subject: Anti Aging Collagen [print this page] Collagen is a type of protein that makes up nearly of the total amount of proteins found in the bodies of humans. There are approximately 25 different types of collagens that are identifiable in the human body. In that number there are a minimum 1o 12 are present in a human's skin. This is the reason that is so important to skin care and skin aging.
This protein is responsible for providing structural support to your tissues. That is the reason the fibrous tissues such as skin, ligaments, muscles, cartilages, lungs, bone, teeth, and tendons have so much collagen in them. Through the work that is done with other proteins such as elastin, it supports and connects human body tissues and it provides the firmness and strength while the elastin provides flexibility. Collagen even works in a human's blood vessels.
The middle layer of a human's skin, called the dermis, is mostly made up of collagen. Approximately 80% of the dry weight of a human's skin is collagen. Collagen forms a fibrous network that helps in the growth of new cells. Collagen, along with keratin, provides flexibility, resilience, and strength, to a human's skin. Stretch marks in the skin are a sign that this network may have broken as a result of excessive stretching of the skin.
Collagen is a term that is usually used in relation to skin aging. By the time you are in your middle twenties, the production of collagen slows and the elastic fibers of the skin start to lose their elasticity. Therefore you need to know what collagen can do for you by the time you are thirty. The reason is that in addition to the slowing of collagen production, the turnover of new skin cells will also decrease in time and you will begin to show noticeable signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines. Humans also help with the aging process with habits such as sun exposure without sunscreen, smoking, and repetitive facial expressions which all accelerate the skin aging process. Today, this is the reason the primary purpose of many products that fight the aging process is to increase the production of collagen which will lead to younger looking and healthier looking skin.
Humans lose collagen for many reasons such as the production of or the malfunctioning of the structure of collagen modules. There are numerous genetic disorders or acquired diseases that also show collagen abnormalities as the cause of the problem. When there is a considerable decrease in the level of collagen, the patient suffers from what is known as the brittle bone disease.
