Collagen is a protein responsible for healthy joints and skin elasticity, or stretchiness. It’s in your bones, muscles, and blood, comprising three quarters of your skin and a third of the protein in your body. It is the substance that holds the body together. Collagen forms a scaffold to provide strength and structure.

As you age, your existing collagen breaks down, and it gets harder for your body to produce more. As a result, many people turn to collagen supplements. These supplements are usually powders, though there are also capsules and liquid supplements available.

Collagen is also produced naturally in the body by combining amino acids, the building blocks of proteins found in food. To produce collagen, your body needs:

•  Proline: found in egg whites, dairy, cabbage, mushrooms, and asparagus
•  Glycine: found in pork skin, chicken skin, and gelatin, and a variety of other protein-rich foods
•  Vitamin C: found in citrus fruits and bell peppers
•  Zinc: found in beef, lamb, pork, shellfish, chickpeas, lentils, beans, milk, cheese, and various nuts and seeds
•  Copper: found in organ meats, cocoa powder, cashews, sesame seeds, and lentils

Controlled “Micro-Trauma” treatments such as Plasma and Microneedling encourages the body to switch on its repair mode, causing a tiny wound on the skin surface, triggering the body to create more Collagen. The role of collagen in wound healing is to attract fibroblasts and encourage deposition of new collagen to the wound bed. This process improves the skin condition creating a more youthful, healthier complexion and can also reduce scarring and stretch marks.