Your Body is a Renewable Resource
We need to offer it the right therapeutic influence to repair and rebuild. There are so many sources of beauty information (and misinformation) out there when it comes to ways to support your body to produce collagen and elastin for strong, supple, hydrated, resilient, bouncy skin!
What is collagen? It is the main structural protein found in skin and connective tissue.
What is elastin? Elastin is the other main protein, although less abundant, with a larger molecule size that allows your skin and connective tissue to return to its original shape.
Collagen fibers are like metal coils and elastin fibers are the rubber bands.
According to medical sources, collagen and elastin production peak around age 25, and then start to decline at different rates based on lifestyle and genetic factors.
However, in my experience this is not something that is a straightforward linear path of decline. Yes, our bodies change with age, and that's okay, and natural, and something we can take pride in embracing! But there are ways to support your body in creating new genetic material. And I’m here to tell you that the answer is INSIDE of you, not in a bottle or potion. Collagen molecules in topical formulas are too large to truly penetrate skin. And anything that does penetrate has skin barrier disrupting ingredients to allow for this to happen (which is not a solution) it’s a waste of your money.
Here are 4 TRUE ways to create more collagen and elastin:
1) Reduce Stress: Yes you’ve heard this 1 million times before but do you know WHY it's so vital? When your body is in a state of real or perceived danger, it completely shuts down the repair and rebuild processes. This means your skin and tissues are not getting rebuilt. During chronic stress, your skin is being broken down from normal life processes and environmental stressors faster than it can be repaired and rebuilt. The cure ~ make relaxation a priority. When you are in the parasympathetic relaxation state, your body can actually rebuild your cells, your immune system, and your overall resilience. Try meditation, gratitude, prayer, deep breathing, naps, and receive regular messages. Anything that anchors you into the present moment is vital to your beauty
2) Massage your face, neck, scalp, and body: Whether it's massage, facial Gua Sha, facial cupping, dry body brushing or combing ~ your body needs a therapeutic influence to stimulate fibroblasts to trigger a rebuild response. Touch sparks the production of new collagen, elastin, B and T cells (immune cells) AND it brings you right into that parasympathetic relaxation/rebuild and repair response. Your body must receive the message that it's time to remodel and lay down some new building blocks. In a 24 week study, men who received a daily 4 minute scalp massage compared to those who did not, had thicker hair and increased hair growth. The mechanical forces on the hair follicles and scalp created stronger, more robust hair. Touch literally slows cellular aging, rebuilds your body, and restores your system.
Now I’m not a huge fan of things that injure the skin to create new collagen like lasers or microneedling ~ because the collagen produced in response to trauma is more like scar tissue (ridged). It's not the same juicy stuff you have in your 20s. You’re better off taking up a self- massage practice. I have a workshop for you here if you’re interested in learning!
3) Reduce inflammation: Aging happens on the cellular level. Metabolic waste build-up in your system accelerates aging. Specifically, when there is inflammation in your tissues, the spaces between the cells are greater and therefore they can't exchange oxygen and nutrients as they are intended to. This increases oxidative stress and free radicals in your body, and eventually cell death. Reducing emotional stress (see item1) and supporting your lymphatic flow is the best remedy. Your lymphatic system doesn't have a pump and relies on your movements! Ways to support your lymph flow: Deep breathing, dry body brushing, alternating hot/cold showers, walking, dancing, laughing, and bouncing on a trampoline.
4) Eat enough: Protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals. Low calorie franken-foods are NOT healthier for you. Calories should not be the first consideration when it comes to skin health. You need the amino acids to build the collagen and elastin, as well as nutritive factors to protect your healthy collagen and slow down its decline. Think quality proteins, vitamin c and zinc. Enjoy a variety of rich colored fruits and vegetables, oysters, red meat, liver, and whole eggs. I’ve been drinking collagen peptides for 10 years. I can't with absolute certainty that they inherently translate to collagen in your skin, but I do feel like they are a good way to incorporate wide spectrum amino acids into your diet to support the production of collagen and elastin. Studies have shown people who consume collagen peptides have smoother, more hydrated skin.
And above all else, be kind to yourself. Say loving things to yourself in the mirror and see yourself as an ever-changing, ever-evolving spirit in a beautiful body that is mirroring and responding to your inner world in every breath.
I hope this was helpful to you!
If you need some support on your journey, I have a self-massage workshop for you here to begin to rebuild your collagen and elastin naturally and encourage lymphatic flow.
I’m also here to offer an in-person beauty therapy session where you’ll receive all of the healing, repairing magic of massage, gua sha, lymph drainage, energy clearing and deep relaxation.
Love to you beautiful friend!
~Krsta