Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1533707
88 ASCP Skin Deep Spring 2025 ESTY PROTOCOLS Collagen and Aging Skin by Skin Script Professional Skin Care AS CLIENTS AGE, there are distinctive skin needs that arise in the treatment room. Firming, anti-aging, tightening, and lifting: These are words clients often use to describe what they want for their aging skin. How does aging skin typically present? • Fine lines • Loss of plumpness • Thinning skin • Wrinkles As a licensed professional, you can recommend treatments that provide clients with visible changes to their skin. There's also proactiveness and responsibility with educating clients. Additionally, it's critical to set expectations of methods they can use to reverse the signs of aging and preserve their skin. Let's first look at collagen's role in the aging process. COLLAGEN There are five primary collagens that reside within the papillary and reticular dermis. Collagen I and collagen III are directly linked to strength, movement, and elasticity within the skin. Fibroblasts are formed in the dermis and are responsible for producing collagen and tightening the skin. Vitamin C and essential fatty acids are key nutrients for fibroblasts to thrive in stimulating the skin to produce more collagen. These key nutrients can be applied topically at home and within the treatment room or ingested to stimulate fibroblast activity. The body naturally produces less collagen with age, but there are other extrinsic factors that can accelerate collagen loss and visible signs of aging in the skin. Unprotected ultraviolet (UV) exposure breaks down collagen and elastin within the skin. It's crucial for clients to start healthy skin care practices such as sun protection through regular sunscreen application. Protecting the skin with daily sunscreen greatly reduces the UV damage that leads to more pronounced wrinkles and pigmentation. Studies show that UV exposure is a leading cause of oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress is the loss of valuable nutrients such as vitamin C and E within the cell membrane. Sun exposure is also the main contributor to excess free radicals that attack skin cells, along with pollution, poor nutrition, stress, dehydration, and smoking that feed free radicals in the skin, which leads to more oxidative stress in the body. It's important to set realistic expectations of the potential timelines that contributed to the loss of collagen as well as the possible results that can be attained.