What is Collagen, and What Does it Do for the Skin?

Collagen is a key protein that helps your skin look firm, smooth, and elastic. It’s naturally found in your body and gives skin its strength and structure. However, as we age, our collagen levels start to decline, which can affect skin’s elasticity and lead to fine lines and wrinkles.

In this article, you can find information about what collagen is, how it benefits your skin, and tips on supporting collagen production with an effective skincare routine. Whether you’re looking to reduce the appearance of fine lines or keep your skin glowing, understanding collagen is the first step to healthier, more youthful-looking skin.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, with over 28 types of collagens comprising about 30% of the body’s total protein. It strengthens and supports the skin, hair, bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and other connective tissues. It can also be found in the lining of the intestines, blood vessels, and organs.

Beyond its functions in the skin, collagen is also essential in maintaining joint health, supporting kidney function, and cardiovascular system functions.

As we age, collagen production naturally decreases, leading to visible signs of aging, such as loss of skin elasticity, wrinkles, and increased dryness. Collagen and elastin levels begin to decline by 1% annually starting in early adulthood, with a noticeable drop during the first 5 years of menopause.

Over time, the body not only produces less collagen, but the existing collagen breaks down faster. Therefore, it’s important to support collagen levels for firm, young-looking skin.

Collagen is a protein that gives the skin structure and elasticity. It supports the dermis (the middle layer of the skin), and helps the skin stay firm, elastic, and hydrated, all contributing to a youthful appearance. Collagen is also vital for the skin's natural renewal process, helping shed dead skin and making room for new skin.

Maintaining healthy collagen levels as you age offers many benefits for your skin and can help keep your face looking youthful. Here are some key benefits of collagen for the skin:

• Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines: As we age, natural collagen production declines, leading to signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines. Some studies have shown that increasing collagen levels can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles when compared with placebo.
• Improves skin elasticity and firmness: Collagen helps strengthen the skin to keep it looking firm and maintaining its elasticity.
• Promotes skin repair and renewal: Collagen helps repair damaged skin, leading to a fresher, more even complexion.
• Enhances a natural, healthy glow: Collagen refines the skin’s surface and reduces roughness and unevenness due to dryness, improving light reflection and giving the skin a healthy glow.

There are 28 types of collagen found in the body, each with a slightly different structure and function.

• Type I: The most abundant form of collagen in the body, Type I collagen makes up about 90% of all the collagen in your body. It's primarily found in skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues.
• Type II: This type is mainly found in cartilage, the flexible tissue cushions your joints. Type II collagen helps keep cartilage firm and resilient.
• Type III: This type is found in your internal organs, skin, blood vessels, and other tissues.
• Type IV: This type is a key component of specific layers of your skin and helps maintain the structure and function of epithelial tissues (the tissues that line the surfaces of your body).
• Type V: This type contributes to the transparency and structure of specific tissues. It's found in the cornea of the eye, some layers of skin, and hair.

Maintaining collagen in your skin requires a combination of an effective skincare routine along with supportive lifestyle choices.

Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler skincare products feature unique formulas that help to hydrate the skin while supporting firmer, more youthful-looking skin.

Here’s a simple and effective skincare routine for firmer, younger-looking skin:

Use a gentle cleanser morning and night to remove dirt, makeup, and pollutants. Make sure you choose a cleanser appropriate for your skin type (e.g., foaming for oily or creamy for dry skin).

Using specially formulated serums can help address skin concerns using concentrated formulas with enriching ingredients.

The Eucerin^® Hyaluron-Filler Epicelline^® Serum is a clinically-tested anti-aging serum that targets signs of aging for firmer and younger looking skin. Its exclusive formula contains Epicelline^®, a  powerful ingredient that targets signs of aging, along with Hyaluronic Acid to help hydrate and replump the look of even the deepest wrinkles, and antioxidant Glycine Saponin to help protect skin from environmental aggressors. Backed by 15 years of research, this facial serum reduces the appearance of skin wrinkles and targets 10 signs of aging for visibly reduced fine lines, more hydrated skin with a lifted effect and enhanced contour, with visible results in as little as 4 weeks^*. Skin looks rejuvenated with a firmer, smoother and more radiant looking complexion.

Visible results in 4 weeks^{* *}Based on a 2023 clinical study, 43 participants using twice-daily application for 4 weeks. Results may vary.

Keeping skin moisturized is a key component of any skincare routine, but is especially important for dry skin that is showing signs of aging.

Eucerin^® Hyaluron-Filler 3 Effects Day Care is a moisturizing day cream that helps restore hydration while re-plumping the appearance of wrinkles, making it ideal for those looking to smooth fine lines and maintain a youthful appearance. Its formula contains both high and low molecular Hyaluronic Acid to deliver hydration where it’s needed most. While High Molecular Hyaluronic Acid smooths the skin’s surface and enhances moisture retention, Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid re-plumps the look of wrinkles and ensure longer-lasting hydration. Rich creams can sometimes feel too heavy on the skin, especially under makeup, but this day cream absorbs quickly, delivering a blast of hydration and making it an excellent choice for all skin types.

Incorporate an evening moisturizer into your bedtime skin routine to help support the skin-restorative power of sleep.

Eucerin^® Hyaluron-Filler + 3 Effects Regenerating Night Care is an anti-aging night cream that targets signs of aging. It helps support the skin’s natural overnight process to replenish the skin’s moisture barrier and reduce the look of wrinkles, for a smoother, more youthful and lifted appearance. Combining High and Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid with Glycine Saponin helps to replenish the skin’s moisture barrier, leaving you with firmer looking skin. Whether your goal is tighter, smoother, more radiant looking skin or simply something to enhance nighttime skin recovery, this anti-aging night cream is tailored to meet your needs.

One of the most common early signs of aging is fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area. Eucerin^® has developed an anti-aging eye care solution, Eucerin^® Hyaluron-Filler Smoothing Eye Care, that visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines in three ways: 1) helping to re-plump the look of wrinkles with high & low molecular hyaluronic acid moisturizer; 2) replenishing your skin’s own hyaluronic acid for a revitalized appearance; and 3) protecting against environmental stressors using antioxidants. This 3 effects approach will leave you with visibly younger, smoother and more radiant-looking skin.

UV damage from the sun also breaks down collagen, so applying sunscreen daily is an important way to help prevent signs of premature skin aging. After cleansing, applying any other serums or moisturizers, apply a facial sunscreen to complete your daytime skincare routine before applying makeup.

Eucerin^® Age Defense SPF 50 Face Sunscreen Lotion uses a hyaluronic acid-enriched formula to visibly reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles^*. Non-greasy, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and suitable for all skin types, this hydrating sunscreen provides broad-spectrum SPF 50 UVA/UVB sun protection and is formulated with a unique Antioxidant Complex with 5 antioxidants that protects skin against environmental stressors.

^*With continuous use for 1 week. For proper sun protection, reapply every 2 hours or more frequently after swimming or sweating.

Learn how to properly apply facial sunscreen here.

While it is inevitable that we lose collagen as we age, there are some lifestyle choices you can make to help slow the process or help prevent unnecessary premature collagen loss due to skin damage.

1. Avoid smoking and heavy alcohol use – In addition to other negative health effects, smoking and excessive alcohol use have both been shown to potentially negatively impact collagen production and cause collagen degradation.
2. Eat a nutrient-dense diet appropriate for your body’s needs. Different foods have been shown to have potentially positive or negative effects on collagen. Discuss with a doctor what dietary choices may be best for you.
3. Get consistent, high-quality sleep. Sleep deprivation has been linked to accelerated skin aging and reduced collagen production.
4. Avoid ultraviolet light exposure, as UV exposure can damage collagen. This means having a proactive sun protection routine but also being mindful to avoid other sources of UV light such as tanning beds.

Eucerin’s revolutionary Hyaluron-Filler line of skincare products has been developed after 15 years of epigenetic research to provide an anti-aging skincare solution that helps skin to visibly retain its firmness and elasticity. By building your daily face care routine with products like Eucerin^® Hyaluron-Filler Epicelline^® Serum, Eucerin^® Hyaluron-Filler 3 Effects Day Care, Eucerin^® Hyaluron-Filler + 3 Effects Regenerating Night Care, and Eucerin^® Hyaluron-Filler Smoothing Eye Care and using regularly as directed, you can experience a firmer, smoother, more radiant-looking complexion.

The information provided herein is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it intended to treat the underlying skin disease or condition. The information is provided solely to:

1. Moisturize, soften and smooth dry skin
2. Improve the appearance of the skin
3. Achieve healthier-looking skin