4 Health and Beauty Services Great for Boosting Collagen

Published on: Jul 03, 2023 / Last Updated on: Jul 03, 2023 / SKINCARE
4 Health and Beauty Services Great for Boosting Collagen

Collagen is one of the most important components of the skin. Its anti-aging properties and structural importance to the skin make it the number one key for maintaining healthy skin. But what are some ways to boost our collagen production?

Many health guides and beauty blogs will have lists of 50 different supplements, vitamins, and food ingredients you need to have incorporated into your diet for optimal collagen levels. But taking the oral consumption route, like with many other cases, often only works depending on the commitment and effort you make. And trying countless supplements, antioxidants, and diets to achieve an increased level of a cellular protein with no visible results can be quite difficult.

This is why collagen-boosting treatments in the form of health and beauty services often are the go-to method for collagen skin rejuvenation. The stimulation of collagen production is often more effective and faster-acting with skincare and cosmetic treatments than supplements and other oral consumption methods. Read more about the differences between collagen supplements and collagen treatments here. This article will offer four different treatments and explain their amazing collagen-boosting qualities.

What is Collagen?

The dermis is composed of two structural components called elastin and collagen. Elastin allows for elasticity, and collagen provides the strength of the mechanical structure. Collagen is an extremely important protein, making up 70-80% of the dry weight of the skin and accounting for 30% of your body’s total protein. Collagen is found all throughout the body, giving strength and structure to the skin, bones, muscles, and connective tissue.

Collagen is the most important anti-aging factor due to all the crucial roles it plays in the skin. Some of its functions include helping with the formation of fibroblasts in the middle layer of the skin, replacing old dead skin cells with new ones, and giving strength and support to the massive structure of the skin, being the largest organ in the body.

The Decline of Collagen

Arguably, what gives this critical protein the most value is its natural decrease in production as we age. Even at the young age of 20, after each year, we lose about 1% of our collagen levels. Over time, the decrease in collagen levels results in weaker skin structure. This leads to sagging skin, fine lines and wrinkles, and decreased volume.

The collagen breaks down in our bodies, and the existing collagen we still have is also lower in quality than at young age. Even though collagen levels gradually decrease over time, it isn’t really significant until around age 60. Women also experience significant collagen decrease after going through menopause.

graphic of dermis structure and collagen depletion as we age

Unfortunately, collagen levels can’t be measured through a blood test or any other method. But the effects of collagen reduction can be observed through certain signs and symptoms such as:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin

  • Loss of volume, hallowing around the eyes and face

  • Decrease in strength, weakening of muscles

  • Worn cartilage, symptoms of joint pain or osteoarthritis

  • Stiff, weaker tendons and ligaments, loss of mobility

Collagen is extremely vital to almost all of our basic functions, which is why it’s so sought after. Luckily there are several great health and beauty services that effectively work to increase collagen production.

Microneedling

Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is one of the best treatments for collagen production. Microneedling is a type of dermabrasion, a skin resurfacing treatment that uses tiny micro-injuries to stimulate healing and skin rejuvenation. Medical-grade microneedling sessions typically involve a microneedling device that, when administered to the area of treatment, creates small micro-punctures. This technique stimulates the production of collagen, resulting in smoother, firmer, and better-structured skin.

Microneedling is a very easy, minimally invasive, and highly effective procedure that many combine with other treatments. One of the best combinations is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy with microneedling, a treatment called the “vampire facial”. It’s called this because PRP therapy involves the use of one’s own blood. The platelets derived from one’s blood are rich in growth and healing factors. This makes it such a great treatment since nearly all of the procedure is 100% natural. Read more about microneedling with PRP here.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are a form of cosmetic treatment that use injections to increase volume and smoothen out lines and wrinkles on the face. Fillers are a popular nonsurgical approach toward anti-aging skincare because of their efficacy and simplicity. But there are many types of fillers stemming, from basic hyaluronic acid fillers to the advanced Sculptra or Radiesse.

The two fillers just mentioned are the leading products right now among all fillers. Sculptra and Radiesse are very popular and have become the main choice for many first-timers and those experienced with cosmetics. But the two are still completely different types of fillers with unique properties and effects which you can read about here.

The particular filler we’ll be discussing here is Sculptra for its ability to boost collagen production. Sculptra is one of the best fillers that uses poly-L-lactic acid. Poly-L-lactic acid is a substance that absorbs into your body after the injection and stimulates the production of collagen. The fibroblasts in the dermis are encouraged to produce more collagen proteins, and over the months and even years, the skin gradually improves. Sculptra is also such a great filler because it can be performed on almost any part of the body with wrinkles or lines, not just the face.

PDO Thread lift

PDO thread lift is another cosmetic procedure similar to fillers in that its primary function is to address signs of skin aging, like sagging and wrinkles, with the added effect of collagen stimulation. It is somewhat similar to traditional facelift surgery but much less invasive and with different kinds of results. There are many types of thread lifts, but PDO thread lifts are the best for stimulating collagen.

Polydioxanone (PDO) thread lifts are very similar to the Sculptra filler in how it functions. While other types of thread lifts use sutures that are better for lifting the sagging skin and giving immediate results, PDO thread lifts use sutures that are best suited for skin rejuvenation and the gradual improvement of skin over time. Like the poly-L-lactic acid in Sculptra fillers, the sutures in PDO thread lifts stimulate the fibroblasts and increase the production of collagen in the dermis.

IV Infusion Therapy

For those who find injectables to be too much for just increased collagen, fortunately, there are other options. IV infusion therapy, also known as IV vitamin therapy, IV hydration therapy, or IV drip therapy, is a form of regenerative medicine that involves the intravenous administration of micronutrients through customized IV infusions. These IV bags are essentially cocktails of nutritional fluids that can provide your body with all the hydration and replenishment it needs.

IV infusion therapy is typically used for its ability to counteract short-term conditions like hangovers and migraines. But there are other forms of IV infusion therapy that are great for long-term conditions, like NAD+ IV therapy or immune support IV therapy. Certain infusions can even provide benefits for skin health. The skin and collagen support infusion is packed with all the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants that can build, support, and protect your skin over the years. The procedure is as simple as any IV treatment and can be performed in under an hour with no downtime. While IV infusion therapy can be a standalone treatment, it works best in tandem with other collagen-boosting treatments.

Conclusion

These are only four treatments that can benefit the production of collagen in the dermis. There are many other treatments and products on the market that also produce these effects, which is why it’s so important to do your research and find the treatments that are right for you.

If you have any questions or are considering one of our health and beauty services, then call or visit M Health and Beauty. The journey to healthy, youthful skin begins and ends with collagen. And if collagen-boosting treatments are what you’re looking for, then M Health and Beauty is here to serve you the best we can.