Loss of collagen? Your skin microbioma can be fault

Loss of collagen is something that we all fear as we get older.
Collagen is the protein that keeps the skin firm, elastic and youthful. As we get older, we naturally produce less of it, which is part of the reason we suffer from weak skin, fine lines and wrinkles.
For years, skin care professionals have discussed with the use of collagen -increasing ingredients such as vitamin C, peptides and retinol in our routines. Now recent research suggests that there is another thing that we have to consider when it comes to collagen production – the microbiome of the skin.
We are talking about the community of bacteria, fungi and other micro -organisms that live on our skin. Some of them are harmful, but many of them are ‘friendly’, which means that they can help maintain skin health. Scientists now think that they can also play a crucial role in the preservation of collagen.
So what can we do with this new information? Read on to find out!
The study: how certain bacteria can influence the loss of collagen
The study was published in the scientific journal To live. Researchers investigated a possible link between specific bacteria in skin microbioma and collagen breakdown. They discovered that an imbalance in certain bacteria can contribute to the aging of the skin.
This concept is similar to a concept that you may have heard of – between intestinal health and overall well -being. Just as an imbalance in intestinal bacteria can lead to digestive problems, inflammation and weakened immunity, an imbalance in the skin microbioma can speed up collagen breakdown and contribute to premature aging.
When harmful bacteria are better than useful bacteria, either in the intestine or on the skin, the natural processes of the body – such as the absorption of nutrients or maintenance of collagen – can be disturbed. For that reason it is important to maintain a balanced microbiome for both skin and overall health.
What happens to bacteria to encourage the loss of collagen?
Researchers identified specific bacterial strains that seemed to be connected to an increased collagen drop. These bacteria freed enzymes that can break down collagen fibers in the skin, allowing the formation of fine lines and wrinkles to be accelerated.
Favorable bacteria, on the other hand, helped to maintain a more balanced skin environment, reduce inflammation and support the integrity of collagen.
These findings suggest that our skin microbioma is not only about preventing acne or irritation – it can be directly involved in how our skin gets older. If the microbiome becomes unbalanced due to excessive cleaning, hard skin care products, antibiotic use or environmental stressors, the skin can lose its ability to maintain healthy collagen levels – which leads to those unwanted wrinkles and weak areas.
How the loss of collagen influences skin
The skin microbiome serves as a protective barrier for the skin, supports hydration, regulating inflammation and possibly – which are adapted to this study – that retain collagen.
An unbalanced skin microbioma can cause various skin problems, including sensitivity, dryness and premature aging. When the useful bacteria that usually support skin health are disturbed or reduced, harmful bacteria can thrive, leading to more inflammation and collagen breakdown.
How can you see if this happens? There is no direct way, but you can watch out for these plates:
- Increased fine lines and wrinkles
- Loss of skin elasticity and firmness
- Persistent dryness or dehydration
- Increased sensitivity and irritation
The researchers in this study noted that more studies are needed to further understand this link between the microbiome and collagen. They also stated that aging is a ‘multi-factor and multidimensional process’, which means that many things are involved in how the skin gets older.
However, they concluded that skin microbiome plays an important role in aging the skin and health and that the preservation of the health of the microbiome could protect, prevent and delay skin aging.
This means that although the use of collagen -increasing ingredients can help, taking care of our skin microbioma can be just as important.
How to support your skin microbioma and delay the loss of collagen
So how do you retain a healthy skin microbioma? We have some tips for you.
1. Use microbiomous skin care products
Hard cleaning agents and antibacterial ingredients can disrupt the delicate balance of your skin’s microbiome. Instead, search soft cleaning agents that remove impurities without stripping essential bacteria.
These formulas usually avoid hard sulfates, alcohols and antibacterial ingredients and use more moisturizing ingredients – such as those found in CV SkinLabs products, such as Aloe Vera, Glycerine and Oats Extract. Choose products that are labeled as “pH-balanced” or “suitable for sensitive skin.”
2. Protect the skin barrier
A compromised skin barrier is more likely to allow harmful bacteria to take over, which may increase the collagen breakdown. You can support the natural defense of your skin by using barrier -pressing ingredients such as ceramides, squalane and fatty acids. Ingredients such as bisabolol, turmeric and reishi -mushroom extract – all found in central heating skinlabs calming moisture – can also help to calm inflammation and strengthen the skin barrier.
3. Avoid overexfoliation
Although peeling is important for skin innovation, exaggerating can disrupt the microbiome and weaken the skin barrier. Excessive peeling strips away the natural oils and useful bacteria of the skin, increasing dryness, sensitivity and inflammation. Instead, choose soft exfoliators such as lactic acid or fruit enzymes and limit the peeling to 1-3 times a week. Follow with barrier reinforcement and protective calm moisture to calm down, balance and supplement.
4. Eat a skin -friendly diet
Your skin microbiome is influenced by your overall health, including your intestinal health. In fact, the researchers in the above study noted that changes in the intestinal microbiome that occur with age can influence the speed of total aging and age -related inflammation. “Bad” bacteria from the intestine can enter the bloodstream and travel to distant organs, including the skin.
“Although it is difficult to establish a causal link between the intestinal microbioma and the skin conditions,” the Researchers wrote“Multiple studies indicate a connection between them with different dermatological disorders associated with gastrointestinal disorders and vice versa.”
They also noted that earlier studies have also associated an increased “leakage” of harmful bacteria in the bloodstream with an accumulation of bacterial metabolites in the skin, which affects the integrity of the barrier.
Consuming probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, kefir and fermented vegetables can help maintain a balanced intestinal microbiome, which in turn benefits the skin. Avoid processed foods with a lot of sugar, artificial sweeteners and unhealthy fats, which disturb intestinal bacteria and influence both intestinal and skin health.
5. Reduce stress and get quality sleep
Chronic stress and poor sleep can have a negative influence on your microbiome and collagen production. Try to do something every day that helps you reduce stress. Exercise is a good option, just like yoga, tai chi, deep breathing, journalization and meditation.
Last thoughts about the loss of collagen
This discovery of a connection between the microbiome and collagen loss opens new doors in skin care research. That means that we can now take extra steps to delay collagen breakdown and postpone the aging of the skin. Try not only to use a daily routine that keeps the skin barrier strong and healthy and at the same time keeps your intestine, but at the same time keeps your intestine, but at the same time your gut stays!
Did you know this about the loss of collagen?
Featured image by Shvets production via Pexels.