Collagen

Col­la­gen is the most abun­dant struc­tu­ral pro­te­in in the body and the main com­po­nent of con­nec­ti­ve tis­sue. In the der­mis it forms a den­se net­work of fibres that gives the skin firm­ness and ten­si­le strength. It is pro­du­ced by cells cal­led fibroblasts.

Appli­ca­ti­on

From midd­le adult­hood onwards, col­la­gen pro­duc­tion gra­du­al­ly slows, while UV radia­ti­on, smo­king and inflamm­a­ti­on break down exis­ting fibres. The skin beco­mes thin­ner and less firm, and wrink­les deve­lop. Many aes­the­tic tre­at­ments the­r­e­fo­re rely on col­la­gen sti­mu­la­ti­on: micro­need­ling, laser, radio­fre­quen­cy, ultra­sound or bio­sti­mu­la­tors prompt fibro­blasts to build new collagen.

Good to know

New col­la­gen forms slow­ly, so visi­ble results usual­ly take seve­ral weeks to months. Col­la­gen in creams or sup­ple­ments does not reach the der­mis as an int­act pro­te­in, and the evi­dence for drinkable col­la­gen is limi­t­ed. In the skin, col­la­gen works tog­e­ther with elas­tin, which pro­vi­des elasticity.

Matching tre­at­ment at Swiss Der­ma Cli­nic: Bio­sti­mu­la­ti­on & Skin Boosters