Collagen, the “holy grail” of youth and skin tone. Starting from 25-30 years, the production of this fundamental protein can decrease by up to 1% each year, visibly affecting tone and elasticity. Is it possible to intervene consciously? Today yes, thanks to collagen analysis, a sort of “x-ray” of skin quality that allows degradation processes to be identified early. A control that you can think of giving yourself already around the age of 30 and, in an even more targeted way, in phases of hormonal change such as menopause. Here’s why.
What is collagen loss?
«As the years went by, i fibroblasts slow down the production of collagen, for various reasons, both endogenous and exogenous, such as photoaging and pollution. The skin thus progressively loses structure and support. This translates into less firmness, the appearance of wrinkles and loss of firmness” explains the Doctor Erica Salvatico, aesthetic doctor, also present on MioDottore.
Collagen in fact It represents approximately 80% of the water-free skin structure and is essential for maintaining toneelasticity and epidemic compactness. From the age of 25, however, the dermis begins to produce less, around 1% per year.
There are five most obvious signs of collagen loss: dryness and dehydration of the skin, changes in facial volume, sagging, loss of tone and elasticity and the appearance of the first wrinkles.
«The first signs of aging are less elastic and thinner skin, accompanied by a loss of firmness and tone. Then, the first fine wrinkles begin to appear which tend to become deeper over time. Greater laxity is also observed, especially around the eyes, jaw and neck. In general, the skin often appears less luminous and more “tired”» explains the doctor.
Acceleration in menopause
Added to these factors is menopause: as some studies have shown, the first five years of menopause see a drop in collagen production of 30% while in the following 15 years it is around 2% per year.
What is collagen analysis with skin ultrasound
«The collagen check-up is the new frontier of skin longevity. Beyond the use of specific creams and fillers, today aesthetic medicine and regenerative dermatology focus on a scientific approach: the analysis of collagen. It’s almost one a sort of “x-ray” of youth so as to age with greater awareness» explains the expert.
In practice, collagen analysis is performed with cutting-edge technologies, in particular with high frequency skin ultrasound «which allows you to scan the deep layers of the dermis without any pain. This is often accompanied by blood turnover marker tests, which measure the collagen fragments in circulation in the blood, revealing whether the body is producing or destroying it too quickly. Finally, polarized digital imaging analyzes the surface texture to identify damage invisible to the naked eye.”
What you see
What are the results of this analysis? «Mainly of two types: the first is on quantitythat is, it measures the dermal thickness. For example, a thin dermis is synonymous with fragility and predisposition to wrinkles. The second result is on qualitywhich is the truly innovative data, because it detects whether the fibers are well organized and “young” (type III) or rigid and damaged by sugars and UV rays, therefore whether the glycation phenomenon has already occurred.”
When to undergo this type of analysis
As the expert explains, generally the first evaluation should be made at the age of 30-35the moment when natural collagen production begins to wane. However, the analysis then becomes important during menopause«when the hormonal collapse can cause a loss of collagen of up to 30% in the first five years, and for athletes who want to monitor the tightness of tendons and ligaments».
The strong point then lies in customization: with the data in hand, in fact, a doctor can prescribe a truly targeted strategy and no longer a generic treatment. And this is established both from a preventative perspective, because «if the analysis shows early degradation, specific supplements or an antioxidant diet can be intervened before the face “gives in”».
Another fundamental aspect is clinical precision: «If collagen is scarce, we will focus on biostimulation treatmentsso as to create a new one; if it is present but disorganised, technologies such as radio frequency will be preferred to re-compact the existing fibres. In an era in which medicine aims for precision, collagen analysis confirms itself as the essential tool to stop chasing time and finally start managing it” concludes the doctor.