As we age, our bodies cannot produce vital materials to maintain our skin integrity, and we not only appear to age, but we also age in our skin's ability to protect us.

The natural aging process begins when several specific cells and structural elements begin to break down. This is a time when our body is unable to quickly repair itself or replenish vital materials that maintain our health and our body's form. For all of us, the result will be wrinkles, often subtle but sometimes more dramatic, owing to lifestyle. We know that too much ultraviolet light, exposure to sunshine or tanning beds, tobacco, and alcohol use can damage collagen in our bodies.

Anyone wishing to slow down or potentially reverse the process of skin aging, does have some research to bolster their efforts, and it is not a matter of vanity, but health protection.

Collagen is one of the most important materials our bodies make. It appears not just in the skin but all over our body’s organs, ligaments, joints, and even the intestinal lining. Therefore, it is a vital part of maintaining our lives and protecting us from impairment and health risks.

I recall talking to a friend whose apartment I would stay in for a one-month visit. As we stood outside her door, one of her neighbors came over, and we started talking about the apartment building. As we stood there, I could not help but notice the many purple marks on her arms and the bandages up and down her arms and on parts of her hands. She also had heavy bandages on her legs.

Once she had left, my friend told me that the woman had extremely thin skin, and any minor bump into a doorway, a shopping cart, or anything else would cause an injury requiring a bandage. She was extremely vulnerable to infection and had to be cautious about maintaining her skin as best she could.

Was there anything she could do about it or could have done before it reached this point? I was too sensitive to her situation to raise that issue, but it is an issue for all of us as we progress in life. Birthdays not only mean more candles on the cake; they may also mean less collagen in the body.

The protective layer on our bodies, the skin, needs collagen to stay healthy. Proteins give our skin shape and strength; they are the building blocks of how flexible and firm our skin is. Naturally, as we get older, our bodies make less collagen. This can cause lines, sagging skin, dryness, and thin skin on the arms, hands, and legs, like my friend's neighbor.

Collagen makes up about 30% of all protein in your body. It is found in the skin, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and other connective parts. Your blood vessels and the walls of your intestines can also contain collagen. Therefore, it is one of the most vital materials that our bodies make, maintain, and lose as we age. Losing collagen is a natural process, but lifestyle contributes to being lost quicker and damage being done sooner.

Diet can play a role in maintaining collagen. Several high-protein foods, such as soy, fish, chicken, meat, eggs, dairy, legumes, and meat, are thought to help the body make more collagen because they contain the amino acids glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. One recommended diet is the Mediterranean diet because it combines the desired foods that would help maintain not only collagen but also health.

The body also needs Vitamin C, found in citrus fruits, berries, leafy greens, bell peppers, and tomatoes, to make collagen. What about supplements?

One study investigated a specific type of collagen supplement. After 4 weeks of follow-up treatment, older women had a statistically significantly higher amount of skin elasticity. In a subgroup analysis, treatment had a positive effect on both skin moisture and skin evaporation, but the results did not reach a level of statistical significance. So it would seem that this study was helpful for older women in terms of skin elasticity, but what about skin thickness or cosmetics?

Using anti-aging cosmetics is a popular way to keep your face from getting older. Some 90% of Chinese women surveyed said they were doing things to slow down the aging process. Various natural, plant-derived materials are used in cosmetics to act as moisturizers, sunscreens, and potential collagen rejuvenators.

Researchers are currently conducting ongoing and promising research on slowing down the aging process. However, it is important to note that cosmetics and dietary supplements in the United States are not required to comply with FDA regulations, so consumers should exercise caution when purchasing any of these items.

Some companies are marketing supplement products as nutraceuticals, which may be cosmetic but offer additional benefits. Are nutraceuticals controlled in the US?

There are rules from the FDA that say most nutraceuticals are “dietary supplements.” They are required to follow the Current Good Manufacturing Practices. Vitamins, minerals, botanicals, herbs, or dietary substances that are extracted, concentrated, or mixed together “for use by man to boost the diet by increasing the total dietary intake.”

Our skin is the largest and most vulnerable organ of our bodies, and we need to remember that fact and protect it in any way that we can. Lifestyle adjustments seem essential to maintaining good skin health and, if you wish, a youthful appearance.