What Exactly is Collagen? – Part 1 of III

Among the eternal quests of human beings, alongside money and love, lies a pursuit that knows no bounds: the search for the fountain of youth.

The global market for anti-aging skincare products alone surpasses a staggering $65 billion Canadian dollars annually, a testament to the widespread concern about sagging skin and wrinkles. At Sealuxe, while we firmly believe that beauty transcends a number, we also understand the desire to look and feel your best.

If you're well-versed in skincare, you've likely come across the term "collagen." We at Sealuxe frequently reference this essential protein; seaweed, one of our key ingredients, is acclaimed for its ability to promote collagen production in the body. The more collagen, the plumper and more youthful our skin appears.

Let's delve into the depths of collagen. This remarkable protein is present throughout your entire body, from the bed of your toenails to your muscles, tendons, organs, and, of course, your skin. Astonishingly, three-quarters of your skin's dry weight is composed of collagen.

Functionally, collagen serves as a protein—an element not limited to consumption but also produced naturally within our bodies. When we consume food, our bodies break down proteins and utilize their building blocks to synthesize new proteins, including collagen. Proteins play a vital role in all the intricate chemical processes occurring within us, such as cell and tissue regeneration.

Within our bodies, an intricate web of thousands to billions of different proteins exists, each assigned specific functions. For instance, hormones act as messengers between cells, antibodies combat harmful viruses and bacteria, and enzymes facilitate the countless chemical reactions that keep us alive. Additionally, there are structural proteins responsible for anchoring our cells and providing shape to tissues and organs.

Collagen belongs to the realm of structural proteins and is found abundantly in our connective tissues—the fibrous substances that link, support, and separate various tissues and organs. This encompasses not only the cartilage that cushions and separates bones in joints and the tendons connecting muscles to bones but also the dermis, the layer of skin beneath the thin outer epidermis. The name "collagen" itself originates from the Greek words kola meaning glue and gen meaning producing, reflecting its vital role in the body.

We hope this brief introduction to collagen has been enlightening. In our next blog, we will further explore collagen and look into why its production declines as we age and provide insights on how to assess whether your body is producing enough of the protein.