16 Ways To Boost Collagen

Dr. Sam Ellis, dermatologist, advises:

Rejuvenation, from the inside and out

You don’t have to do all of these, of course, although some (such as sunscreen and adequate nutritional intake) are vital. As for the rest, pick what you like the sound of, and give it a try:

1. Use daily sun protection: consistent sunscreen, UPF clothing, and wide-brim hats prevent up to 90% of collagen loss from UV exposure.
2. Apply topical retinoids: ingredients such as retinol, retinaldehyde, adapalene, or prescription tretinoin boost collagen synthesis and slow its breakdown.
3. Choose a tolerable retinoid strength: if tretinoin is too irritating, step down to gentler but still effective forms like retinaldehyde.
4. Add collagen-supporting peptides: ingredients like copper peptides help signal collagen production in the skin.
5. Layer a peptide serum: lightweight formulae can be used before or after retinoids; the retinoid stimulates the regeneration, and the peptides help provide ingredients.
6. Use topical vitamin C: L-ascorbic acid promotes collagen formation and protects against oxidative damage.
7. Try gentler vitamin C derivatives: if L-ascorbic acid irritates your skin, try THD ascorbate products instead.
8. Avoid collagen creams for collagen growth: these are essentially overpriced moisturizers for the surface only, as they do not penetrate to stimulate collagen internally.
9. Incorporate red-light therapy: regular use of LED masks or panels helps increase collagen and calm inflammation.
10. Eat antioxidant-rich foods: fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C and other antioxidants protect collagen from oxidative damage.
11. Maintain adequate protein intake: dietary protein supplies amino acids essential for collagen production.
12. Get micronutrients zinc and copper: these minerals, found abundantly in beans, nuts, grains, etc, are cofactors in collagen formation.
13. Consider collagen supplements: hydrolysed collagen peptides may improve skin elasticity, hydration, and thickness, though evidence for direct collagen increase is still limited.
14. Exercise regularly: both aerobic and resistance training upregulate collagen-producing genes; resistance exercise also thickens skin (in a good way).
15. Try microneedling: controlled micro-injuries from fine needles trigger healing and can raise collagen levels by up to 400%.
16. Explore in-office collagen stimulators: resurfacing lasers, IPL photofacials, and other in-clinic options are worth exploring too.

For more on each of these, enjoy:

Click Here If The Embedded Video Doesn’t Load Automatically!

Want to learn more?

You might also like:

• The Best Foods For Collagen Production
• Casting Yourself In A Healthier Light ← our main feature about the science of RLT
• Are Collagen Molecules Too Big To Be Absorbed?

Take care!