Collagen is a fiber in the
connective tissue throughout our bodies, most noticeably in the face. As we
age, our bodies naturally stop producing collagen and the existing collagen
will begin to break down. This leads to facial sagging and wrinkles and gives
skin a rough appearance. There are a number of expensive and invasive
procedures that can rebuild or replace lost collagen; however, there are also
practices you can incorporate into your daily life to start replenishing your
body's collagen.
Step 1
Apply sunscreen to your face daily. A good majority of the collagen loss in your face can be contributed to UV sun damage. Many moisturizers include sunblock. Check the labels and buy the highest content you can find.
Step 2
Eat foods that contain the amino acids lysine and proline. Natural collagen contains large quantities of these two amino acids; consuming foods high in them can help to replenish your body's supply. Lysine can be found in lean meats, fish and low-fat dairy while egg whites and wheat germ are good sources of proline.Step 3
Take a vitamin C
supplement on a daily basis. Vitamin C is required to transform the lysine and
proline into hydroxylysine and hydroxyproline, the forms of the amino acids
necessary to rebuild collagen.
Step 4
Increase the amount
of protein you consume in your diet. Women should consume 46g or more a day
while men should increase their consumption of protein to more than 56g per
day. Protein supports the growth and health of collagen.
Step 5
Apply a daily cream
that contains retinol. You can get a prescription for a high-dose cream, but
several quality products are available at drug and beauty stores. Retinol has
been shown to heal the collagen breakdown caused by photodamage.
Tips and Warnings
Rebuilding collagen is a
complicated process and all the steps above work in conjunction to make it
happen. Omitting a step will hinder the growth of collagen.
Things You'll Need
·
Sunscreen
·
Foods rich in
lysine, proline and protein
·
Vitamin C + L-Glutathione supplement
· Retinol lotion
