Collagen & You…Breaking Down the Hype

Posted on 下午1:35, under


A type of protein, collagen is one of the most plentiful proteins present in the bodies of mammals, including humans. It makes up 25 – 35% of the protein content in the entire body. An essential part of the body, some people refer to it as the glue that holds the body together. Collagen works interdependently with elastin to support the body’s tissues. At a basic level, it gives body tissues their form, providing firmness and strength, while elastin provides much needed flexibility. A lack of collagen causes serious diseases, including brittle bone disease.

“That’s all well and good, but what does this have to do with me and my skin?” you may ask. And why do I keep hearing about it so much?
The main structural component of the lower layer of the skin, the Dermis, collagen works with keratin to provide the skin with strength, flexibility, and resilience. Unfortunately, as we age, collagen degrades, leading to wrinkles. Therefore, one important target of wrinkle prevention and elimination is to reduce the breakdown of collagen and increase its supply.

Improving Collagen Production Naturally…

At Pure Skin by Maggie, we firmly believe in treating the skin from the inside out, not just touching the surface with products. When it comes to the benefits of collagen, we want our clients to be aware of the basics, like food, that they can be doing to increase their body’s natural ability to produce collagen.


  • Vitamin C is a critical nutrient for collagen production in the skin. But the foods that we most often think of in conjunction with Vitamin C (citrus anyone?), are not actually the best sources! Try some of these superfoods: hot peppers, sweet peppers, guavas, black currants, lychees, oranges & grapefruits, dark leafy greens, peaches, kiwi, and tomatoes. There are many more good sources of Vitamin C, but be creative with these superfoods in your diet and you will see a difference.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids keep the skin soft and supple and can be found in cold water fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, cod and mackerel.
  • Bring on the garlic! The sulfur in garlic helps your body produce collagen while the taurine and lipoid acid supports damaged collagen fibers.
  • Tomatoes, particularly cooked, inhibit enzymes known as collagenases that destroy collagen.
  • For those of you who prefer meat to vegetables, your more tender beef and chicken feet actually have collagen in them as well!
There are many skin care products on the market and treatments available through estheticians and plastic surgeons that provide temporary improvement in the appearance of skin and wrinkles, but they should all be carefully researched and selected. For example, some expensive collagen creams claim to strengthen skin and make it more supple; however, collagen molecules are simply too large to be absorbed through the skin. Hyaluronic acid, however, has been proven to increase collagen production – even in test studies on subjects in their 70’s! There are many great treatments and products you can use at home that use this natural substance to improve the look and feel of your skin.

As often as possible, we recommend the most natural, gentle solutions to our clients needs. The natural functions of our body and the food we eat work together so well to provide us with what we need. And if you need a pick-me-up for your skin, come see us for a solution without all the hype!


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