s collagen

The body’s production of collagen naturally slows down with age. We can thank this process for the signs of aging, such as wrinkles, sagging skin, and joint pain. It is clear that collagen has an impact on appearance. Many people compensate for this slow production by taking a powdered collagen supplement, which has a host of benefits, but here’s a secret: it works best when used in conjunction with a variety of other strategies that support and promote the production of collagen in the body.

There are dozens of beauty treatments on the market, many of which can improve the appearance of your skin. Because collagen plays an important role in skin aging, these three approaches are worth trying.

3 beauty treatments to improve your skin’s collagen

1. Red light therapy

Light therapy is actually an ancient healing tradition, which has its roots in the medical traditions of Egypt, Greece, China and India. In this contemporary version, low power red light waves are emitted through the skin. Red light can be absorbed by the skin to a depth of about eight to ten millimeters, allowing it to penetrate the dermis, the layer of skin where most of the collagen is located.

Studies show that light in the spectral range of 600-1300 nanometers, red light is 620-700 nanometers, is useful in promoting wound healing, tissue repair and skin rejuvenation. (By the way, red light does not contain the more dangerous UVA or UVB rays, which are linked to skin cancer and premature aging).

It accomplishes this magic trick by stimulating cell proliferation. Specifically, red light therapy regenerates fibroblasts, the cells that give rise to collagen.

A study published in the journal Photomedicine and Laser Surgery showed that participants treated with red light therapy experienced reductions in fine lines and wrinkles, as well as improved skin tone and increased collagen density. The researchers confirmed these results with ultrasonographic measurements.

At the same time, the therapy is considered effective in reversing hair loss and stimulating follicle growth. A literature review of the technique (also known as low-intensity laser therapy) by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School concluded that it can stimulate hair growth in men and women. women and that it could work by triggering the epidermal stem cells of the hair follicle to go into production mode.

2. Microneedling

Also known as collagen induction therapy, microneedling is a minimally invasive skin treatment performed by moving a tool with tiny needles over the skin, making tiny punctures in the top layer. Although you can do it at home if you have a microneedling tool, the safest thing to do is to consult a dermatologist or an experienced esthetician for the treatment. Infinitesimal injuries put the skin in repair mode and prompt the body to increase the production of collagen and fibroblasts.

A study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found that patients treated one to four times experienced noticeable improvement in wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks, and they showed significant increases in collagen and elastin six months after the treatment. treatment.

Similarly, a study published in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery examined the effectiveness of treatment in patients with deep acne scars. At the end of the study, the majority of participants showed a measurable decrease in the severity of their scars, and more than 80% of them rated their treatment as excellent on a 10-point scale.

Microneedling may also promote hair growth. Research in mice suggests increased expression of hair-related genes and stimulation of hair growth in mice subjected to microneedling.

3. Exercise

Well, it’s not a beauty treatment per se, but physical exercise should be mentioned. Sweating, whether through aerobic exercise or strength training, increases growth hormone production, and growth hormone causes fibroblasts to produce more collagen.

Although most forms of exercise seem to trigger growth hormone, the latest research indicates that strength training and interval training are the most effective.

In a study published in PLoS ONE, researchers recruited healthy young and middle-aged volunteers to participate in a 13-week training program that alternated between two types of training. During one session, participants performed interval training, including three to five sets of running or cycling at maximum speed, followed by two to three minutes of passive recovery. Two days later, they returned for resistance training.

For resistance training, participants used progressively heavier weights and performed five to six exercises targeting all major muscle groups. Compared to a control group, which did not participate in the program, participants in the exercise group had significantly higher growth hormone levels at rest and in response to sprint exercise.

Equally intriguing, before the exercise program, the growth hormone levels of the younger participants were higher. After the 13-week training program, the age difference in growth hormone disappeared. This suggests that a combination training program can help middle-aged people achieve younger levels of collagen growth hormones.

Also, don’t forget coping exercises, such as yoga. It too can help keep your skin looking youthful and fresh because it reduces stress, which kills collagen. Side bends and downward poses bring a healthy dose of blood and oxygen to your whole body, including your skin.

Additionally, levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, are higher in people who do yoga regularly, while stress hormone levels are lower, making your body’s internal environment more conducive to heart disease. collagen.