Friday, July 13, 2007
Rebuilding Collagen - A How-to!!
Stimulation of collagen synthesis in aging skin is realistic and can substantially improve the appearance of fine lines and even deeper wrinkles when done correctly. However, it often requires a comprehensive approach. Production of collagen is a complex process, not unlike the assembly of an automobile. Many parts and assembly tools must come together to efficiently create a product.
Similarly, lots of things are needed to efficiently produce collagen:
Vitamin C: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential for efficient synthesis of collagen. Many of the symptoms of scurvy (vitamin C deficiency disease) such as bleeding gums, skin hemorrhages and poor wound healing a due to impaired collagen synthesis. On the other hand, supplying extra vitamin C can accelerate collagen synthesis especially when other key ingredients are also in abundance. While vitamin C is useful for rebuilding your skin's collagen and reducing wrinkles, it could be of no benefit or even harmful if used improperly. See our articles on using vitamin C and its derivatives to treat wrinkles and rejuvenate skin.
Key amino acids: Like any other protein, collagen consists of amino acids (a type of small organic molecules). Altogether there are 20 different kinds of amino acids in human cells. However, collagen is unusually rich in a few particular amino acids. Supplying these key amino acids in abundance helps stimulate collagen synthesis.
Copper peptides: Certain minerals are also essential for collagen production. One such mineral is copper. Indeed when the level of copper inside skin cells increases, collagen production goes up. However, copper is a potentially toxic metal. Supplements containing more than RDA for copper (2 mg) should not be taken. Simply applying inorganic copper to the skin would do more harm than good because inorganic copper promotes free radical formation. There is a technology that largely circumvents these problems. When copper is converted to organic form by binding to peptides (small fragments of proteins) it can be applied to the skin with relatively low risk. Such copper peptides were shown to promote hair growth and wound healing. They also may prove effective in smoothing wrinkles and firming skin. (See our article about copper peptides for details.)
Growth factors and hormones: To maximize collagen synthesis in the skin, it may not be enough to simply supply cells with all necessary ingredients. Most cells in the body are responsive to a variety of external signals transmitted by signaling molecules such as growth factors and hormones. Some of those signals can switch skin cells into higher gear making them produce more collagen. In fact, one of the reasons why the skin of a child or a young adult produces more collagen than the skin of an older person is that the body's ability to manufacture signal molecules diminishes with age. The challenge is to supply these activators of collagen via topical application.
MMP inhibitors: Unfortunately, not everyone responds to the stimulation of collegen synthesis. A promising alternative or complementary approach is to inhibit breakdown of collagen, which is known to accelerate with age. To learn how this may be done, see our acticle about MMP inhibitors.
Similarly, lots of things are needed to efficiently produce collagen:
Vitamin C: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential for efficient synthesis of collagen. Many of the symptoms of scurvy (vitamin C deficiency disease) such as bleeding gums, skin hemorrhages and poor wound healing a due to impaired collagen synthesis. On the other hand, supplying extra vitamin C can accelerate collagen synthesis especially when other key ingredients are also in abundance. While vitamin C is useful for rebuilding your skin's collagen and reducing wrinkles, it could be of no benefit or even harmful if used improperly. See our articles on using vitamin C and its derivatives to treat wrinkles and rejuvenate skin.
Key amino acids: Like any other protein, collagen consists of amino acids (a type of small organic molecules). Altogether there are 20 different kinds of amino acids in human cells. However, collagen is unusually rich in a few particular amino acids. Supplying these key amino acids in abundance helps stimulate collagen synthesis.
Copper peptides: Certain minerals are also essential for collagen production. One such mineral is copper. Indeed when the level of copper inside skin cells increases, collagen production goes up. However, copper is a potentially toxic metal. Supplements containing more than RDA for copper (2 mg) should not be taken. Simply applying inorganic copper to the skin would do more harm than good because inorganic copper promotes free radical formation. There is a technology that largely circumvents these problems. When copper is converted to organic form by binding to peptides (small fragments of proteins) it can be applied to the skin with relatively low risk. Such copper peptides were shown to promote hair growth and wound healing. They also may prove effective in smoothing wrinkles and firming skin. (See our article about copper peptides for details.)
Growth factors and hormones: To maximize collagen synthesis in the skin, it may not be enough to simply supply cells with all necessary ingredients. Most cells in the body are responsive to a variety of external signals transmitted by signaling molecules such as growth factors and hormones. Some of those signals can switch skin cells into higher gear making them produce more collagen. In fact, one of the reasons why the skin of a child or a young adult produces more collagen than the skin of an older person is that the body's ability to manufacture signal molecules diminishes with age. The challenge is to supply these activators of collagen via topical application.
MMP inhibitors: Unfortunately, not everyone responds to the stimulation of collegen synthesis. A promising alternative or complementary approach is to inhibit breakdown of collagen, which is known to accelerate with age. To learn how this may be done, see our acticle about MMP inhibitors.
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