Collagen Serum

Collagen is a protein synthesized naturally in the body, which plays a major role in the structure of cell tissue. Collagen’s functions are many and varied, but with regard to collagen serum perhaps the most relevant are the maintenance of strong, healthy skin. Collagen deficiency in the skin leads to wrinkles and a tired, dead appearance. Collagen preparations are used in different ways to ‘plump up’ the skin by restoring some of its structure.

As a protein, collagen consists of three separate chains of proteins bound together in a triple helix. The structure of collagen fibers is so beautifully well designed that it has a higher tensile strength even than steel. Somewhere in the region of one-third of all the protein in the human body is composed of collagen, including that in the muscles, organs and even bones.

The simplest way to visualize the role of collagen in the structure of cells is to imagine a solid mesh like a scaffold that supports a structure and maintains its shape in the face of various external forces. Without collagen, the human body would have no structure and would fall apart quite literally.

Collagen serum is an increasingly popular cosmetic product due to its miraculous ability to ‘fill in’ wrinkles and restore the natural structure of the skin, which has the effect of rolling back the aging process, making skin look younger and feel firmer. It used to be not so long ago that collagen treatments were injected into the skin and required hospital visits, but collagen treatments have advanced and can now be administered simply and painlessly at home using creams and ointments.

In the human body, collagen is manufacutred by what are called fibroblasts, skin cells with the specific role of producing collagen and other essential proteins like elastin, which does exactly as it sounds, giving the skin its elastic properties and memory. The manufacture of collagen requires, amongst other things, vitamin C. Which is why people with vitamin C deficiency can suffer from premature aging of the skin and wrinkles, as well as myriad other problems. This is also the reason why some collagen preparations incorporate vitamin C as a facet of their treatment, so that the neglected skin is treated both internally and externally.

Experts agree that collagen serum, while an excellent and effective remedy for wrinkles and aged skin, is best administered in conjunction with other factors such as cutting down on the amount of harmful UVA and UVB radiation that the skin comes into contact with (by using certain products such as sunblocks and moisturizers) and by supplementing with antioxidants such as coenzyme Q10 to combat damaging free-radicals that can destroy skin cells (and other cells). This method will not only replace lost and damaged collagen using the collagen serum, but will also actively promote the synthesis of new collagen by the body.

Some collagen serums also contain peptide signal molecules or fragments, which stimulate the fibroplasts which manufacture collagen. These signal molecules have proven to be an effective way of stimulating new collagen synthesis while topically replacing collagen in the immediate case.

The rate at which the body produces collagen naturally falls as people get older, which is why collagen serum is increasingly effective the older you get. But it is not merely a cosmetic treatment, as reduction in collagen levels also has a negative effect on the muscles, bones, eyes and blood vessels. in fact as we have already mentioned, collagen supports every cell in your body. So collagen preparations are not merely about vanity, but can be effective in restoring youthfulness and energy levels right through the body. Studies have shown that most people reported highly noticeable results from collagen replacement in as little as thirty days, citing disappearing wrinkles and stronger, smoother, firmer skin, in addition to other benefits such as revitalized hair and nails, and a general feeling of well-being.

As has been covered, collagen treatment works best in synergy with other treatments and changes in lifestyle factors. One of the most significant of these is a reduction in the consumption of cholesterol and saturated fats. This is good advice in general of course, as cholesterol and saturated fats can cause a myriad health problems, especially heart problems, and are usually to be avoided. But specifically with regard to collagen, they can make existing collagen hard and inelastic, reducing the resilience of the skin and leading to cracks and wrinkles. A healthy diet is as important as good cosmetics.

To expand on this synergistic theme, many collagen preparations include additional substances that are known to work in harmony with the collagen to produce excellent results. Collagen is an incomplete protein, which means that it also needs the essential amino acid called tryptophan in order to properly function. Additionally, vitamin C is essential in support of the collagen renewal process and will be found in many prominent collagen solutions. Extracts of marigold and horsetail have been found to promote collagen synthesis, and rose-hip, while not directly involved in the process, can have the effect of improving the elasticity of the skin, and therefore works in conjunction with collagen for a complete skincare solution.

A good collagen serum will not only contain the collagen fibers to replenish lost supplies of collagen, fill in wrinkles and make skin generally firmer and more elastic, but it will also contain all of the elements necessary to maintain this transformation in the future through the promotion of new collagen synthesis in existing cells.