Ever wondered why your skin can feel like a taut trampoline in your 20s and then suddenly resemble a deflated balloon in your 50s? We need to understand the skincare science and function of collagen in dermis. Well, buckle up, because we’re about to figure all this out. Figuring out what’s up with collagen. your skin’s secret weapon (and occasionally, its worst enemy).
We’ve all been there, staring at the mirror and pulling at those pesky lines that weren’t there yesterday. It’s not just vanity; it’s about understanding what’s beneath the surface. Let’s face it, the journey from youthful glow to mature elegance can be a bumpy ride. And Collagen is the main culprit behind those twists and turns.
Today, we’re peeling back the layers (pun intended) to give you a better understanding of collagen’s role. Think of this as your guide to the protein that holds it all together.
Here’s what we’ll learn:
Types of Collagen: Meet the main types, Type I and Type III, and see how they keep your skin firm and elastic.
Collagen’s Role: Learn how collagen maintains skin strength and flexibility.
Aging and Collagen: Find out how aging changes collagen levels. leading to wrinkles and sagging.
Hydration and Elasticity: link between hydrated skin and elasticity. and how it prevents wrinkles.
Skincare Science: Understanding how skincare technologies can put your mind at ease. Including how skin elasticity measurement are accurately made.
All this will give you the evidence to make the best choices for your skin.
Welcome to Dermfoll, and let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what’s really going on under your skin. why it changes, and what you need to know to keep it looking its best.
What Are The Types of Collagen in Dermis? A quick Intro to skincare science
The dermis, the middle layer of the skin. The part that provides structural support and elasticity. Largely due to the 2 specific collagen types. These two types are found in abundance in the dermis, Type I and Type III collagen.
Type I Collagen is prevalent, making up approximately 80% of the collagen in the dermis. In charge of the tensile strength of your dermis. Essential for wound healing. And forms thick fibers that create a scaffold for the skin’s structure.
Type III Collagen, In the minority, yet significant in its contributions. It makes up around 10-15% of the dermal collagen. Type III collagen provides elasticity. And quite important in the early stages of wound healing.
There are few other types found in the dermis, albeit in smaller amounts, include Type V and Type VI Collagen. Type V collagen though found in very low quantities, regulate the size of collagen fibrils.
However, your main focus must be on type I and III
Function of collagen in dermis
Type I Collagen
- Structure
- Thick, rope-like fibers that are densely packed.
- Forms a robust network of fibers that create a strong support for the skin.
- Function
- Provides tensile strength, helps skin recover from stretch and stress.
- maintains skin firmness and integrity.
- Acts as the initial scaffold during wound healing and scar formation.
Type III Collagen
- Structure
- Are thinner, more flexible compared to Type I collagen.
- Act as a supportive network that complements the foundation built by Type I collagen.
- Function
- Elasticity and flexibility, gives the skin its memory foam like characteristic. Making sure the skin return to its original shape.
- Involved in the early stages of wound healing by forming a temporary scaffold.
Type III – 15%
Type V – 5%
| Type of Collagen | Location in Skin |
|---|---|
| Type I | Dermis |
| Type III | Dermis |
| Type IV | Basement membrane |
| Type VI | Papillary dermis |
| Type VII | Anchoring fibrils below basement membrane |
| Type II | Primarily in cartilage, occasionally in dermal regions |
| Type V | Dermis |
How Does collagen Change as We Age?
With time and trauma, the composition of our skin undergoes a steady change. Affecting its appearance and altering its functionality. The most apparent changes occur in the amounts, and in the ratios of Type I and Type III collagen in your dermis.
In individuals below the age of 35, Type I collagen predominates. accounting for about 80% of the total collagen. This high concentration of Type I collagen gives firmness and makes it resilient.
Why Does Collagen Decrease With Age?
However, with maturity, the production of Type I collagen gradually decreases. Reaching around 60-70%, resulting in one of the 3 major reasons why aged skin loses its firmness. Which makes your skin more prone to wrinkles and sagging.
Secondly, relative proportion of Type III collagen increases with assent. While it makes up about 10-15% of the dermal collagen in younger age bracket. The proportion rises to around 20-30%. The increase in Type III collagen is a compensatory response to the decrease in Type I collagen. This also indicates changes in the skin’s repair mechanisms and structural organization.
Lastly, decline in the overall synthesis of collagen. And modifications in the existing collagen fibers, such as cross-linking and fragmentation. The combined effect of these alterations is a noticeable increase in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The Role of Hydration and Elasticity in aging skin
To understand hydration, We must first understand the relationship of skin elasticity with age. In context to skin health. Elasticity is your skin’s ability to return to its original shape after being stretched.
With age and external stressors. Skin’s elastic fibers, composed of collagen and elastin, begin to degrade. This degradation leads to a loss of skin firmness and formation of wrinkles and sagging.
A study on skin visco-elasticity and aging concluded :
- Decreased skin elasticity is directly related to wrinkle formation.
- Reduced elasticity of skin impairs recovery from daily facial movements and expressions. Causing permanent lines and wrinkles.
- This loss of elasticity is often compounded by factors such as UV exposure and pollutants. lifestyle choices like smoking and a poor diets accelerate the degradation of elastic fibers in the skin.
How do Collagen’s And There Derivative’s Contribution to Hydration and Elasticity
A review on collagen-based materials states how collagen helps in both hydration and elasticity. There are 3 ways how collagen is linked to better hydration and as an extension, Elasticity:
- When it comes to hydration, collagen helps the skin retain moisture. Due to their ability to form barriers, preventing water loss.
- In this study Collagen peptides, which are smaller fragments of collagen protein were tested. They noted that these peptides penetrated the skin and stimulated the production of new collagen fibers.
- Further supporting the skin’s natural repair processes, linking to a resilient and toned complexion.
This study looked specifically into products containing hydrolyzed collagen. Such collagen-boosting ingredients can significantly enhance the skin’s elasticity. Providing all the necessary building blocks for new collagen synthesis.
How does Hydration impact Wrinkles ?
The study skin Visco-elasticity and aging provide evidence that hydrated skin is more resilient. And less prone to develop fine lines and wrinkles. Well hydrated skin maintains its plumpness and elasticity. Smoothing out the surface, and reducing the depth of existing wrinkles
Dry skin, on the other hand, tends to be more fragile and prone to cracking, leading to deeper and more pronounced wrinkles.
Low hydration levels compromise the skin’s barrier function. Being less capable of retaining moisture and more vulnerable to environmental aggressors. This creates a vicious cycle where dry skin worsens the appearance of aging.
How are skin elasticity measurement made?
Bioengineering technologies have become vital in the current skincare industry. They offer objective and measurable methods to test skin attributes. skin elasticity test face a lot of scrutiny to be as accurate as possible.
Which makes it easier to confirm the effectiveness of products. And also helps put our minds at ease before we commit to a product or a service.
The studies mentioned in our discussion leverage these advanced tools. Helping us understand the relationship between skin elasticity and hydration levels. And also how there behavior result in formation of wrinkles.
By using equipment such as cutometers and corneometers. Researchers can precisely assess skin’s mechanical properties and moisture content. These tools offer a level of precision that subjective evaluations cannot.
How does Cutometer work?
Cutometers measure skin elasticity by applying a controlled suction to the skin. After which it records your skin’s ability to return to its original shape. This provides valuable data on the skin’s firmness and resilience.
How does Corneometer work?
Corneometers measure the hydration level of the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin). It evaluating your skin’s capacitance. Higher capacitance indicates better hydration. And In turn, it indicates smooth and wrinkle-free skin.
How does ultrasound imaging devices work?
Ultrasound devices employ high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of your skin’s layers. The epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. These gadgets are useful in monitoring skin aging.
They emit sound waves to a sensor, which detects echoes from skin tissues. Which are then converted into images. A lot of at home/commercially available devices are useful is assessing skin thickness. Making it simpler to detect wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and other aging symptoms.
CONCLUSION
We’ve discussed how important collagen is for your skin’s structure and suppleness. The changes it goes through as it ages, along with the need for moisture in keeping an even tone. We also reviewed the most recent scientific advances that can help you keep your skin looking its best.
Curious about how to boost your collagen levels and maintain that youthful glow? Have you tried any collagen supplements or treatments? Share your experiences with us in the comments below, and let’s continue the conversation!
If you’re interested in learning more about the products that can help you enhance your skin’s collagen. our next post is a must-read.
