The aging process: when and why does it start?

Your skin is the largest organ in your body and predominantly made up of protein, water, fats and minerals. It has many jobs, including protection from harsh elements, germs, regulating your temperature but it also benefits through visual representation, as it indicates your health, lifestyle choices and level of care to your skin.

From the age of 25 our body naturally starts to slow down on the production of collagen cells (yikes!). The first signs of aging start becoming apparent on the very first layer of the skin known as the epidermis layer, where wrinkles, fine lines, become noticeable over time through the depletion of cell renewal within collagen.

Here are a few main reasons you could be encouraging your collagen and elastin to decrease quicker:

· Eating too much sugar and refined carbs. This is because sugar actually interferes with collagen’s ability to repair itself. Digested sugar creates a bond to collagen in your skin during the process called ‘glycation’. This causes a detrimental effect on your skin and blood levels as sugar breaks down collagen rendering it useless.

· Too much sunlight reduces collagen. This occurs as UV rays penetrate deep down into the dermis layer of the skin where collagen fibres are produced. Damage caused to these collagen fibres increases the production of abnormal elastin, resulting in an over production of enzymes called ‘Metalloproteinases’ that break down collagen bonds.

· Smoking causes a reduction of collagen and decreases the synthesis rates of collagen in the skin by altering the balance of the extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover in the skin. The ECM comprises of essential building blocks of tissues that actively support and maintain the dynamic interplay between tissue compartment. 40% of collagen production is stopped during the period of being a smoker, so this year’s resolution is to kick that habit and start getting fabulous skin back!

Ways to benefit and encourage the continuous development of collagen cell renewal.

· Eating foods that are enriched in vitamin C, amino acids and protein, such as; oranges, red peppers, kale, brussels, strawberries, fish.

· Less direct sunlight unless you use a high SPF cream and foundation.

· More sleep! Not only is it great for your cognitive ability but it does really help with collagen production.

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Relevant links to information discussed today.

https://www.healthline.com/health/ways-to-boost-collagen#foods-rich-in-vitamin-c

https://int.eucerin.com/skin-concerns/aging-skin/in-general#:~:text=From%20around%20the%20age%20of,a%20variety%20of%20different%20reasons

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