High Sugar Diet

Malaysians love their carbs and sugar like nasi lemak, char kway teow and bubble tea. Thus, Malaysia has the highest rate of obesity and overweight among Asian countries. The Malaysian diet relies heavily on carbs and sugar. This increases the rate of glycation, a process where blood sugars attach to proteins to form new molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs damage nearby proteins and can make collagen dry, brittle and weak.

Smoking

Chemicals present in tobacco smoke damage both collagen and elastin (this makes your skin stretchy) in the skin.

Excessive Sun Exposure

This only makes it worse for us because Malaysia is a hot and humid country! If you have wrinkles, that's because excessive UV rays in sunlight damage the collagen in dermis (inner layer of skin) and the skin rebuilds incorrectly.

Autoimmune Disorders

Some autoimmune disorders cause antibodies to target collagen.