By Nasrin Mani, M.D.
Collagen is a key element in your skin. It’s the primary structure and the critical basis for maintaining smooth firm skin. As you age, you lose collagen….in fact, a study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics demonstrated that within a few years or menopause, women showed 40% less collagen in their skin and connective tissues! That’s why so many women in their 50’s start scrambling to see what they can do to “save face”. That’s also a suspected reason many women start having troubles with stress urinary incontinence.
So How Are You Supposed To Get The Collagen Percentages Back Up?
Hormone replacement therapy helps, but it’s not viable for everyone. But what EVERY woman can do is help protect her skin and boost new collagen production via supplements and topical products. (You need ascorbic acid to create collagen, so Vitamin C in your foods and via supplements remains important your entire life).
The other BIG option is the use of topicals. Feeding your skin with topical ascorbic acid (*Vitamin C – comes under various terms) is a very powerful step. Here’s Why:
We live in a world of “free radicals” – basically these are disruptive little electrons that play havoc with your skin’s ability to stay smooth, bright and elastic.
Free Radicals – Your Skin’s Enemy
Free radicals are created by the process of oxidation – oxidation causes rust on metal and damages your skin – not quite as bad as this rusty metal in the photograph, but you see what exposure to the elements can do to something that’s essentially much tougher than your skin.
Preventing these free radicals from doing their dirty work means you need to give your skin something to fight back with.
Your Most Potent Warriors? Vitamin C With The Support Of Vitamin E.
- Vitamin C can make a significant improvement in the appearance of sun damage, uneven skin tone and strengthen the skin’s barrier. Vitamin C can also help boost the free-radical protection of sunscreen. So put on your Vitamin C serum or cream first and top with sunscreen.
- Look for Vitamin C levels of 15% or more if your doctor recommends
- The anti-inflammatory action of Vitamin C is unparalleled. Inflammation is most often not something you can even see, but it’s at work breaking down your collagen and speeding up wrinkle formation.
- Vitamin E can effectively double the protective power of C. Don’t go above 1% and look for alpha tocopherol.
Want an extra boost?
We watched Dr. Oz and took notes. When he talked phytoceramides we paid attention. From Dr. Oz, “Taking phytoceramides orally restores the natural outer layer of the skin. These powerful molecules work from the inside out, getting absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the inner layer of your skin. From there, they seep to the outermost layer where they restore the cracked and damaged barrier, moisturize and fill out wrinkles and sun-damaged areas.”
You can get phytoceramides easily online or in your local health food store. There are ones made from wheat and others from rice – take your pick.
*Names for viable Vitamin C
Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, L-Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Ascorbate and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate . The difference between them all is where the C is extracted from and how is delivered to the skin.
Kely, our Medical Esthetician, recommends these Vitamin C products in our office (also avaialable in the online store). If you aren’t sure which products will work with your skin, come by for some hands on help.
Great C cream for the Oily/Acne Skin Patient
Great for those Dehydrated/Dry/ Normal Skin
Great Moisturizer Cream for Dry/Dehydrated/ Normal Skin
20% C Serum +Arbutin and Vitamin E, great for the Acne and Oily Skin
Revision Vitamin C Lotion 30% (In the office)
There are many different brands and many effective formulations. The key is to pick one and use it consistently. You WILL see your skin improve!
