It is unlikely that you have walked down the skincare aisle and not come across the word collagen! In fact, all skincare products today have something to do with boosting collagen production in your skin. but what is collagen to be exact and what is its importance when it comes to skincare? Another common term you must be confronted with a dozen times is skin inflammation.

In this blog, we have answered all your questions regarding these two skincare ideologies. Read on to learn more. 

What is collagen?

Derived from the Greek word kola, meaning ‘glue,’ collagen is a naturally occurring protein in your body that serves as a primary component of your skin, muscles, ligaments, and bones. Collagen is found in the dermis layer of your skin, with a composition of 80 percent of its dry weight. Thus, giving your skin its structural strength, which prevents it from tearing. 

Now you must have an inkling of the role of collagen in your skin; it is responsible for skin elasticity and suppleness. Unfortunately, it tends to deplete as you age and sadly this has become prevalent at an early age, more often referred to as premature aging. 

This low collagen content in your skin displays fine lines and wrinkles along with a visible flatness in your cheeks as well as under eye hollows. 

How can you increase collagen in your skin?

Lasers

Lasers serve as one of the preventative ways to increase collagen by removing the superficial epidermal layer of your skin and rapidly heating the water molecules that occur beneath. These cells in the targeted area then vaporize with the heated water turning it into gas. The skin is then peeled in a precise way subsequently increasing fresh collagen creation. 

Botox

This method actually works to improve collagen production naturally. It does this by relaxing the tight muscles on your eyes and forehead. With advancements in science, there has been an improvement of collagen in treated areas and added elasticity to your skin. With the relaxed skin, the tearing of collagen is also abridged. 

Topical skincare products

Many products have been formulated to hydrate your skin to enhance its suppleness to a certain degree. These include retinoids, ferulic acid, and vitamins C and E. To slow down the breakdown of collagen in your skin, you must apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen regularly. 

What is skin inflammation and how does it occur?

Inflammation happens to all of you like itching, irritation on your face, or sometimes waking up to soreness and a deep burning sensation after exposure to the sun or even perhaps for no reason. 

Inflammation basically occurs because the immune system gets out of whack and calms down when your skin returns to its regular state. This is how it responds to external or internal injury to your skin that is a result of various factors like allergies, ultraviolet rays of the sun, infections, and skin issues like eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, etc. 

When it gets severe from acute, the inflammation can have very harsh effects, resulting in a disrupted skin barrier and impacting your overall skin health. This also causes severe dryness in your skin which further increases sensitivity, breakouts, and hyperpigmentation. It is very important to understand what causes it and how to reduce inflammation on face.

How can you treat inflammation?

You need to try to return inflamed skin to its balanced state. Though it is essential to resolve the primary source of inflammation, reducing inflammation altogether also helps. For this you need to consider a few ingredients and products to strengthen the moisture barrier of your skin and keep it cool. 

Antioxidants

Antioxidants such as vitamin C can assist with culminating the domino effect of free radical damage and other mechanisms of the inflammatory response. These form the key ingredients in skincare to treat redness, improve sensitivity levels, and prevent any harm to your skin barrier. This is because they have the power to reduce excessive immune response and facilitate the healing process. 

Vitamin E

This does not only accelerate skin healing but also stabilizes other antioxidants such as vitamin C, thus thoroughly nourishing your skin. 

Green tea

The catechins more often referred to as polyphenols in green tea possess multiple antioxidant effects that include anti-inflammation to soothe your skin. Thus this is one of the natural ways to reduce inflammation.

Curcumin

This polyphenol antioxidant naturally occurs in turmeric root which is responsible for giving the plant its natural color. With its great antioxidant properties, it aids in resolving inflammation while also enhancing your skin tone. 

Zinc and Niacinamide

Skincare products that contain these anti-inflammatory ingredients assist with the recovery of your skin barrier and cure blemished skin. 

The final verdict

Collagen is an abundant protein in your skin that gives your skin its natural structure. It helps in repairing and renewing your skin cells thus helping it appear youthful. Certain lifestyle choices along with environmental factors affect collagen synthesis but the use of laser treatments, botox, and topical skincare products can improve collagen production naturally

In the same vein, skin inflammation is very common in one of five individuals, and occurs due to allergies, sun exposure and infections. However, it can be treated with a plethora of ingredients readily available like green tea, vitamin E, zinc and niacinamide.