Edited – You know how we get identified as an old or we are getting aged. It is our skin and the wrinkles on it that let’s know we are getting older. It means we are losing our youthfulness. We can stay young if we keep our skin firm and the cell regeneration going on. Collagen is a type of protein and its production is responsible for skin regeneration or damage. If you keep collagen production going on, you’ll be successful in keeping the skin firm and slowing down your ageing process.

Increase your vitamin C intake

According to a study published in the American Journal of Nutrition, women aged more than 40 taking highest amount of Vitamin in their daily diet have a lower risk of wrinkles on their face in comparison with the one who has consumed lower diet. Dietitian Jo Travers of the London Nutritionist says, “Vitamin C is crucial to the ­formation of collagen – without it, amino acids can’t be linked to form the protein”. Good sources of Vitamin C are dark green leafy vegetables are tomatoes, broccoli, sprouts, oranges, red pepper and kiwi fruit. Increase the amount of Vitamin C in your diet in order to keep your skin looking younger.

Escape from direct sun expose

You know direct exposure to sun rays is a vital suspect to the loss of collagen. Take an umbrella when you go out in the sun. Use an SPF 15 lotion on your face and other bare body parts before going out in the sun. It will protect your skin and keep collagen production unaffected from UVA rays.

Stop smoking

Your body has metalloproteinases that are an enzyme created by smoking. This enzyme is also a cause of collagen damage in your skin and hence, its losses its youngness. Avoid or stop smoking to keep your skin looking younger.

Reduce the intake of sweet stuff

Dr Patricia Farris, the co-author of The Sugar Detox Lose Weight, Feel Great and Look Years Younger, says, “Eating too much sugar can be a beauty disaster”. The sugar intake causes premature skin ageing. It happens due to a process, which is known as glycation. This process starts where excess sugar in the blood attaches itself to nucleic acids, lipids and proteins (especially collagen) to form AGE (advanced glycation end ­products), which accelerate the ageing process and so cause wrinkles on the skin.

Massage

Nichola Joss, Sanctuary Spa Skincare Expert, says “Massaging your face daily will help boost the production of collagen, give skin more plump appearance and help stimulate the lymph glands to promote clear skin.” Start having full body massage to keep your skin looking younger.

Use antioxidants

The use of antioxidants supports to protect against free radicals that are the cause of skin ageing. The free radical means a damaged skin cell and it is called free as it loses an electron (healthy cells). Amanda says, “Free radicals attach themselves to healthy skin cells and basically suck out the electrons they need, leaving healthy skin cells damaged. This process triggers an enzyme in the skin that breaks down collagen. Antioxidants help by neutralizing the free radical so that it doesn’t have to feed off our healthy skin cells.” Green tea intake helps a lot in generating healthy skin cells and slows down the ageing process as it has antioxidants known as catechins.