What is collagen?

Collagen is a key protein in our body that helps to keep our skin taut and strong, plus it works to replace dead skin cells. It’s made up of 18 different amino acids which serve as the building blocks of protein that form our hair, muscles, bone and of course, skin. When your body has plenty of it, collagen helps to make our skin look more youthful. Unfortunately, as we age, the body’s ability to produce collagen begins to decline.

How to boost collagen naturally

There is an abundance of emerging research in the skincare industry. A German study conducted in 2014 by the University of Kiel found skin elasticity improved in women aged between 35 and 55 years who took a dietary collagen supplement for 12 months (compared to those who took a placebo).

Increasing your daily intake of all antioxidants, especially vitamin C, is essential to stimulating the production of collagen. As are foods rich in sulphur. Eat as many varieties of fresh wholefoods – kiwi fruit is particularly good, as are oranges, almonds, carrots, avocadoes, garlic and dark green leafy vegetables – as you can at every meal.

We recommend avoiding, wherever possible, sugar, smoking and spending too much time in the sun without sunscreen.

Massage can also stimulate collagen production, so build upwards movements into your daily routine as you apply skincare products.

What about collagen creams?

The collagen molecule can’t penetrate the skin, so you need to look for a product that has includes the amino acids that help to produce collagen. They could be called something like a protein and peptide complex on the packaging. Otherwise, look for products that are high in vitamins C and E, both of which help with collagen production.

Can I get a treatment?

There is some evidence to suggest that microdermabrasion can stimulate the production of collagen, although microneedling and Ultraformer III treatments are better alternatives. The tiny pinpricks made during the procedure cause microscopic injuries to the deeper dermal layers of the skin, which in turns triggers both collagen and elastin production increase to help with healing.

Microneedling is relatively painless but a topical anaesthetic cream can also be used to ease discomfort, and the procedure can take as little as 10 minutes. Afterwards, your clinician will use products high in retinoid (vitamin A) and antioxidants, including vitamin C, to boost skin regeneration.

Improvements in the skin can usually be seen in three to four weeks, with changes ongoing over the coming months. Results can also be improved by combining microneedling with chemical peels and adding platelet-rich plasma during one of our Factor4 treatments.

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But counting calories, eliminating food groups and generally spending hours every day thinking about what you can and can’t eat isn’t healthy or sustainable.

So what should I eat?

When the word diet is mentioned, most people associate it with controlling what they eat, and even denying themselves foods they really love. As a consequence, telling yourself you’re ‘on a diet’ is a little like setting yourself up to fail.  

Rather than focus on what you can’t eat, instead think about all the delicious foods you can enjoy that will nurture your body. Having a positive relationship with food is incredibly important to maintaining a healthy weight range.

The most effective diet ever is simply a balanced diet. Once we realise we have the ability to make choices, good or bad, the closer we come to success.

Getting the balance right

Food is comprised of macronutrients the body needs to stay healthy and perform at its best. Each of these nutrients has a key role within our body:

• fats and carbohydrates provide us with daily energy;
• protein assists to build and repair tissue, such as skin, hair, muscles and bones;
• vitamins and minerals help us maintain optimal health; and
• hydration facilitates bodily functions.

We can’t ignore one aspect in order to satisfy another – that’s just not sustainable eating.

There are three key factors to consider when establishing whether you have a good balanced diet. Ask yourself…

• Am I eating good quality, fresh foods?
• Am I eating appropriate portion sizes (palm-sized protein, twice as many vegetables, and a small serve of wholegrain carbohydrates) at each meal? This should apply to breakfast, too.
• Am I drinking enough water? Place your water bottle on your desk in the morning and fill it up at least twice during the day.

Make it easier to stick to nutritious eating by planning your meals for a week, doing the shopping, and getting ahead with some prep on the weekend. That way you’ll be less likely tempted by takeaway when you get home from work and feel too tired to cook.

Eat this way most of the time, and when you do occasionally have a slice of birthday cake or fancy a bit of chocolate, you should enjoy it to the max without feeling guilty. After all, it’s all about balance, not about denying yourself.

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It’s been months now … You’ve been eating a good, balanced range of wholefood in reasonable portions. You get your 10,000 steps each and every day, plus you’ve been putting in three or four decent workouts as well. You’ve been ensuring you drink at least two litres of water daily, too. But for some reason you don’t seem to be able to shift any weight.

If that’s the case, you should make an appointment to see your GP to ensure there’s not an underlying medical condition, such as an underactive thyroid, that can be treated. If it’s not that, however, start looking at an other lifestyle factor.

How are your stress levels?

When someone explains it to you it seems so obvious. We are primeval creatures, controlled partially by our subconscious. Way back when we were roaming the earth and clubbing predators, stress meant our lives were at risk. Adrenaline increased the heart rate, elevated blood pressure and boosted energy (so we could run fast), while cortisol increased the amount of glucose in the bloodstream and shut down other systems – immune functions, reproduction and digestion – to give the body its best chance of survival.

The problem is that our modern brains don’t know the difference between stress caused by being swooped by a pterodactyl or living through a famine and stress caused by a difficult boss, problems at home and money worries. It reacts in the same way. So, if you’re constantly stressed, your body is constantly creating cortisol and its having the same effect on your body, which is unlikely to be experiencing famine.

Managing stress levels

You probably can’t make the annoying boss, constant deadlines and relationship issues vanish (although you’d be well advised to do anything possible – changing jobs, seeing a therapist – to help get them under control), but there are some strategies you can use to lower stress levels for the majority of your day. Here are 10 simple ways to lower stress levels.

1. When you wake up in the morning, stand tall in the shower and take four or five deep breaths. Anxiety causes short, sharp breaths into the chest, but breathing deep into your belly can give you quick relief. You can even say, “I breathe out stress and tension” when you exhale. If you have more time, sit or lie on the floor (or anywhere else that’s comfortable), close your eyes and practise deep breathing for 10 to 20 minutes.
2. Make regular meditation part of your self-care routine. If you don’t know how to start, find a local class or download an app for your phone. Some people meditate by lying down and clearing their mind; others are more prone to be able to stop their thundering brain if they’re in nature. If active meditation – some people swear by swimming, staring at the black line and counting strokes (one, two, three, four, breathe), as a way to clear the mind – suits you then go with it.
3. Practise yoga or stretching.
4. Fill a bath with water and Epsom salts and have a good soak.
5. If you feel as though you have to be doing something every minute of the day, actually diarise yoga, meditation, sitting watching the birds or deep breathing, so that you do it.
6. Look at other activities that make you relax by clearing your mind, whether that’s reading a book or doing some colouring in.
7. Put away your phone. Constant scrolling through news reports and social media is a sure-fire way to raise anxiety levels.
8. Go easy on yourself. When it comes to blame, we often give other people leniency for bad behaviour. We need to be able to give ourselves the same latitude to make mistakes and forgive ourselves.
9. Practise gratitude. Before you try to go to sleep at night, write down the three best things that happened during the day and the three things for which you feel most grateful. If you’ve never done it before, you’ll be amazed at the difference it can make to your state of mind, flipping it from the negative and anxious thoughts that flood our mind to an attitude of positivity.
10. Of course, you should always try to get eight hours of sleep each night. Not only does it help with stress levels but you won’t be tempted to control exhaustion during the day with caffeine and sweet treats.

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While many of us fear anti-wrinkle treatments, The Harley Clinic has multiple tips and tricks that allow you to control the process. 

How are wrinkles formed?

Young youthful skin is full of collagen that keeps your skin plump and elastic. As we age, the structure of the collagen weakens and becomes less elastic.

Additionally, sun damage as well as all the smiling, laughing, squinting and frowning we do places greater stress on the production of collagen, thus producing fine lines and wrinkles.

What are the best ways to prevent the ageing process?

There are multiple things that we should be doing to protect and prevent our skin from damage and it all begins with a healthy skin routine.

At The Harley Clinic we recommend that you remove any make-up before going to bed. It is important that you cleanse morning and night, and apply a moisturiser suitable for your skin type as well as using an SPF30+ sunscreen daily.

Additionally, applying anti-ageing serums (rich in vitamins such as vitamin A, B and C) and using face masks regularly will leave your skin feeling supple and glowing.

What treatments are available and how long do they last?

If you find that you have been using these preventative methods for years and you are ready to take the next step, The Harley Clinic can guide you with a free skin consultation. Our highly trained clinicians will complete a thorough review of your current skin regime and build a targeted treatment plan to ensure you start seeing improvements in skin texture, tone and health.

Non-surgical skin tightening

A non-surgical face-lift is a procedure that aims to restore your skin’s texture and facial definition, making you appear more youthful. The Harley Clinic uses only the latest technology – including Ultraformer III.

Ultraformer targets your skin at four different depths, thereby assisting in the stimulation of collagen while tightening your facial muscles.  

We suggest this treatment be repeated after three months. This will extend the life of the results. After these initial treatments we recommend a 12-monthly review and possible re-treatment to ensure the constant stimulation of collagen.

Anti-wrinkle treatments

An anti-wrinkle treatment at The Harley Clinic involves a thorough evaluation of your skin and personal goals. Our medical team has years of experience and training, ensuring that you not only receive the best outcomes, but your safety is paramount. We only use premium products that are approved for use in Australia.

Anti-wrinkle treatments generally last between 3 to 4 months. To ensure you maintain a more youthful appearance we recommend you book in for treatment at these intervals.

Dermal filler treatments

Rather than smoothening and tightening the skin, dermal fillers are designed to restore volume loss that occurs as we age. Dermal filler can be used in many areas of the face and can subtly rejuvenate your midface, lips and jawline.

At The Harley Clinic, we only use premium dermal filler and all of our cosmetic injectors have years of experience injecting these products. Again, safety and outcomes are of paramount importance when it comes to these treatments.

Typically, fillers last between 6 to 12 months.

Next steps

At The Harley Clinic we tailor your treatment journey to provide you with the results that you desire. Most importantly we want you to feel happy and confident in your own skin. Our experienced medical team will undertake a comprehensive consultation with you to discuss your desired outcome prior to making any suggestions or commencing any treatment.

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Even if you’re indoors, ultra-violet (UV) waves are hitting your skin, slowly damaging collagen production and reducing your skin’s elasticity.

There are two types of sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays to prevent them from reaching your skin. Physical sunscreens use ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide to act as a barrier to help reflect UV radiation – it’s essentially like wearing a t-shirt on your face.   

When purchasing a sunscreen you should look for two things. The first is the list of ingredients – we suggest purchasing a sunscreen with zinc or titanium.

The second is the SPF level, which stands for Sun Protection Factor. When labelled on sunscreen it relates to the amount of time it takes before redness appears on the skin.

According to Cancer Council Australia, when SPF30 sunscreen is applied correctly, in theory it will take about 300 minutes for skin to show redness. Basically, the higher the SPF level the greater the amount of protection. However, factors such as skin type, skin treatments, sun-protective clothing, swimming or sweating affect the level of protection.

Approximately one teaspoon of sunscreen should be applied to the face, 20 minutes prior to sun exposure.

Sunscreen is essential to protect the skin’s collagen, keratin and elastin. We recommend applying sunscreen as a part of your skincare regime after moisturising, then reapplying every two to three hours. Adults should also apply about a teaspoon each to the neck and ears, as well each arm and leg and the front and back of the body.

Even when it’s cloudy outside, UVA rays (the ageing rays) can still reach your skin so don’t give sunscreen the flick because of this.

If you feel you have already damaged your skin in the harsh Australian sun don’t despair, The Harley Clinic has the latest treatments that can help reverse the signs of sun damage and help wind back the years.

For more advice about skin health, speak to our trained experts at The Harley Clinic. They will help you understand your PRPs and Factor 4s from your UltraFormer III and laser treatments. They’ll also arm you with the right products to keep up the good work at home.

When we treat your skin at The Harley Clinic your skin may become more susceptible to UV damage. We suggest reducing the amount of time you spend in direct sunlight and strongly recommend using a daily sunscreen regardless of the weather.

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