Q: Do collagen-boosting habits really help boost collagen in your face?

A: Excellent question! With the many collagen-boosting measures promising to boost facial collagen, including collagen-boosting foods, dietary supplements, collagen skin care, facial treatments, cosmetic procedures, and lifestyle changes, discerning which habits are effective and which you should ignore can be difficult. In the quest for the holy grail of skincare, “collagen-boosting” endeavors purported to deliver plumper, more youthful skin through the stimulation of collagen production are undoubtedly enticing. But it's essential to decipher whether these collagen-boosting habits can effectively revitalize our faces or are merely another cosmetic myth.

What is collagen boosting? In essence, it refers to collagen-friendly actions people take to stimulate collagen production and counteract the natural decline of collagen skin aging. Collagen, crucial for maintaining skin structure and moisture retention, dwindles progressively in quality and amount after the age of 20. This decline leads to lines, wrinkles, sagging, and the loss of youthful firmness, smoothness, and volume. Hence, the quest to boost collagen levels and “find” the fountain of youth continues.

What are collagen boosting foods & collagen supplements? Alleged collagen boosters include bone broth, gelatin, fish, leafy greens, and other collagen superfoods, such as a Collagen peptides powder or collagen peptides supplements. When we consume collagen, digestive enzymes break it down into its amino acids, which are used where needed in the body. Combining these dietary choices with vitamin C-rich foods, which promote collagen synthesis, may offer modest nutritional benefits. Bone broth is rich in nourishing collagen and deemed more bioavailable than other sources. Still, when our body digests it and breaks it down, it is assumed these amino acids are absorbed and utilized by the body as building blocks to synthesize new collagen. However, there is no definitive way to determine where it goes, making it unclear whether it actually improves collagen levels in the skin. The same goes for fish, leafy greens, and supplemental powders. Fish are a fantastic source of collagen, which is more bioavailable and readily absorbed than other forms—why many companies use marine collagen in skin care products. Chicken and proline-rich egg whites are the next best choices.

Collagen peptides, a short chain of amino acids, may help with hydration and support your skin’s health. Hydrolyzed Collagen peptide powders and supplements derived from fish may be helpful if your diet lacks adequate proteins and hydration. To maintain optimal skin health, consume a well-balanced diet with lean proteins rich in proline, lysine, and glycine amino acids, fruits and vegetables (especially those rich in Vitamin C), and complex carbohydrates, including fiber. Ensure you get enough antioxidants and minerals like copper, manganese, and zinc to help your body promote collagen. However, little evidence suggests that ingesting collagen directly targets or impacts the skin's collagen levels, making its ability to boost collagen production questionable and anecdotal.

Collagen in skin care: Topical skin care products and treatments containing ingredients like retinoids, vitamin C, collagen, and peptides have solid scientific backing and are often praised for their collagen-boosting properties, providing you with a sense of confidence that these habits can indeed make a difference in your skincare routine.

• Retinoids, vitamin A derivatives, increase cell turnover and stimulate collagen synthesis, thereby improving skin texture and reducing wrinkles over time.
• Vitamin C, revered for its antioxidant properties, helps protect existing collagen from degradation and supports the formation of new collagen fibers.
• Collagen skin care products are popular ways to boost the skin’s collagen levels. A properly formulatedcollagen serum, where the correct type of collagen molecule is rendered small enough to penetrate into the skin–its intended target–can effectively support your skin’s collagen.  Following this with amarine collagen cream to seal in the serum and the skin’s moisture levels will deliver fabulous skin-plumping results!
• Peptides have the capacity to signal the skin to produce more collagen; however, their efficacy varies. Aserum with marine collagen peptides and a peptide moisturizer can be an ideal collagen-boosting peptide duo when appropriately sourced and formulated with manufacturing to ensure optimal efficacy. In addition, formulas featuring collagen-boosting Palmitoyl Tetrapeptides, such as theCollagen Boost Face Balm,Lumafirm® Repair Cream - Lift & Glow,Stem Cells Phyto-Elite® Intensive Cream, andMyoxy-Caviar® Timeless Eye Contour, are equally beneficial.

That's why choosing products with skin-friendly, concentrated ingredients in advanced formulas that support and enhance collagen production is essential for eliciting the desired skin response.

Adopt a collagen-friendly lifestyle: Lifestyle habits like regular exercise, adequate sleep, and sun protection are often cited as collagen-friendly behaviors. Exercise improves blood circulation, which may enhance nutrient delivery to your skin cells, supporting collagen production. Similarly, properly executed face and body massages can also help with collagen stimulation. Getting sufficient sleep allows the body to undergo repair processes, including collagen synthesis. Using sunscreen and avoiding sun exposure helps prevent undue UV radiation, collagen breakdown, and premature aging.

What are collagen stimulating treatments? Cosmetic procedures such as laser therapy, microneedling, injectable fillers, and threads have gained popularity for their collagen-boosting effects. These treatments work by issuing a controlled injury to the skin, prompting the body's natural healing response, and stimulating collagen production in the process. While they can yield impressive skin rejuvenating results, they also have potential risks and downtime, such as redness, swelling, and bruising. In worse outcomes, hyperpigmentation, scarring, keloid formation, and asymmetry. All these side effects should be considered when deciding on the suitability of these procedures. Ultimately, collagen-boosting habits encompass an array of practices aimed at maintaining healthy skin and promoting collagen synthesis, with varying results. So, while some collagen-boosting habits may contribute to a more youthful appearance, they're just one piece of the multi-faceted skincare puzzle.


Q: What does your hair say about your health?

A: Can your hair tell your health status? Yes, hair does provide clues about health, with changes in appearance, texture, and thickness potentially signaling several health-related issues, such as nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, illness, or stress.

Gray & Thinning Hair May Signal Stress and More
Although graying is part of hair's natural aging process, with our genes dictating the rate at which hair follicles will begin to produce less color, studies show that gray hair may also occur due to chronic stress. Stress is a common concern, and its impact on hair is significant. It causes DNA damage that reduces the amount of cells in hair follicles that produce melanin (pigment). Oxidative stress from free radicals damaging cells and impairing the body’s ability to repair itself can also impact pigment-producing cells. Although genetics are the likeliest of hair thinning causes, excess and sudden hair loss are additional clues that stress may be adversely affecting your overall health.

Hormones & Hair Loss
Hormonal imbalances, like changing testosterone and estrogen levels, are known to trigger hair shedding. Temporary hair loss signs that occur with discontinuation of oral contraceptives or pregnancy will typically resolve in time. Brittle hair may be more than hot tool damage, as dry, brittle strands are also symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome, caused by the adrenal glands producing too much cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. Get checked by a physician if you also have back pain, fatigue, and high blood pressure, which are additional symptoms of Cushing's syndrome. This condition is manageable and may include medication dosage changes, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery treatments. To keep your hair as healthy as possible with these and other health conditions, useproducts for hair thinning that target the root causes, such as ashampoo for thinning hair with caffeine, saw palmetto, and nettle extract to help inhibit the androgen hormone DHT that contributes to hair loss.

Hair Thinning & Your Thyroid
Hypothyroidism, when the thyroid gland produces insufficient thyroid hormones, and its opposite, hyperthyroidism, may cause excessive hair shedding, hair loss, and changes in hair appearance. If you also feel intolerant to cold, tired, and have joint and muscle pains, facial puffiness, and weight gain, a physician can request a TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) test to see if Hypothyroidism is to blame. Getting checked and starting treatment early can also help prevent alopecia areata - an autoimmune condition wherein the hair follicles are attacked by the immune system, leading to rapid hair loss in distinctive round patches.

Hair Fall Could Mean Anemia
Iron is essential for many bodily functions, with hair growth just one of many. Low iron levels in your body or anemia may be responsible for those hairs you've seen all over your house, car, and clothes. Women with heavy periods and vegetarians or vegans are prone to iron deficiency, which a simple blood test can confirm. Dietary changes and supplementation are recommended if you are indeed low in iron.

Hair Loss & Diet Deficiencies
Inadequate protein, vitamin, and mineral intake are associated with hair thinning and hair loss. Often, those who have had gastric bypass surgery or have gastrointestinal issues have challenges digesting proteins and absorbing vitamins. Levels of Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), B7(biotin), B9 (folate), and B12 (cobalamin), and minerals like iron, calcium, and zinc vital for hair health suffer most. While everyone needs to ensure they are eating a well-rounded diet, this group must be hypervigilant about getting adequate amounts of these dietary nutrients for optimal hair health. Complementing your efforts with aserum for hair loss featuring protein-rich pea extract, keratin, collagen, biotin, and amaranth (a great source of vitamins and minerals) can support hair and scalp health.

Flakes Could Mean Dandruff
Yellow or white flakes in your hair, eyebrows, or on your shoulders are a sign of dandruff that's easily treatable. Although bothersome, this chronic scalp condition doesn't indicate a serious health problem. However, flakes are sometimes caused by seborrheic dermatitis, which exhibits red, greasy skin in addition to the flakes and scales. Celery-infused natural hair health remedies will naturally soothe itchiness, decrease sebum, and reduce dandruff. Malassezia, a yeast-like fungus, may also be involved. Infrequent shampooing, product sensitivity, and a tendency towards dryness can also lead to dandruff, especially during the dry winter.

Other Medical Conditions & Hair Loss
As a doctor, I am frequently asked, “Is losing your hair a sign of cancer? While it can be a sign of some cancers and a side-effect of cancer treatments, before getting alarmed, remember that hair loss can be a sign of any of the conditions previously discussed, as well as lupus and syphilis, which can be effectively treated.