Besides time, three main things will lower your collagen levels: sunlight, smoking, and sugar. Too much exposure to ultraviolet light makes its fibers unravel. This can lead to sun damage, such as wrinkles. Many of the chemicals in cigarette smoke can damage it, which can make skin sag and wrinkle.
The collagen tissues support the formation of bones, tendons, and cartilage that form depending on the level of mineralization. However, an individual can lose collagen components in the body due to exposure to ultraviolet light, tobacco, excessive intake of sugar, and aging.
Refined Carbs
Crackers, cookies, cereal, pasta, bread and baked goods contain sugar and chemicals that are damaging to collagen molecules, thereby diminishing the quality of the tissue, and can erode the quantity of your collagen as well.
There's a proven link between UV exposure (sunshine over time) and loss of collagen. One study observed collagen under UV light and found that there was a "significant decrease" in collagen structure afterward1 .
“UV exposure can lead to the breakdown of collagen, which can lead to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, so you're never too young to start wearing sunscreen regularly,” says Garshick.
Ultraviolet rays, aka sunlight, cause collagen to break down faster. With sun exposure, those UV rays damage the skin by entering the dermis (the second and thickest layer of our skin) which causes collagen to break down faster.
So caffeine is a collagen killer and we should steer clear? Not exactly. "It's worth remembering that coffee doesn't destroy collagen, it inhibits its production," says nutritional therapist at the Pulse Light Clinic, Lisa Borg.
Initial results from collagen restoration treatments are usually visible immediately. However, new collagen growth can take anywhere from four to 12 weeks to complete. Keep in mind that while certain procedures can be very effective at restoring and replacing collagen, these results aren't permanent.
Eating foods that contain vitamin C and antioxidants, avoiding smoking, limiting caffeine intake, and protecting the skin from sunlight may all help preserve collagen or boost its production.
A common technique used to break down and realign collagen fibres is kneading. Kneading is used on areas of the body containing soft tissues. Kneading involves slowly pulling and squeezing muscles to increase their temperature and reduce restriction.
Factors which can lead to collagen degradation include ageing (this is the main cause), disease, exposure to UV radiation and smoking. A typical form of collagen degradation associated with smoking is the loss of collagen in the skin, leading to premature ageing of the epidermis (i.e. wrinkles).
The good news is, though you may not be able to bring back the lost collagen, there are ways to help get things moving and slow further loss. With the right skin care products and treatments outside and in, there's so much you can do to get back that spring back in your skin.
Caffeine inhibited collagen biosynthesis in a dose-dependent manner. The mechanism of this process was found at the level of prolidase activity.
Exercise—specifically heavy lifting—releases a growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland, which stimulates your fibroblast cells, resulting in collagen production.
You can naturally support the collagen production process by using topicals such as vitamin C and retinol, collagen peptide supplements, eating a nutrient rich diet, and avoiding habits that damage the collagen (such as poor sleep and sun exposure.)
Bone Broth
This tops the list of food sources that contain high amounts of collagen. You can buy bone broth at the grocery store or make it yourself. To make bone broth at home, simply cook beef, pork, poultry, or fish bones in water.
Collagen can't be measured — for instance, in a blood test — but there are signs that your collagen level is decreasing. These signs and symptoms include: Skin that's wrinkled, crepey or sagging.
Oral supplementation, along with eating foods that either contain collagen or boost your natural production, is the best way to absorb it into your body and increase your collagen levels. Foods that contain Vitamin C are helpful for increasing collagen production.
Sugar causes glycation, which is a process that breaks down collagen fibres that are important to make our skin tissues smooth and tight. Breakdown of collagen fibre causes early ageing. Excessive consumption of sugar can also cause increased production of IGF1 hormone and increased acne.
Alcohol depletes collagen
Unfortunately, alcohol depletes your body's vitamin levels. Fewer vitamins mean less collagen production. By depriving your body of collagen, alcohol deprives your body of collagen's numerous health benefits, notably the health of your hair and skin.