Collagen supplements are on the rise. Beauty-conscious individuals are mixing collagen powder into their morning coffee, tea, or smoothie to promote the health of their skin, joints, and hair. Despite its increase in use, a lot of people are unaware of what collagen is or how it functions in the body.
In this article, we will learn about what collagen is, what it does in the body, and how it can improve your skin.
Introduction to collagen:
Collagen is the most prevalent protein in the body. It makes up around 30% of the protein in your body. It is the main component of the skin, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues. Collagen is also present in the gut lining, blood vessels, and organs, thus being the most important for our overall well-being.
There are a total of 28 types of collagen, with type 1 accounting for 90% of the whole body. It is composed of amino acids: glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. These amino acids are combined in three strands that make a triple-helix structure characteristic of collagen. It provides structural support to tissues and plays a key role in cellular processes:
- Aiding in the formation of fibroblasts in your dermis, or middle layer of skin, which promotes the growth of new cells.
- It contributes to the regeneration of dead skin cells.
- Giving organs a protective coating.
- Giving your skin suppleness, strength, and structure.
- Aiding the coagulation of your blood.
What happens to collagen as we age?
Your body naturally produces less collagen as you get older. Collagen also gets more freely disseminated and fragmented. These changes bring out the typical symptoms of aging, such as wrinkles and dry, drooping skin. As people age, their skeletal system’s collagen also loses some of its integrity, which weakens their bones.
Although aging-related collagen loss and degradation are unavoidable, several dietary and lifestyle choices might hasten this process.
- Cigarette smoking, for instance, is known to break down collagen, resulting in wrinkles, aging, and a loss of skin suppleness.
- Excessive drinking has been linked to accelerated skin aging by impairing skin healing processes and decreasing collagen formation.
- Eating a lot of added sugar and highly processed meals can cause glycation, which lowers collagen turnover. This disrupts collagen’s capacity to interact with surrounding proteins and cells, resulting in accelerated aging.
- Excessive sun exposure also impairs the formation of collagen. Wearing sunscreen and limiting excessive sun exposure can help prevent indications of premature skin aging.
Identifying the decrease in collagen levels:
Collagen levels cannot be measured in a test, but some signs can confirm if your body is losing it. Some of the common symptoms are:
- Skin that is drooping, wrinkled, or crepe.
- Hallowing in and around your face and eyes.
- Muscle pains, weakness, and shrinkage.
- Less flexibility and more rigid ligaments and tendons.
- Osteoarthritis or joint discomfort brought on by worn-out cartilage.
- Loss of movement as a result of tight or damaged joints.
- Stomach issues are brought on by the lining of your digestive tract being thinner.
- Issues with blood flow.
How to improve skin collagen loss?
As we age, the collagen levels in our bodies decline. Although this natural cause of collagen loss is unavoidable, we can take some measures to slow down the signs of aging and improve skin collagen loss.
1. Diet and exercise:
Collagen is present in all animals and is concentrated in some parts of animals, such as skin and joints. Here are some foods high in collagen:
- Animal ligaments, bones, and skin, including pig knuckle and chicken skin
- Certain marine items, such as fish skin and jellyfish,
- Bone broth is created from animal components like bones and ligaments.
Since your body naturally makes collagen from amino acids, you may encourage the creation of collagen by making sure you’re getting enough protein from foods like fish, chicken, beans, and eggs.
In addition to amino acids, your body needs additional dietary components for collagen maintenance and synthesis. For instance, low or insufficient amounts of vitamin C might result in decreased collagen formation since it is essential for collagen synthesis. Therefore, consuming vitamin C-rich foods can also help support collagen production in the body. Eating a diet rich in healthy plant chemicals may also help enhance skin health by lowering inflammation and preventing collagen deterioration.
2. Medicine and cosmetics:
Your body is capable of breaking down, converting, and reabsorbing collagen. It has several applications in both cosmetics and medicine. Medicinal collagen is derived from sheep, pigs, cows, and humans. Some applications are:
- Skin fillers: Injections of collagen can be used to fill in wrinkles and other superficial skin indentations.
- Wound dressing: By drawing new skin cells to the area, collagen promotes wound healing.
- Periodontics: Collagen serves as a barrier to stop rapidly growing gum tissue from forming a wound around the tooth.
- Prosthetics for the arteries: Collagen tissue grafts from donors are utilized to create blood vessel prostheses, repair arteries, and aid in peripheral nerve regeneration.
3. Collagen supplements and skincare products:
Collagen supplements are intended to promote skin health from the inside out. Their forms are usually readily absorbed by the body, such as hydrolysed collagen peptides. Their common types are:
- Hydrolysed collagen: Used for skin benefits
- Undenatured type II collagen: Primarily used for joint health
- Vegan alternatives: These are used to avoid animal products.
By offering topical advantages, collagen skincare products seek to improve skin health. These skincare products consist of collagen peptides or substances that promote the formation of collagen. Common skincare products are:
- Moisturizer
- Serum
- Masks
To get the best possible skin health, it might be helpful to use skincare products with collagen supplements. While skincare products give external advantages, supplements offer internal assistance. When combined, these methods can improve hydration, increase elasticity, and lessen aging symptoms more successfully than when used alone.
4. Lifestyle changes:
Wear sunscreen every day to slow down the signs of aging skin. Ultraviolet (UV) light harms the collagen in the skin. Apply sunscreens with an SPF of 30 or above to avoid any sun damage. When heading outside, wear lightweight long-sleeved shirts and slacks, a wide-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses. For further protection, look for clothes labelled with the UV protection factor. Also, steer clear of tanning beds.
Consume a diet that is well-balanced, such as the Mediterranean diet, which is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and poultry and low in meats, fish, poultry, dairy, and eggs.
Benefits of collagen for skin health:
Increasing collagen for skin through diet and supplements has various benefits:
- Increased hydration: There are certain hydration structures seen in collagen peptides. As a result, your skin becomes more moisturized and receives the necessary hydration.
- Increased skin elasticity: Collagen is a key protein that maintains the body’s connective tissues, which keeps the skin elastic. Your skin would not seem drenched and worn in this manner.
- Anti-aging benefits: As you become older, your body makes less collagen. This reduction in collagen synthesis causes wrinkles and dry skin. Therefore, the likelihood of developing wrinkles decreases with the amount of collagen in your skin. Keep in mind that collagen is a traditional and scientifically proven anti-aging substance.
- Increased blood flow: Collagen is one essential element of blood arteries. It can guarantee proper blood flow to the skin through strong, flexible vessels, which is ultimately necessary for your skin to retain its healthy characteristics.
- Helps heal wounds: Collagen helps with wound healing. Collagen essentially has the ability to halt bleeding, draw skin cells to the area of the wound, and promote the growth of new blood vessels. Additionally, collagen may be applied to wounds without hurting the skin or encouraging the growth of germs.
Conclusion:
Collagen is essential for skin to remain healthy and youthful-looking. You may improve your skin’s moisture, elasticity, and firmness by being aware of the advantages of collagen and adding it to your skincare routine through topical treatments, supplements, or lifestyle modifications. You don’t have to hide your wrinkles and dark circles when you go out, thanks to collagen. Give your skin the proper amount of moisture and complexity. It’s time for you to feel confident again about your skin!
