Do Collagen Supplements Really Help Our Skin?

From the age of 25 we lose collagen. This is the start of wrinkles and other lines.

We lose a lot of collagen as we grow older. As technology advances, we’ve learned that high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can increase collagen production in the SMAS (fascia) that holds our skin onto our muscle. It works on any body or face area with one treatment lasting up to around 12 months.

We (mostly women) complement this treatment with topical creams and supplements in liquid or tablets. Many feel that the collagen supplements really help their skin but researchers are actually still studying the effectiveness of collagen as a supplement.

Like all supplements, collagen supplements are broken down in the stomach before they’re absorbed into our bloodstream, so it is still unclear if our bodies actually benefit from collagen supplements or not.

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant of the animal proteins. It is widely distributed in soft and hard connective tissues and makes up one third of the total protein in the body and three quarters of the dry weight of our skin. Initially, it was thought that only fibroblasts make collagen, but we now know that there are different cell types that make collagen.

Collagen fibrils form a highly organized three-dimensional scaffold that surrounds cells and maintains the structure and of the extracellular matrix. Biochemically, collagen consists of repeating sequences of three amino acids. Every third amino acid is glycine. Collagen is not new and has been found in the fossilised remains of a 68-million-year-old T-rex.

Common sources of collagen include:

• bovine skin and tendons,

• porcine skin, intestine and bladder mucosa

• rat tail

• marine collagen

Collagen can even be synthesized by yeast, bacteria and insects. At least 28 different types of collagen have been identified. However 80-90% of collagen in the body consists of types I, II and III.

• Type I is used to re-enforce bone and support healthy skin.

• Type II is the major collagen in cartilage

• Type III is found in reticulate matter in intestinal wall, muscles and blood vessels. It can also co-exist with Type I collagen.

• Type IV is part of the basement membrane and

• Type V is found in the hair and placenta.

Why do we lose collagen?

Our collagen reduces as we grow older and, depending on your diet and exercise as well as individual physiology, our body can produce lower quality collagen. Collagen loss happens at a different rate for everyone with age as the major factor. Our environment, lifestyle choices (eating sugars and lying in the sun) and our genetics also affects it. Genetic syndromes like hypermobility syndromes can play a role too.

Can You Get More Collagen Naturally?

Diet plays a large role in collagen production. Look for foods that contain amino acids. This includes: Beef, chicken, fish, eggs and dairy foods.

Also add in foods high in vitamins and minerals that act as precursors for collagen production and boost the impact of the amino acids such as:

• Fruits and veg with vit C like citrus, berries and peppers.

• Seeds and nuts and oyster than offer zinc.

• Leafy greens and dark chocolate for the copper.

• Liver, kidneys, and other offal as well as gelatin (not sweet jelly) have a high collagen count.

What kind of Collagen should you be using?

1. Skin creams and serums

Collagen molecules are too big to be absorbed into the body through the skin. Collagen amino acids can penetrate the skin and get to the deeper layers of the dermis.

Research has shown that continuous topical application of creams and serums and oils will, over time, improve lines and wrinkles but mostly only for a short term i.e. what you apply in the morning is mostly gone within a few hours.

Skincare manufacturers offer creams containing collagen as a unique selling point but for a topical cream to have a chance of getting through the skin it must have a hydrolyzed collaged or collagen peptides. The cream then needs to get through to the dermis to make any difference which is difficult.

2. Collagen Powder

Oral collagen powders is able to be absorbed in the bloodstream and will affect the underlying layers first.

3. Tablets

Tablets are most popular for a quick option but it doesn’t mean the contents are hitting the spot or even making a difference. Overall research shows little definite results that support collagen tablets and drinks having definitely increased collagen in the body or just in the skin.

In Conclusion

There is little evidence that ingesting collagen as a drink, tablet, capsule or powder will increase the collagen in your skin, joints, cartilage or other areas in the body.

Healthline say

“Though current research is promising, there is minimal evidence supporting collagen supplements for bone health, muscle building, and other benefits.

The scientific evidence for using collagen supplements to reduce wrinkles and relieving joint pain associated with osteoarthritis is promising, but higher quality studies are needed.

Collagen supplements have not been studied much for muscle building, improving bone density, and other benefits. Thus, more research is needed in all areas.”

The good news is that you can boost the body’s creation of collagen by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet or through the use of high intensity focused ultrasound. Find out more about HIFU here.