COLLAGEN 101

There are currently 27 known types of collagen in the body. However estheticians only need to concern themselves with Collagens I, III, IV and VII – that make up the papillary and reticular dermis the Extracellular Matrix (ECM). Collagens responsible for keeping skin flexible and firm. One educator I studied under suggested we should think of them as coiled springs on a mattress.

Types of Collagens:

Collagen I – found in the Papillary Dermis

Collagen III – found in the Papillary Dermis

Collagen IV – in the Epidermal-Dermal Junction

Collagen VII – in the Epidermal-Dermal Junction

Elastin – fibers found in abundance in the Reticular Dermis; gives skin its tensile strength and definition.

There are several factors involved in collagen synthesis. Take a look at this video for a quick lesson. NOTE: This video is intended for professional skin therapists so it might be boring to laypeople.

Watch Video on YouTube Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORVp9v6qous