Today we’re taking you on a journey – more specifically, the collagen journey and collagen loss with age.

Collagen is a buzzword when it comes to skin ageing for both women and men and there’s certainly a lot to take note of before working out the correct way to increase and stimulate the collagen production in your own skin.

Following this timeline will provide great tips and advice as we go through collagen loss with age.

The end goal is to slow down and prevent premature ageing so that we can look younger for longer, but before we get into how to do that, let’s start at the beginning.

Essentially collagen is what holds up our skin and gives it shape, structure and flexibility (the skin scaffolding if you like.) Found in the dermis layer, collagen is the main structural protein in our skin and makes up 85% of adult skin overall.

In our earlier years our skin replenishes itself every 28 days, however as we age, we naturally start to experience collagen loss at a rate of 1% per year and this can also be accelerated depending on your lifestyle. It only takes some elements of the collagen structure to begin to break down before collagen becomes weaker and makes us look older than we actually are.

Key types of collagen:

TYPE 3 – This is newly formed collagen; it has small, fine bundles and only makes up to 10-15% in younger newly formed skin. It’s this type of collagen that is responsible for the plump cushioning of a youthful skin appearance.

TYPE 1 – This type of collagen has matured from type 3 collagen and has larger bundles and more developed fibres. It’s responsible for our skins tensile strength making up to 80-85% in the skin.

The combination of these two types of collagen is the reason collagen forms the scaffolding of our skin and results in its strength and support among a network of fibres.

Luckily collagen (unlike elastin) can be synthesised and in this blog, we’re sharing everything we know about collagen through the ages to give you a better understanding of where you are in the collagen journey and the steps you can take to promote healthy collagen production and prevent premature ageing.

*For a better viewing experience, please read this section below on a computer/laptop device.

So how is your skin in your twenties? Generally, you can expect to see well-hydrated, supple and plump skin with an even skin tone and a healthy supply of collagen at 100%. The main bulk of the face is uplifted with a broader upper face tapering down to a finer point with no excess tissue or saggy lines. This is due to a greater proportion of mature collagen (type 1) in the deeper layers of the skin, with large bundles and more developed fibres making up to 80%-85%.
LIFESTYLE Lifestyle habits to actively avoid and reduce: Sunbathing and use of sunbeds. UV light is the number one enemy for collagen loss. Excessively drinking alcohol as this not only leads to increased dehydration, it also increases free radicals that are damaging to the overall health of your skin. Smoking will lead to lack of oxygen in the skin cells resulting in a dull appearance and uneven surface. High sugar diets lead to increased sugar in the blood. Not wearing an SPF daily.		SYMPTOMS What you’ll start to notice: In your twenties, there are generally no evident symptoms of collagen loss as this is the age your collagen levels are at their very best. Vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis and maintenance, as well as a primary requirement for skin healing and preventative ageing process, however, those who use sunbeds or spend lots of time in the sun will have increased free radicals leading to a reduction in Vitamin C and possible signs of dry or dehydrated skin too. Starting to lose collagen in these early years will speed up the reduction of other elements like elastin in the skin too.
TEJ&CO RECOMMENDS Your skincare routine
When it comes to your thirties you can still expect to see hydrated, plump skin with an even skin tone, however, cell turnover begins to slow down along with collagen production too as this is when the ageing process kicks in for both men and women. There may be slight signs of dehydration leading to minor skin concerns and the early visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. Women in their mid-thirties may be peri-menopausal and this will result in a drop in estrogen levels. Estrogen keeps cells active and both estrogen and androgen hormones are responsible for increasing the rate of cell turnover. This means that as we age, a reduction in the hormone levels impact on cell renewal and therefore the overall health of our skin. You may start to show greater susceptibility to a change in skin health and density, which is due to a natural reduction of metabolism and leads to dehydration of the skin and an inability to maintain sufficient collagen levels.
LIFESTYLE Lifestyle habits to actively avoid and reduce: Continue focusing on those already detailed above in your 20s – it’s through maintaining these that helps to prevent the acceleration of collagen loss.		SYMPTOMS What you’ll start to notice: From your early to mid-thirties, this is the age bracket men and women may start to see small signs of collagen loss such as reduced suppleness, firmness, lift, overall strength, fine lines, wrinkles, dehydrated skin. This could be due to our natural collagen loss with age now at an estimated level of 80%, or worst case at 60% if you live an unhealthy lifestyle. It’s during these years that the successful transition of fetal collagen (type 3) to mature collagen (type 1) is vital to the remodelling of dermal regeneration and premature ageing. One of the main reasons for unsuccessful transmission is a Vitamin C deficiency that could be from diet, UV light exposure or smoking; the key here is a prevention to start making changes early.
TEJ&CO RECOMMENDS Your skincare routine
Your forties may be fabulous however it’s at this age that your metabolism slows down further meaning fewer fibroblast cells (which help produce collagen) in their quality and quantity that lead to loss of collagen and premature ageing. As we age the tissue become less vibrant, not so well formed and this slows down in all its functionalities because of the strain on other body organs. The cell turnover will now increase to every 40-60 days unlike 28 days in your twenties. From your mid 40s onwards, often its the fetal collagen (type 3) that is more dominant when compared to our younger years when it was only 10-15%. In these years it can be as much as 80-85% due to poor remodeling capacity of the stronger mature collagen (type 1). Menopausal ladies will also have reduced estrogen levels leading to a drop in hydration. Internal influences as we age affect the ability to metabolize sugars too and these sugar molecules bond to protein fibers of collagen and elastin. This is called glycated collagen and coupled with a depreciation of hyaluronic acid due to estrogen levels reducing from your mid 30s onwards, can further lead to dehydration which may appear as puckering on the skin in a crisscross network of wrinkles most visible around eye and chin area.
LIFESTYLE Lifestyle habits to actively avoid and reduce: Along with those already detailed in your 20s and 30s… High sugar diets lead to increased sugar in the blood. This sugar then crystalizes around collagen fibers (imagine dried sugar around a jam jar) which can be more challenging to treat. Use of harsh skincare products such as toners and face wipes which will further dehydrate the skin.		SYMPTOMS What you’ll start to notice: Once you reach your forties, you may notice loss of elasticity and muscle tone; the most common sign to cause concern is a drop of contour around the eyes however this is the structural support breaking down tissue that is falling vertically down. If you’re forty or above, you’ll likely see a further deepening of lines and wrinkles, folds in the skin and a drop in the contour of your face. Other symptoms of collagen loss may be less volume and firmness in the skin along with depreciation to the strength of it too. It’s within this age bracket that your collagen loss now lessens to an estimated 60%. By your fifties, you’ll also see a natural drop in muscle tone along with fat and the decline of bone density as the levels are now at just 50%. As with earlier age brackets, this can go down to as much as 30% depending on your lifestyle habits. It’s within this age bracket most women go through the menopause and see a decline in estrogen levels which signifies a subsequent drop in skin hydration; this will mean that the sugars in the tissue fluid become overly concentrated once again.
TEJ&CO RECOMMENDS Your skincare routine

	TAKE OUR ADVICE			DON’T TAKE OUR ADVICE
If you keep to a healthy lifestyle and follow our skincare tips maintaining good skincare routine you can truly expect to look less than our actual birthday age. Enjoy healthy skin that requires minimum maintenance with the option for preventative treatments rather than corrective treatments such as injectables is a great feel-good factor! In more advanced years there will be a reduced chance for the need for cosmetic surgery which will help boost your confidence and self-esteem even further!			If you don’t maintain a healthy lifestyle and have a poor skincare routine your appearance could be older than actual birthday age. There is a greater chance you will require corrective treatments over preventative which could be a considerable higher financial investment. Such remedial treatments can take anything up to a year to stimulate mature type 1 collagen from the fetal collagen and could consequently result in a low self-esteem and confidence.

Now you have a clear understanding of collagen loss and the many causes of premature ageing, it’s time to take action and start investing in your skin. Take a new outlook and treat caring for your skin as a necessity rather than a luxury and you’ll soon begin to see the results!

If you’re not currently experiencing the symptoms of collagen loss or premature ageing, then follow our tips based on your age and maintain these to look after your skin and natural collagen production.

If you feel you do need an extra boost, there’s no time like the present to book your free consultation below and we can help determine the best treatment for you.

If you’re experiencing the symptoms of collagen loss with premature ageing or believe your collagen level is low, we recommend booking one of our results-driven treatments to give your skin the attention it deserves.

MICRO-NEEDLING

A suitable option for those in their late twenties and thirties, Micro-needling stimulates collagen through controlled trauma to the skin which is a proven method that allows the healing reaction of the skin to repair itself and stimulate natural collagen reproduction for a more youthful appearance.

Micro-needling is the preferred treatment to treat glycated collagen after the initial phase of hydration has been completed to reduce the concentration of the sugars. It can have a plumping effect and prevent further glycation of the collagen.

Discover more

ENDYMED

Voted the number one treatment for women over 40 by The Telegraph, EndyMed is a revolutionary skin treatment that uses heat to stimulate the natural production of collagen for natural, long-lasting results.

EndyMed is also our recommended treatment for the remodelling phase of collagen from fetal type 1 to mature stronger collagen type 3; it’s not only about forming collagen but maturing and nurturing it for full resilience with the support of your everyday skincare products.

Discover more

*If you book a Skin Analysis (regular cost £20), we’ll fully refund the amount if you decide to go ahead with a treatment.

This article was written by skincare specialist Tej of Tej & Co.

Tej & Co are experts in skincare and hair removal clinic, West Midlands. Offering safe and results-driven non-surgical skin treatments including Endymed Skin Tightening.