Recipes To Restore Your Lost Collagen

If you love skincare, you must have heard of collagen. Beauty aisles are flooded with creams and treatments that promise to boost collagen production, but what is collagen? Dr. Joshua Zeicher, a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital’s department of dermatology, told TODAY, “Collagen is the main molecule in the skin that provides structure and support. Think of it like the frame of your mattress.” He added there is a decline in the production of collagen after the age of 30, which can lead to “fine lines and wrinkles, crepey appearance and prominent pores,” so now we know that collagen helps maintain younger-looking skin. Adding topical collagen in skincare “plumps, hydrates, and conditions the skin, though they definitely don’t increase our collagen levels,” said facialist and aesthetician Melanie Grant to Byrdie.

We know collagen helps keep skin healthy, but according to Healthline, collagen is also found in “connective tissue, skin, tendons, bones, and cartilage” and helps in the proper functioning of our cells. Though our body produces less collagen as we age, lifestyle habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overexposure to the sun can lead to accelerated collagen loss. Loss of collagen can lead to weaker bones and overall aging of the skin. While topical collagen treatments can help the skin, we have to…