How does collagen regenerate?

Question

How does collagen regenerate. Everyone's different so how do you know yours will. Does smoking,drinking, and the Sun play a factor in collagen regenerating.?

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

Collagen is the main structural protein in the skin, and it is continuously being replaced as it breaks down. This replacement and repair process diminishes with age, and smoking, sun exposure, and other factors contribute to the DNA damage that causes this regeneration process to slow down. Supplements probably don't help much, and collagen skin creams are a waste of money. Because elastin is a form of collagen that is responsible for elastic tone in the skin, you can judge the skin's ability to regenerate collagen by it's elasticity. Treatments such as Ultherapy and lasers stimulate a healing response that accelerates collagen remodeling. Products such as TNS with growth factors, antioxidants such as resveratrol, and tretinoin also help.

Rebecca Fitzgerald, MD · Answer

Our bodies produce collagen all along, but at a varying pace. At the same time there is the process of collagen breakdown from a natural enzyme in our bodies called collagenase.When your're young, the balance stays fairly consistent. But as you age, the balance shifts and after a while you have more collagen breakdown than production.You can actually see this shift begin in your 30's and it becomes more apparent the older you get.Absolutely lifestyle and sun exposure play a factor in the accelerated breakdown since UV rays, poor diet, smoking and alcohol have negative effects on your skin.As doctors, we can tell you to stay out of the sun and not smoke or drink, but age will eventually throw off the collagen build-breakdown cycle even if you take all the precautions and stay incredibly dedicated to a healthy life style.Interrupting that collagenase action with stimulatory fillers can slow things down considerably. That's where Sculptra can have a profound impact - and more so with the 35-40 set since stimulation of collagen works best around that time. Yes, those older can benefit, but it takes longer and it takes more product.Cosmetic Fillers Science is an interview video that may help explain this concept in more detail.

Joshua L. Fox, MD · Answer

Collagen
is the main structural protein in skin. And it is constantly being repaired and
regenerated by cells in the skin with this specific purpose. The rate at which
collagen is broken down, repaired, or regenerated varies with factors like age,
sun damage, and smoking.

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

There are foods that can stimulate collagen regenreration or supplements like proline and threonine and vitamins like vitamin C. There is no magical cure and that's why they have developed fillers to solve this puzzle. Stop smoking and eat a good meal and slow down the aging process and maybe you can retain the collage content of your tissues and maintain the elasticity of your tissues (elastin levels) that are associated with aging.

How does collagen regenerate?

Answers (4)

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