How to Get a Collagen Increase Naturally
Why would you want a collagen increase? Because production of the skins elastic fibers slows down with age. That leads to wrinkling and sagging. A collagen stimulant can help delay aging, because that is the protein that makes up those elastic fibers.
Several natural ingredients have been shown to cause a collagen increase in the skin, when applied topically. This article looks at the safety and effectiveness of those ingredients.
Alpha-hydroxy Acids
Alpha-hydroxy acids are derived from fruits. The mild acid effect lifts off the top layer of dead skin cells, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. New evidence indicates that at higher concentrations, the acids act as a collagen stimulant. But, there are unwanted side effects, which include increased sensitivity to sunlight, increased risk of burning, redness, itching and irritation.
Vitamin C
Mixed results have been seen in studies concerning vitamin C. While some studies have shown it to be a collagen stimulant, effective for protecting against damage from UVA and UVB problems, reducing inflammation and correcting pigmentation, others have shown no benefit. That may be due to the type or concentration that is used. Vitamin C is also a mild acid that can cause adverse reactions and increased sensitivity. The best choice may be plant extracts or oils that contain it.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 has not been shown to cause a collagen increase directly, but it has been shown to reduce wrinkles, repair sun damage and improve the skins hydration. It is a natural antioxidant present in every cell of the body. No unwanted side effects or adverse reactions have been seen.
Avocado Oil
A recent study found that avocado oil is an effective collagen stimulant. It contains numerous vitamins and other nutrients, as well as sterols, which have been shown to fade age spots.
Functional Keratin
Of all of the ingredients that have been looked at, to date. Functional Keratin is the most effective. Not only does it stimulate a collagen increase, it also stimulates increased production of skin cells, by as much as 160%, in only three days. It may take 4-6 weeks to see a big improvement, but because of the proteins ability to bend light slightly, it has an immediate cosmetic effect.
Decreased production of elastic fibers is only one of the causes of an aged appearance. The others include free radical damage and inflammation. Functional Keratin has been shown to increase the production of antioxidants (the bodys natural defense against free radicals) within the skins cells and inhibit inflammation by as much as 70%.
When you learn about all of the things that Functional Keratin can do, it might sound too good to be true, but research has proven that it increases the skins firmness and elasticity by over 40% after only 18 days of use. That makes it the most effective collagen stimulant on the market. Other ingredients might cause a slight collagen increase, but nothing compares to Functional Keratin.