3 Common Factors That Damage Your Collagen Production

It's the unfortunate truth: UV rays damage your skin1 and contribute to visible skin aging. Hence, why you see such a difference in the complexion of SPF-wearers versus SPF-avoiders, namely sun spots and drooping or sagging skin. 

That latter sign of sun damage can actually be attributed to collagen damage, as UV rays wreak havoc on this skin-tightening compound. However, the sun isn't your collagen's only opponent.

There's a long list of reasons why smoking isn't great for you, including the appearance and health of your skin.

In fact, smoking is the "big one" for collagen damage, board-certified dermatologist Gary Goldenberg, M.D., previously told mbg. 

"Smoking decreases the amount of oxygen delivered to tissues. Therefore, tissue cannot regenerate and is more likely to become damaged and die," he explains. 

Next up: inflammation-triggering diets. See, what you eat has a direct impact on how your skin looks and feels, mainly due to inflammation. 

Inflammatory diets, which often include eating plans that are high in sugar, simple carbohydrates, and processed meats, activate the immune system and promote inflammation throughout the body, says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., which can wreak havoc on your natural collagen production.

So, say, if you've ever wondered why your collagen supplement doesn't work, take a look at the "other" ingredients on the label: Sugar-laden collagen supplements may do way more harm than good.

This one may not be that surprising, but it sure is often overlooked: Stress can age your skin. Research shows that stress can be pro-inflammatory2 and, again, that can lower your ability to naturally produce collagen. 

Stress also causes an increase in hormones like cortisol, which research has found can decrease the production of collagen.