Miss Jenny Doyle, Dr Arshi Baig and Dr Aaminah Haq explore advanced strategies to stimulate collagen through treatments in medical aesthetics
Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the human body and a primary component of the dermal extracellular matrix (ECM).¹ In the skin, type I collagen makes up roughly 80–90% of the total collagen content. It forms strong, elongated fibrils that provide the dermis with tensile strength, structural support and resistance to mechanical stress – contributing to skin that looks firm, lifted and youthful.² Fibroblast cells produce the majority of collagen.³
Collagen plays a dual role in skin biology. Structurally it provides the ‘scaffold’ that bears stress and preserves form, and biologically it supports fibroblast activity. When collagen fibres break down, fibroblasts receive altered mechanical and biochemical cues that reduce new collagen synthesis and contribute to visible signs of ageing.⁴⁵
During ageing, collagen production decreases and degradation by enzymes increases. This degradation and fragmentation leads to many of the hallmark appearances of aged skin, including dermal…
