What Is Collagen and Why Is It Important?

Collagen - you know it has something to do with your skin. You know more would be better. You know less is bad. But beyond that.. most guys don’t know much about collagen or what it does.

It’s time to educate yourself on collagen. You need to understand this substance better if you want to improve your approach to skincare for men. That’s because the best anti-aging products for men are designed to boost collagen production.

Why would you need to do that? What is collagen anyway? And what does it have to do with the aging process?

What Is Collagen?

Collagens are proteins that make up about 30% if your body’s total protein mass. Most of it is concentrated in your bones, connective tissue, and skin. They give them structural support, strength, and firmness.

When it comes to your skin, collagen is critical. It’s a part of the dermis - the layer of your skin where new cells grow. You need collagen to replace your old, dead skin cells with new cells.

What Is Elastin?

Elastin is a protein that is also found in many of the same connective tissues as collagen. It’s a bit different - especially because of its elastic properties.

When your skin or other tissue is stretched out, elastin is what allows it to get back into place. It can be compared to a rubber band, giving your tissue the ability to always return to its original shape.

How Do Collagen and Elastin Work Together?

Collagen provides the rigid structure for your skin and other connective tissue. It is strong and has extremely powerful tensile strength.

This pairs well with elastin, which is less plentiful and less rigid, but just as important. It is found mostly in your skin’s mid-layers and allows for healthy skin function.

Collagen, Elastin, and Aging

Have you ever thought about what a skin wrinkle really is? Essentially, it’s skin that won’t go back into its original position. The sagging, lined areas of your wrinkled skin are being affected by a reduced production of collagen and elastin.

As you get older, your body produces less and less collagen and elastin. Your taut, smooth skin is also damaged by UV rays over time. Eventually, your skin’s smooth appearance is left marked with wrinkles and fine lines. As collagen levels decrease, your skin’s lower layers become weaker, further accelerating the development of wrinkles.

This occurs with elastin as well. As you get older, your body produces less elastin. That means your skin becomes less elastic and tends to droop and sag. This is especially noticeable around the neck, jaw, and eyes.

Increasing Collagen Production

If you want to stave off the aging process, you’ll need to increase your collagen production. How can you do that? Here are a few ways:

Eat a balanced diet. You need a variety of essential vitamins and minerals to keep your body at maximum collagen production, including Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

Quit smoking. You already know that there are a ton of carcinogens in cigarette smoke. But did you know that those chemicals also damage collagen? Quit smoking and your body will be able to better supply your skin with nutrients and oxygen as well.

Use anti-aging products. You can stimulate collagen production by using the best anti-aging products for men. For the best results, use a face serum for men that penetrates into the deepest layers of your skin where collagen is most plentiful.

Knowledge Is Power

Now that you know a bit more about collagen, elastin, and your skin — what will you do about it? Make the smart choice and take better care of your skin.

Improve your skincare for men regimen with the best anti-aging products for men. Make healthy lifestyle changes to reduce skin damage and promote collagen production. You’ll see excellent results and will noticeably slow down the onset of the aging process.