You've heard about collagen everywhere—beauty counters, wellness blogs, skincare conversations. But what exactly is this protein that everyone credits with youthful, firm skin? More importantly, why does your body's collagen production decline, and how can you support it naturally?
Let's explore the science behind collagen in skin and discover how botanical actives like Dragon's Blood can help preserve your skin's natural resilience.
The Function of Collagen in Your Skin
Collagen is your body's most abundant protein, acting as the structural framework beneath your skin's surface. Think of it as invisible scaffolding that keeps skin plump, smooth, and firm. The function collagen serves is crucial: it provides strength, maintains structure, and supports skin elasticity.
Collagen in skin works alongside elastin fibres to create that enviable bounce-back quality young skin possesses. When collagen production is optimal, your skin retains moisture better, resists environmental damage, and maintains youthful contours. It's what creates that plump, radiant appearance we all desire.
Type I and Type III collagen are the primary players in skin health. Type I provides tensile strength whilst Type III offers elasticity and support. Together, they maintain collagen skin elasticity and firmness.
Why Collagen Production Declines with Age
Here's the uncomfortable truth: collagen production peaks in your mid-20s, then declines by approximately 1% annually. By your 40s, you've lost significant collagen, which shows as fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.
But age isn't the only factor affecting collagen in skin:
Sun exposure remains collagen's greatest enemy. UV radiation triggers enzymes that break down collagen fibres faster than your body rebuilds them, causing premature ageing.
Environmental pollutants generate oxidative stress, damaging collagen structures and interfering with natural collagen production.
Sugar consumption triggers glycation, where sugar molecules bind to collagen fibres, making them stiff and brittle. This manifests as premature sagging and loss of collagen skin elasticity.
Lifestyle factors, including smoking, chronic stress, poor sleep, and nutritional deficiencies, all accelerate collagen breakdown and impair the function collagen serves in maintaining skin health.
Supporting Collagen Production Naturally
Whilst you can't stop time, you can slow collagen decline through strategic skincare and lifestyle choices.
Daily sun protection is non-negotiable. Broad-spectrum SPF shields skin from UV damage that accelerates collagen breakdown. This single step protects existing collagen in skin whilst preventing future damage.
Antioxidants act as collagen's bodyguards, neutralising free radicals before they damage collagen fibres. Vitamin C, vitamin E, and botanical extracts rich in polyphenols protect and support collagen production.
Retinoids stimulate fibroblast activity, encouraging new collagen production whilst improving skin elasticity. They're proven to boost the function collagen performs in maintaining skin structure.
Peptides signal skin cells to increase collagen production, supporting the natural processes that maintain collagen in skin.
Proper hydration supports collagen structure. When skin is well-hydrated, collagen fibres maintain their integrity and skin elasticity is preserved.
Dragon's Blood: Nature's Collagen Support
This is where Dragon's Blood skin care enters the story. Dragon's Blood is a deep red resin from the Croton lechleri tree, extraordinarily rich in proanthocyanidins—powerful antioxidants up to 20 times more potent than vitamin E and 50 times more potent than vitamin C.
Dragon's Blood offers multiple benefits for supporting collagen in skin:
Antioxidant protection shields collagen from free radical damage, slowing the breakdown of collagen in skin and preserving skin elasticity.
Anti-inflammatory properties reduce inflammatory responses that accelerate collagen degradation, supporting the function collagen provides.
Skin repair support stimulates growth factors that encourage tissue repair and healthy collagen production.
Barrier strengthening protects underlying collagen structures from environmental stressors that compromise collagen skin elasticity.
Moisture retention helps skin maintain hydration essential for collagen structure and optimal function collagen serves.
PURAS Dragon's Blood for Anti-Ageing Skin Care
The PURAS Dragon's Blood series is formulated to support your skin's natural collagen production mechanisms. Each product delivers botanical actives that protect, nourish, and encourage optimal collagen function.
Used consistently as part of your anti-ageing skin care routine, Dragon's Blood skin care helps maintain firmer, more resilient skin whilst supporting healthy collagen in skin.
Your Collagen Care Strategy
Understanding collagen—what it is, the function collagen performs, and why collagen production declines—empowers you to make informed skincare choices. You can't stop time, but you absolutely can support your skin's natural collagen production through sun protection, antioxidant-rich skincare, and powerful botanical actives.
Collagen production may naturally decline, but with proper protection and targeted support from ingredients like Dragon's Blood, you're giving your skin the foundation it needs to maintain firmness, collagen skin elasticity, and that youthful glow.
Explore the PURAS Dragon's Blood series and discover how this potent botanical can support your skin's collagen resilience. Shop our complete anti-ageing skin care for visible results that honour your skin's natural intelligence.
