Caring for your skin is paramount since it can have a positive impact on various aspects of your life, such as self-confidence and emotional well-being. If you already lead a wholesome lifestyle by maintaining a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, engaging in regular physical activity, adhering to a consistent sleep schedule, and using a dermatologist-recommended skincare routine, you may want to consider incorporating supplements into your routine, particularly if you are over the age of 40.
Although you may already be aware of the beneficial properties of supplements like vitamin C, E, A, and collagen, we sought the advice of physicians, supplement specialists, and nutritionists for two lesser-known choices that are equally advantageous for promoting the health of aging skin, hair, and nails.
Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Jordan Dorn, supplement expert, holistic nutritionist and co-founder of Zuma Nutrition, Lisa Richards, registered nutritionist, health expert and creator of The Candida Diet and Dr. Debra Jaliman, MD, board-certified NYC dermatologist and Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
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2 Surprising Supplements That Can Combat Effects Of Aging For Skin, Hair And Nails
1. L-lysine
L-Lysine is an amino acid that is a primary building block of collagen, Dorn says. He notes that the body requires up to 2-3 grams a day for “optimal collagen synthesis,” an amount that is difficult to obtain from diet alone.
“As important as collagen is, I do not recommend taking a typical collagen supplement,” Dorn says, as most collagen supplements on the market come from animals, which "not only often contain the numerous toxins that industrial agriculture animals are fed," but are also "very difficult" for the body to use.
Collagen is the protein responsible for "supple skin and its elasticity," Jaliman says, and can be taken in supplement form daily while also found in many foods.
Collagen loss begins as young as the age of 21 and by the age of 40, women have lost "between 10-20 percent of their collage and 1% thereafter," Richards explains.
The collagen molecule, in its whole form, is an extremely large molecule that the body cannot effectively break down and utilize, Dorn continues, as he finds it “far more effective to take the specific nutrients,” like l-lysine, that allow your body to generate its own collagen naturally, “as it always has.”
2. L-Proline
L-Proline is another amino acid that is also an essential component of collagen and the elastin fibers that support connective tissue, Dorn says. “L-Proline works in concert with L-Lysine to synthesize collagen, and collagen synthesis requires 1000mg of proline, which like L-Lysine, can be a difficult amount to obtain from diet.” As you’re probably already aware, collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, accounting for nearly one-third of its protein composition.
Collagen, Dorn adds, gives skin the ability to move, stretch and rebound into shape, and this is known as skin elasticity. “Collagen is not just in the skin, but in our glands, organs, bones, heart valves, brain, liver and lungs as well,” Dorn says.
Unfortunately, he continues, after the age of 30, “collagen levels in the body drop 1-2 percent each year, and by age 45 the average person has already lost up to 30%,” leading to wrinkles and a loss of elasticity. Jaliman adds that collagen consumption through supplementation like L-proline can "increase elasticity and help your body's skin repair process, thus encouraging your body to form new collagen."
The Bottom Line
With that said, taking supplements like L-Proline and L-lysine help you “take the precursors and building blocks that allow your body to synthesize its own collagen,” Dorn stresses, so you can “naturally produce collagen daily and your skin health will improve significantly because of it,” taking on a more tone and firm appearance. The more you know!
