Who doesn’t desire smooth, youthful skin? However, ageing is inevitable, and so are the wrinkles that come with it. Wrinkles are one of the most noticeable signs of ageing. Over the years, there has been an influx of a variety of skincare products, all claiming to help reduce wrinkles and fine lines. One of the most popular of these is collagen. Taking a collagen supplement is commonly suggested as a way to boost your skin health and get rid of signs of ageing. But does it really work? Read on to learn more about the effectiveness of taking collagen for wrinkles.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is the most prevalent protein in the body, serving as a key element of connective tissues found in various body parts such as ligaments, skin, tendons, and muscles. It plays vital roles, including providing structure to the skin and reinforcing bones. While collagen can be obtained from foods like bone broth and pork skin, collagen supplements have gained popularity. These supplements have become especially popular in the skincare industry and are touted for their ability to eliminate signs of ageing, such as wrinkles.
Effect of Collagen on Wrinkles
There is a strong relationship between collagen and wrinkles. Collagen comprises long chains of amino acids, with glycine (present in every chain) along with two other types of amino acids, typically lysine, proline, or hydroxyproline. These chains form a tightly-wound, stable structure that facilitates the adhesion of skin cells to each other, thereby maintaining firmness and elasticity in the skin. However, collagen levels decrease as you age, a process accelerated by factors such as UV exposure, smoking, or a poor diet. As the amino acid chains of collagen begin to degrade, the skin’s structure becomes less stable, leading to sagging and the formation of wrinkles.
Replenishing collagen in the body can assist in preserving strong and smooth skin, even as natural collagen levels decline with age. Individuals may opt to take collagen supplements to compensate for lost collagen and promote healthy skin ageing. Collagen supplements essentially work by boosting the body’s production of collagen. Additionally, topical application helps hydrate the skin and oral intake of collagen supplements can enhance the production of amino acids and other proteins that contribute to skin structure, thereby imbuing collagen with its anti-ageing properties, reducing and preventing wrinkles.
How to Take Collagen for Skin?
Our bodies naturally synthesise collagen using the amino acids found in collagen-rich or protein-rich foods such as:
- Bone broth
- Gelatin
- Connective tissues of animals
- Pork skin
- Chicken skin
- Fish
- Beef
Collagen is also commonly available as a supplement, including collagen peptide powders, liquids, or capsules. Collagen drinks and supplements often contain collagen derived from various sources such as cattle, pigs, fish, or chicken. Typically, they contain peptides, which are short chains of amino acids crucial for forming vital proteins in the body, such as collagen and keratin.
Supplemental collagen for skin is available in two forms. You can acquire oral collagen, which is hydrolysed collagen broken down into smaller peptides for easier digestion by the body. It is available in capsule or powder form. Alternatively, you can opt for topical collagen in the form of an ointment or cream.
Other Health Benefits of Collagen
In addition to the benefits of collagen for face wrinkles, this substance also has a variety of other advantages for your health, such as:
- Improves Joint Health: Studies suggest that supplemental collagen may accumulate in cartilage and stimulate tissue to produce collagen, resulting in reduced inflammation, enhanced joint support, and decreased pain.
- Enhances Bone Health: Collagen constitutes a significant portion of your bones. As you age, collagen degradation occurs, leading to a decrease in bone mass. This can contribute to conditions like osteoporosis, characterised by low bone density and an increased risk of fractures. Collagen supplements may help prevent bone breakdown associated with osteoporosis.
- Boosts Muscle Strength: Collagen is a crucial component of structures supporting skeletal muscle, being the most abundant protein in the body. Intake of collagen can aid in increasing and strengthening structural support thereby improving muscle function.
- Promotes Heart Health: Collagen provides structure to your arteries, which are responsible for transporting blood from your heart throughout your body. Insufficient collagen may result in less flexible and elastic arteries, potentially leading to atherosclerosis, a condition characterised by the narrowing of arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Collagen supplements may help mitigate the risk of heart-related conditions.
Conclusion
Collagen serves as a key component in the skin’s structure, making it a valuable supplement for enhancing skin health and diminishing wrinkles and other signs of ageing. Collagen supplements are also thought to offer additional health benefits, such as fortifying bones, boosting muscle function, and enhancing joint health. Consulting a dermatologist is advisable to determine the best collagen for wrinkles tailored to your specific needs.
