What Is Collagen
Collagen is the principal structural protein of connective tissue in the body. It makes up part of your skin, ligaments, tendons, joints, bone, eyes, & more. Increasing the production of collagen greatly improves the look & feel of your skin, as well as improve conditions like arthritis or gut issues. In fact, he lack of collagen production & in the diet is one of, if not the single biggest, contributor to connective tissue diseases like tendinitis, arthritis, skin wrinkles, & leaky gut.
Vitamin B3 & B5
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) & B5 (Pantothenic Acid) are important for skin health. They play a role in skin moisture & aspects of the skin matrix. Topical forms of Niacin & B5 were shown to significantly increase the production of collagen & hyaluronic acid, & skin moisture & quality. This suggests that getting vitamin B3 & B5 from your diet could also improve collagen synthesis.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential factor in the synthesis of collagen & other molecules involved with the skin matrix. Scurvy is actually the severe deficiency of vitamin C that results in a lack of production of collagen & the breakdown of the vascular system. This causes inability to repair many parts of the body & hemorrhaging. Vitamin C from food or supplement as well as topical serums significantly enhance collagen production.
Copper
Copper is essential for some of the enzymes involved in the synthesis of collagen & many related molecules like hyaluronic acid. A deficiency can inhibit collagen production & skin health. That being said, it’s also easy to get too much copper.
Topical copper peptides in the forms of serum or face masks have also been shown to significantly increase collagen production & reduce the visibility of aging & scar tissue.
Sleep
Sleep is essential for the growth & repair of everything in your body, especially Collagen. The dark bags you get under your eyes from after you don’t sleep is from lack of Collagen. The lack of collagen causes the skin to thin & reveal the capillaries & blood flow beneath, resulting in the purple color. Be sure to get consistent & quality sleep each night to noticeably boost your collagen. Your body also resets it’s accumulated stress & cortisol when it sleeps which benefits the next point.
Stress & Cortisol
Just like a lack of sleep, too much stress & cortisol will cause thin skin & dark bags. Cortisol inhibits Collagen synthesis, with chronically elevated levels being a cause of stretch marks. You can prevent stress & cortisol by:
- Getting Quality Sleep
- Meditating & Hobbies
- Adequate Downtime
- Sunlight
- Walks & Being In Nature
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic Acid is a compound essential for skin, joint, & tendon health. It retains moisture & lubricates these things. Topical & oral Hyaluronic acid has been shown to possibly boost the production of collagen.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera Gel has long been known for it’s beneficial effect on skin & wound healing. Aloe Vera has been shown to increase Collagen synthesis when applied topically & even orally. It was also shown to increase Hyaluronic Acid production.
Peptide Creams
Peptide Creams are facial creams with peptides & growth factors that enhance the synthesis of collagen as well as hydrate & protect skin. These peptides are usually expensive & might be unnatural in your eyes, but they definitely work if you want to look 10 years younger.
Red Light Therapy
Red Light Therapy consists of exposing skin to low-wavelength red light. Red Light has been shown to significantly increase the synthesis of collagen as well as reduce acne, scar tissue, & wrinkles. One of these reasons is that red light boosts your cells’ mitochondria & energy production, which ‘supercharges’ them to produce more collagen & overall work more efficiently.
Collagen Induction Therapy (Micro-Needling, Dermarolling)
Collagen Induction Therapy, more so known as Micro-Needling or Dermarolling, is the use of micro-needles to stimulate collagen synthesis and the repair of skin & wrinkles. By causing damage to the skin, the skin recruits more growth factors and renews the cells, leading to increased collagen production and younger, smoother skin.
Apex of Men 