Collagen has received a great deal of publicity as one of the indispensable components of a youthful appearance. Collagen is a fibrous (and for anti-aging enthusiasts a precious) protein that is found in skin, bones and connective tissue. Without collagen, you would not have skin, nails, tendons, joints or cartilage.
Protein
The National Institutes of Health says collagen is a hard, glue-like protein that makes up one third of the protein in your body. Collagen consists of the amino acids proline, glycine and hydroxyproline. It forms the structural system of your skin and it is needed to replace and restore dead skin cells.
Team Effort
The three main layers of the skin are the epidermis (outer layer), dermis (middle and thickest layer) and subcutaneous tissue (innermost layer). According to SmartSkincare.com, the dermis is made up of a firm and durable web of collagen and elastin fibers. Collagen and elastin team up to maintain the integrity of the skin. Elastin provides the connective arrangement that holds each skin cell in place and preserves its elasticity, while collagen works to uphold the structure of the skin.
Collagen Depletion
Your collagen production naturally wanes with age. Smoking and sun damage also contribute to its depletion. Over time, sluggish collagen production can lead to sagging skin, lines and wrinkles. Your dermatologist can inject you with collagen fillers and return plumpness to your skin.
Collagen Creams
Collagen and elastin are both too large to break into the surface of the skin. As such, collagen and elastin creams are unable to penetrate into the dermis where they would have a fighting chance to minimize wrinkling. That's why these products generally have little, if any, effect on lines and folds.
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