What is Collagen and How Can We Form New Deposits?

In the 1960's, another type of collagen was discovered in cartilage. It was slightly different than skin collagen and was called collagen II. Then we discovered another type in fetal skin and this was called Collagen III.

The only way we can restore the younger collagen is to provide a dermal insult to 'kick-start' the dormant fibroblasts or slow down the destructive process of UV light. Dermal insults include chemical peels, laser resurfacing, dermal rolling or radiofrequency devices. However, we should be aware that skin over forty years does not always respond to collagen synthesis boosters and trying to stop the degradation of collagen may prove to be a more sensible approach. I really saw this with the introduction of Isolagen® fibroblast transplanting some years ago. It was then apparent that the people who got the best results were the patients with acne scarring because they were all in their twenties and thirties. The only topical application that I feel that may slow the destructive process of UV light is the of photoprotectant vitamin C. This molecule has been shown in many studies to protect the skin from damage caused by prolonged UV exposure by reducing the amount of free radical formation and/or sunburn cells. Many companies try to sell products that will cause MMP inhibition but as yet none of them have satisfactory scientific results. There is some benefit in using retinoids also as they can act on inflammatory pathways and reduce the amount of MMP's that are synthesised.

We wear sun protection to slow down wrinkle development; can we not slow down this laxity in the skin?

This is a good question and involves a little science. Sunlight contains both UVA and UVB radiation, which causes collagen fibres to break down and cause wrinkles but it also causes abnormal elastin to accumulate. Many dermatologists feel exposure to sunlight accounts for 90% of the symptoms of premature skin aging. There is little doubt that UV radiation can cause skin damage including wrinkles, aging skin disorders, and cancer. If we look more closely at the laxity problem, we have to admit that we still do not fully understand the process. Sun exposure causes an accumulation of denatured elastin and enzymes called metalloproteinases, which normally remodel sun-injured skin by manufacturing and reforming collagen. However, something happens during sun exposure, which causes some of these matrix metalloproteinases (MMP's) to actually break down collagen into disorganized fibres known as solar scars. The ratio of organised collagen to disorganised collagen determines the age of our skin. In younger years collagen is freshly deposited by young healthy fibroblasts and it has a definite orderly structure under the microscope. It is interesting to watch how it changes its structure after exposure to sun, free radicals, smoking and underlying metabolic conditions to lead to diminished skin texture and wrinkles.

Dr. Patrick Treacy won "Professional Journalist of the Year" in 2003 for his award winning column "The Cutting Edge" published weekly in the Irish Medical Times. His lecture series on minor surgery was published in Modern Medicine of Ireland Dr. Treacy is a cosmetic columnist with Ireland's Rejuvenate Cosmetic Surgery Magazine, Health & Living Magazine as well as the UK Aesthetic Medicine and MediSpa Destinations Magazines. Dr. Treacy is regularly invited to speak about Cosmetic Medicine on Irish breakfast television (TV3), RTE TV and Discovery Health and has been an expert panelist with the BBC World Services on many occasions.