Several factors contribute to skin damage and deterioration, such as sun damage, smoking, hormonal changes and the slow progression of time. Over time, we can see how it loses its elasticity, brightness and moisture. It is also possible to develop acne scars or spots like melasma (cloth) as skin quality degrades. Unfortunately, skin problems are more common than we think. Some skin issues, such as rosacea, affect 25.5% of the population.
There are a number of options to rehabilitate damaged skin. One of the best we have found is called Collagen Induction Therapy. This process is also called Microneedling. However, there are some other options to be aware of. You can learn more below.
What are the Best Collagen Treatments?
Beyond its functional aspects within the body, collagen is very widespread in the aesthetic field. There are some treatments based on this protein that provide very good results.
Some are more invasive than others and may even require the presence of a professional to be administered correctly.
All collagen procedures require treatment from = a specialized clinic. You don’t want to see a medical expert that doesn’t specialize in dermatology, because the result may not be as good as you expected. You may also experience serious complications if you don’t see a trained specialist.
Below are the most common treatments from collagen …
1. Collagen in creams
There are a wide variety of collagen booster creams on the market. Collagen is an important ingredient in all of them. Many have additional components that stimulate the production of this protein in the body, although in this case, logically, its action is not direct.
What are collagen creams used for? They can be used to add firmness to the skin, eliminate stretch marks and stimulate the lymphatic system. Therefore, they can palliate the retention of liquids. They are also used for purposes such as eradicating spots on the dermis, making the effects of cellulite less noticeable or reducing acne.
Unlike other methods, treatment with collagen creams have a medium- to long-term effect. In addition to alleviating certain conditions, these creams can also be used to prevent their appearance. This way, women who apply the cream on their thighs several times a week will be less likely to suffer from cellulite.
2. Collagen injections
This treatment involves making multiple punctures with micro-needles in the skin to trigger a repair response. Collagen is produced, so you can rejuvenate the skin. With modern devices, the penetration of the micro-needles can be precisely regulated to stimulate only the dermis.
The microchannels that are used to perform Collagen Induction Therapy also serve to maximize the penetration of some substances that can be added during the procedure such as growth factors obtained from the patient’s plasma (Vampire Facial), hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, among others.
Unlike other methods of rejuvenation, Collagen Induction Therapy preserves the integrity of the epidermis and avoids most of the complications that can occur in therapies such as chemical peels or dermabrasions.
This treatment leads to significant improvements in cases of melasma (wipe), skin flaccidity, wrinkles, acne scars and photo-aging. The results can be seen approximately three weeks after the procedure. Some patients may require several sessions, depending on the severity of their case.
Little care is needed after a Collagen Induction Therapy. The recovery process is very simple and almost immediate. You will experience slight redness for a few days, but shouldn’t notice many other side effects. It is possible to perform a next Collagen Induction session one month after the previous session.
Collagen injections can soften wrinkled skin, thus helping to give the people who use them a more youthful appearance. This treatment lasts several sessions and is usually applied to the face. It is practically painless and offers ostensible results from the first sessions. That is to say, its effect is much more noticeable at first than that of the creams that include this protein.
The practical majority of cosmetic surgery centers offer this service, which is normally not as expensive as treatments requiring surgery. In this case, it will be a qualified professional who will apply the injections and control the evolution of the patient. The treatment with collagen injections does not require hospitalization and does not cause any type of mark on the face since it is performed with very fine needles. They are usually introduced mainly in the lips, in the cheekbones, in the eyebrows and the forehead, although they are usually effective to improve the condition of any part of the face.
However, you must always bear in mind that a professional must be in charge of giving you these injections, otherwise, they could be harmful to your health. At present, certain beauty centers include this treatment in their service catalogue, but they do not have people prepared to apply it under conditions. In these cases, less money is usually requested than in beauty centers, but in exchange, you expose your health to considerable risk. So the right thing to do is to always ask for the qualification of the person who is going to supply you with the collagen.
There are mainly two types of collagen injections, such as the following:
– Bovine collagen: It is obtained from the skin of the cow and is very effective in human skin. Zyderm and Zyplast are the names of the two most commonly used products of this type. Many people are allergic to this component, so a small pre-test is usually done to avoid side effects.
– Human Collagen: Comes from donations made by individuals. CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast are the most common products of this type. It does not usually cause rejection in patients, although it is more difficult to obtain and there are a greater number of legal obstacles to obtaining it.
You should be aware of the benefits of each of these injections.
- Hydrolyzed collagen
Hydrolyzed collagen is a form collagen that is treated in such a way that it can be ingested by humans and can alleviate the effects of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or tendinitis. It is usually presented in capsule form, although there are also pills of this product.
Although their manufacturers claim that these tablets have a positive effect on the body, the scientific community is divided on this issue, as there is a part of it that strongly denies that it can be beneficial in alleviating the effects of these bone and joint diseases.
- Ultrasound collagen for hair
This is a revolutionary method that is beginning to be applied in some of the most prestigious beauty clinics in the world. It is nicknamed “the hair botox”, because of the excellent effects it achieves on the hair.