To stave off premature aging:
633-nm and 830-nm wavelength light therapy for an increase in collagen fibers:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16989189
Topical Retin-A and Tazorac for increased collagen production:
Retin-A, Renova, Avita (drug name tretinoin) and Tazorac (drug name tazarotene), prescribed by your doctor or dermatologist, are still the gold standards among topical prescription products for improving the appearance of sun-damaged (wrinkled and discolored) skin. Tretinoin has the ability to return abnormal skin cell production back to some level of normalcy—think of it as the guru of cell-communicating ingredients. The result in most cases is an improvement in skin's collagen production, which makes skin smoother and offers a modest (but noticeable) decrease in the depth and appearance of wrinkles; Tazarotene is believed to work similarly to tretinoin (Sources: Cutis, February 2005, pages 10-13; Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, July 2004, pages 465-473; and Dermatologic Surgery, June 2004, pages 864-866).
And finally, from the cosmeticscop.com boards:
If anything, the research shows that AHAs can increase collagen production and improve skin structure. The sources are numerous, including Experimental Dermatology (December 2003, Supplement, pages 57-63), which states: "GA [glycolic acid] ... directly accelerates collagen synthesis by fibroblasts.... GA contributes to the recovery of photodamaged skin through various actions, depending on the skin cell type." Cancer Letters (December 2002, pages 125-135) says: "Glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid ... has been commonly used as a cosmetic ingredient since it is known to have photo-protective and anti-inflammatory effects, and anti-oxidant effect in UV-[exposed] skin." Or see the Journal of Dermatology (February 1998, pages 85-89): "the favorable effects of glycolic acid treatment on aging skin were [obtained] by increased cell proliferation in addition to functional activation of fibroblasts [collagen producing cells]." Or see the British Journal of Dermatology (December 1996, pages 867-875), which states "Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) ... normalize [skin cell growth] and increase viable epidermal thickness and dermal glycosaminoglycans content."
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Thanks for this interesting post. A student in Dr. C's T/Th afternoon class mentioned that vitamin C is important for collagen production. I checked my text from BIO 165 - vitamin C plays a big role in changing the chemical structure of lysine, proline, and acting as a reducing agent for iron. Interestingly, there is a high concentration of vitamin C in the eye and in white blood cells. My source doesn't go so far as to state that C definitely protects against free radicals, but does state that it is possible, both in the case of free radicals produced by the sun and also the free radicals produced as a result of immune functions. My info is from a textbook, "Perspectives in Nutrition," 7th edition(2007), by Wardlaw and Hampl.
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