What Is Ageing My Skin?

Why Collagen Is So Important

Let’s talk a little bit about collagen. 

You’ve no doubt heard of it, but do you know what it is and why it is associated with younger-looking skin? 

Collagen is one of the key proteins responsible for keeping your skin firm, tight, and smooth. It naturally occurs in your body and is responsible for healthier and plumper skin. 

Unfortunately, as you age (and especially during menopause), production rapidly slows down, and as this happens, you start to show the most common signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and sagging skin.

5 Things That Could Be Ageing Your Skin

It’s not just age that affects it; other factors can speed up this process, resulting in premature ageing skin, too. Some of these factors are:

• Sun Exposure – UV rays break down existing collagen and can accelerate the ageing of skin.
• Smoking and Pollution: Smoking and pollution can cause free radicals (unstable molecules that can damage cells)  to form in your skin through oxidative stress. These unstable molecules damage cells and reduce the production of collagen.
• Poor Diet: Consuming a bad diet has a huge impact on skin health. If your diet is lacking in antioxidants and protein, then you will not be able to produce the right levels of collagen. 
• High Sugar Consumption: Glycation is an ageing reaction of naturally occurring sugars and dermal proteins. It can impact your collagen production and lead to premature skin ageing. By reducing the amount of sugar in your diet, you can reduce this process.
• Stress: It’s not just about things that physically affect your life. Your mental well-being has a huge impact on your skin. Chronic stress can lead to higher cortisol levels, which degrade collagen.

Because collagen is important in the body, it is recommended that you try to increase its natural levels so that you can feel at your absolute best. 

The good news is that there are several ways to do this. 

You should use sunscreen, even during the winter, maintain a healthy diet, and use appropriate skincare products to replenish and protect your skin.

While these are all great preventative tips, you might also be searching for some restorative treatments too. If you are, then there are many options available, each designed to restore and replenish your skin so that you end up looking and feeling healthier and happier.

Our 5 Top Anti-Ageing Skin Treatments

Some of our client’s favourite treatments are:  

Exilis Skin Tightening – this treatment uses radio frequency, emitted through an FDA-approved device, to gently heat the dermis (the tough middle layer of skin in your body.) The procedure stimulates new collagen growth deep within the dermal layer – it’s collagen that stops your skin from sagging.

Polynucleotides  – Polynucleotides are chains of nucleotides that stimulate healthy cell turnover, injecting them creates the best environment for fibroblast growth, which helps with tissue repair and regeneration.

Morpheus8  – The Morpheus8 device combines skin microneedling technology with radiofrequency therapy to stimulate natural collagen production, reduce fat tissue, and help resurface your skin. 

8-Point Facelift – This is a non-invasive treatment designed to rejuvenate your face using dermal fillers at 8 specific points on your face to provide a more youthful-looking appearance. The goal of this treatment is to replenish lost volume whilst achieving a flattering lift across your entire face. 

Microneedling – This treatment naturally stimulates the production of collagen by making a series of controlled injuries that cause your body to increase its production of collagen and elastin. 

All of these treatments will reduce common signs of ageing and boost your natural collagen levels, leaving you with younger-looking refreshed skin.

 Do Late Nights Make You Age Faster?

Do you get enough sleep? Good quality sleep doesn’t only improve your mood and energy, it also helps to keep your skin looking healthy and vibrant. Aim for between 7-9 hours of sleep each night. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid caffeine in the afternoon or evening and stay off screens for at least an hour before bed. Hormones can also play a big part in sleep disturbances, especially in menopause. If you think your hormones are preventing you from getting enough sleep, be sure to ask for help.