How does collagen affect skin health?

Collagen is the main protein structure in many connective tissues in the body; it can be found in the skin, tendons, muscles, bones, and cartilage. Collagen provides structural support to tissue and plays a key role in cellular processes.

The skin is exposed to external and internal factors and changes that come with aging. Skin aging is characterized by dehydration, loss of elasticity, and the appearance of wrinkles.

The loss of skin quality with age is accompanied by lesser collagen synthesis and vascularity, leading to less elasticity and wrinkling. With time, the skin goes through regressive changes such as dehydration, loss of elasticity, and the epidermis's thinning.

There are multiple ways to use collagen when it comes to treating the effects of aging and aiding skin health.

Creams can contain collagen and improve hydration and skin firmness. Still, their use strictly on the skin's surface lessens the efficacy.

Injectable fillers, like hyaluronic, stimulate collagen synthesis and allow for quick results by inflating the skin. Still, they can be expensive and accompanied by unwanted consequences like swelling, infections, and bruising. You can find more information about hyaluronic fillers here (link).

Oral collagen supplementation has proved safe and cost-efficient compared to the alternatives. Among the oral collagen supplements, hydrolyzed collagen is the most popular regarding the effects of skin aging. Research suggests that hydrolyzed collagen improves hydration and skin elasticity. Still, studies also show that not all sources of hydrolyzed collagen have the same effects and that further research is needed to better understand the sources and their effects.

Food that naturally promotes collagen synthesis includes bone marrow, fish, chicken, meat, nuts, and eggs.

Smoking and consuming alcohol lowers the natural production of collagen in the body and thus poorly affects skin health, elasticity, wrinkles,g and mechanisms of recovery. Damaging effects can also come from over-explosion to sunlight and a diet rich in predominantly ultra-processed foods, sugar, and refined carbohydrates.

Research suggests that collagen can also treat joint pain and strengthen bone density.

This text is intended for informational purposes only. If you experience any symptoms, it is recommended to seek advice from your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional.

Professional, C. C. M. (2024, May 1). Collagen. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23089-collagen

Pu, S., Huang, Y., Pu, C., Kang, Y., Hoang, K. D., Chen, K., & Chen, C. (2023). Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients, 15(9), 2080. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15092080