Collagens are a hard, insoluble, and fibrous protein. They are strong and flexible contributing to skin strength and elasticity. In the middle layer of skin, collagen helps form a fibrous network of cells called fibroblasts for new cells growing and replacing dead skin cells.
Collagen production declines with age especially after menopause and exposure to factors such as smoking and UV light. If the skin produces less collagen, the integrity of the skin declines, as a result the skin is looser and sagging; face is drooping.
What damages collagen and how?
High sugar: high sugar increases blood sugar attaching to the proteins to form new molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs) which can make collagen dry, fragile ad weak.
Smoking: chemicals in the tobacco can damage collagens in the skin.
Sun exposure and UV light: UV light make collagen breaking down quickly and damaging collagen fibers. UV light also damage the skin collagen synthesis forming wrinkles.
Aging: With aging the collagen production is reduced.
Elastin is a protein in connective tissue that allows tissues in the body to resume their shape after stretching or contracting. Elastin is synthesized early in life and by the time of around age 40 elastin biosynthesis slows down. The loss of elastin biosynthesis is closed related to the appearance of skin wrinkles and other aging processes. With aging, clearance of damaged elastin also slow down, as a result accumulation of damaged elastin increases abnormal elastin synthesis.
Unfortunately, collagen molecules are too large to be absorbed through the skin. So, no cream applied to the skin gives the skin more collagen; externally applied elastin cannot pass through the skin and cannot slow the loss of elastin from aging issues.
Aged facial expression muscles tend to drag the skin and fat on the face downwards and make face drooping.
Facial acupuncture can help tight the skin and lift the face. Facial acupuncture can stimulate the skin collagen synthesis to produce more collagen to improve skin elasticity and make the skin tighter. It can also relax facial muscles and stop face drooping and lift the face. Facial acupuncture can improve facial blood circulation and nourish the face to preserve the volume. It can make instant lifting and long-term lifting tightening effects with repeat treatments.
