After the age of 20, a person produces about 1% less collagen in the skin each year. By age 40, we have lost approximately 10%-20% of our collagen. By 50, we are down 20%-40%….and so the trend continues. Eek! This means that our skin becomes thinner and more fragile with age. We see diminished function of the oil glands (hydration and protection) and less elastin (elasticity) production. Wrinkle formation as a result of intrinsic aging is inevitable, but it is gradual and very normal.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body, and the key building block for everything from connective tissue to hair, nails and the dermis layer of our skin. It functions much like the frame of a house: providing support, inside and out. Without the frame, our house gets cracks and needs repair. The dermis layer of our skin is made up of more than 70% collagen. Of this, 80% is Type I and 10% is Type III, providing the perfect foundation for youthful, flawless looking skin.
Lucky for the patients of CCSD, we are awesome at helping you preserve and grow new collagen with everything from skincare to treatments such as Microneedling, Fraxel or CO2 laser resurfacing and Radiofrequency tissue tightening. The important thing to remember is that, much like cultivating a garden, collagen takes time to grow (2-3 months) so preparation is key.
