The support and protection for the body is the connective tissue, which makes up half of the body weight. Connective tissue determines the physical properties of all structures and organs. Connective tissue itself includes intercellular substance, which is a matrix that fills the space between cells and organs. The composition of the connective tissue includes elastin, structural glycoproteins and proteoglycans, as well as the substance collagen, which has the form of protein filaments. The substance collagen makes up 30% of the total body protein mass, with 40% of it found in the skin. What role does collagen play in the body?
Skin tone – indicator of youth and beauty - depends on the substance collagen
Two important proteins are responsible for skin tone: collagen and elastin. They form the basis of the middle layer of the skin (dermis), providing strength, density and elasticity of the tissue.
What is substance collagen? Skin cells – fibroblasts – capable of producing collagen. But it must be remembered that collagen fibers are subject to wear and tear and can be quickly destroyed by adverse factors. With age, the ability of cells to repair damaged collagen decreases, and what it depends on, find out further on estet-portal.com. . Collagen is especially important for the face. The process of its destruction leads to formation of wrinkles, changes in the oval of the face and a decrease in skin tone. This is especially evident in the area of the eyes ("crow's feet") and lips ("purse-string wrinkles").
Read also: "Cosmetology basics: what do we know about fibroblasts"
The internal structure of the collagen fiber is determined by the fibrillar protein collagen. The protein is synthesized on the ribosomes of the granular endoplasmic reticulum of fibroblasts. There are about 20 types of collagen substance, which differ in molecular organization and tissue affiliation. Thus, 5 main types of collagen substance have been identified.
Main types of collagen substance:
- Collagen type 1 – found in the connective tissue of the skin, bones, tendons, cornea, arterial wall and sclera;
- Collagen type 2 – is part of the fibrous and hyaline cartilages, the cornea of the eye and the vitreous body;
- Collagen type 3 – is part of the dermis of the skin of the fetus, is present in the reticular fibers and in the walls of large vessels;
- Collagen type 4 – located in the lens capsule, in the basement membranes;
- Collagen 5 type – is found in the amnion, chorion, perimysium and skin.
The role of the collagen substance in protecting skin cells
It is known that human skin consists of three layers: epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. The dermis plays the role of a framework that provides elasticity, strength and extensibility to the skin. It can be compared to an unusual mattress, both water and spring, where collagen and elastin fibers play the role of springs, the entire space between which is filled with a water gel consisting of mucopolysaccharides (glycosaminoglycans).
The elasticity of the skin determines the state of collagen, elastin, as well as the quality of GAGs (glycosaminoglycans).
The molecules of collagen substance really resemble springs: the protein threads in them are twisted like spirals.
What hormone influences the change in the amount of collagen substance with age?
In young skin, collagen fibers and glycosaminoglycan gel are constantly renewed. But with age, renewal is slower, and damaged fibers are not removed, but accumulate in the skin, giving it a tired, lethargic and dehydrated look.
An important role in the formation of collagen substance is played by sex hormones, especially testosterone and estrogen.
The male body breaks up with testosterone gradually, therefore, the skin of men remains in good shape for longer, unlike women's. In women, the situation is more complicated: a drop in estrogen levels can occur abruptly - with the onset of perimenopause and menopause, which immediately affects the amount of collagen substance and, accordingly, appearance and mood.
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