The Collagen Killer Nobody Talks About

The Collagen Killer Nobody Talks About

By Marissa | The Skin Journal

We're obsessed with collagen. We buy serums promising to stimulate it, invest in microneedling treatments to produce more of it, and spend ridiculous amounts of money trying to keep our skin looking firm and youthful.

But here's something I don't think we talk about nearly enough.

What are we doing to protect the collagen we already have?

Because there's a process happening inside our bodies that can gradually change the quality of our collagen, and most people have never even heard of it.

It's called glycation. And sugar plays a role.

I know. Can we not enjoy anything anymore?

Before you start throwing away your Halloween candy, hear me out.

Collagen is what helps give your skin its structure and firmness. Elastin helps it stretch and bounce back. When sugars react with these proteins, they can eventually form compounds called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs.

And here's where things get interesting.

AGEs can accumulate in collagen, creating connections between the fibers that make them stiffer and less flexible. Researchers have linked this process to changes in skin elasticity and other signs of aging.

Think of an old rubber band that doesn't bounce back the way it used to.

Now, here's the part that really caught my attention.

We can stimulate new collagen, but we don't currently have a proven skincare treatment that simply reverses the glycation damage already present in existing collagen.

That doesn't mean skincare treatments are pointless. Far from it. Microneedling can encourage collagen remodeling, and ingredients like retinoids can improve signs of skin aging.

But producing new collagen and reversing existing glycation-related changes are two different things.

And that brings me to my whole point.

We spend so much time trying to correct skin aging that sometimes we forget how important prevention really is.

Now, does this mean eating a cookie is destroying your collagen? Absolutely not. Glycation happens naturally, and scientists are still studying exactly how much everyday sugar consumption contributes to visible wrinkles.

But prolonged elevations in blood sugar can accelerate AGE formation, which gives us a good reason to pay attention to our everyday habits.

Start with added sugar, particularly in sweetened coffees, sodas, and other drinks. You might be surprised how much you're consuming without realizing it. Pairing carbohydrates with protein and fiber can also help moderate blood sugar spikes.

And please don't forget sunscreen. UV exposure is a much better-established cause of premature skin aging, and protecting your skin from it should always be a priority.

As for your skincare routine? Use ingredients that actually make sense for your skin instead of buying every new product promising to rebuild collagen overnight.

I love corrective skincare. I love seeing what treatments like microneedling can accomplish. But I also believe in being realistic about what those treatments can and cannot do.

Protecting your collagen matters just as much as trying to make more of it.

That's what I really want you to remember.

Because the goal shouldn't be to spend the rest of our lives trying to undo damage we might have been able to help prevent.

And no, I'm still not giving up chocolate.

Marissa

Skin Therapy With Marissa Bentonville, Arkansas "designmyface.com" (https://designmyface.com)