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What are the benefits of collagen, and can it prevent skin ageing?
Known for its ability both to prevent and to repair the signs of skin ageing, collagen features as the star ingredient in many anti-ageing beauty products. Our bodies naturally produce this protein, and following a nutrient-rich diet can help to ensure that our collagen stores are healthy. Are there any benefits of collagen absorbed via supplements and creams though, and which form works best?
Is collagen good for you?
In the beauty industry, there's plenty of buzz around collagen. You can find collagen listed as the star ingredient in many anti-ageing facial lotions as well as collagen supplements in the form of tablets, powder or drinkable liquid options.
These products claim that absorbing collagen through supplements and collagen creams can be of great benefit, significantly contributing to skin health and beauty, in a similar way to the collagen our bodies naturally produce. How does our natural source of collagen play a key role in skin health and appearance, and what are the other health benefits of collagen?
"Collagen is a key structural protein that is naturally produced by our bodies," says Derrick Phillips, consultant dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic. "It acts as scaffolding, providing support to the skin, ligaments, muscles and bones."
What does collagen do?
Mehmet Göker, a dermatology specialist at Vera Clinic, explains how collagen plays a key role in skin health: "Collagen helps skin cells adhere to one another and also gives the skin strength and elasticity. Collagen production decreases with age, which contributes to skin wrinkling and sagging. Collagen is what keeps our skin from sagging, giving us that plump, youthful look."
As we get older, our bodies produce less collagen. Existing collagen fibres are also prone to damage, meaning they lose their strength and thickness which results in skin ageing. According to Phillips, this process can be "accelerated by UV exposure, smoking and pollution leading to fine lines, wrinkles, and dry skin".
What are the benefits of collagen?
While in the beauty industry collagen is valued for its ability to make skin appear more youthful, the health benefits of collagen extend much further.
Collagen is also important for:
- Healthy bones - collagen contributes to the formation of strong bones that are less prone to breakage, plays a role in bone tissue regeneration, and prevents bone loss.
- Healthy joints - lower collagen production can increase the rate of cartilage and joint degradation and has been linked with osteoarthritis.
- Muscles mass - collagen is also an important component of muscle mass.
- Heart health - collagen also provides structure to the blood vessels (arteries) that carry blood from the heart to the rest of your body. Lower collagen levels may cause arteries to become less flexible which can lead to heart problems.
What does collagen do for skin?
In Great Britain, the skincare industry is worth over two billion pounds. The leading category in this market is cosmetic facial care, worth around one billion pounds. These are the products people buy to improve their appearance, rather than to address a medical problem, and this popular category includes collagen creams and collagen supplements to fight the appearance of skin ageing.
Although these beauty products claim to have a significant impact on skin ageing, the vast majority of collagen comes through our diets. Collagen is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Eating a protein-rich diet means we are consuming enough amino acids for our bodies to produce a good amount of collagen naturally.
"Whether or not you use collagen beauty products, you must eat a healthy diet that includes all the amino acids for your body to make its own supply of collagen," advises Göker.
Do collagen creams work?
Moisturising collagen creams are applied to the skin. Therefore, the ability of these lotions to reduce visible wrinkles, dryness, and skin sagging depends on how well collagen can be absorbed through the skin.
"Collagen-containing beauty creams hydrate the skin but are unable to provide the same structural support as naturally produced collagen," says Phillips. "This is because collagen is a large molecule that cannot penetrate into the dermis (inner layer) of the skin where it exerts the supportive effect. In general, these creams will moisturise but are less likely to have an impact on wrinkles and fine white lines."
Emma Hughes, consultant doctor and Pura Collagen expert, agrees that collagen creams are not the most effective source of collagen: "The skin's number one job is to keep things out of the body, so when you're attempting full-scale change, you need to alter that state of skin, either from 'tweakments' like resurfacing or injectables, or from within by collagen-boosting supplementation. I find in my practice that a combination of both is effective."
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Are collagen supplements safe?
There has been more research into the benefits of collagen supplements. One 2019 review of 11 studies involving 805 participants found that oral collagen supplements produced promising results for skin ageing, increasing skin elasticity, hydration, and skin thickness which can reduce fine lines. The review also concluded that collagen supplements are generally safe as no side effects were reported.
Hughes describes how collagen supplements work: "Due to the body's natural 'wind down' of producing collagen effectively as we age, specific collagen supplementation can be very effective at stimulating the fibroblasts (collagen-producing cells).
"Look for collagen blends that are 'clean' (free from fillers, stabilisers and/or sweeteners), that use patent hydrolysed collagen peptides (broken down and therefore easier to digest), and that utilise key supporting ingredients like vitamin C and biotin (these support the body's natural collagen production).
In most studies, the dosages of collagen supplements range from 2.5 grams of collagen per day (g/d) to 10 g/d and were shown to be both safe and effective. Evidence suggests that the amount you choose to take may depend on what other benefits of collagen supplementation you wish to see.
While all appeared to improve skin ageing, the following doses were shown to have the following benefits:
- 2.5 g/d - may benefit skin health, joint health, and improve hydration.
- 5 g/d - may improve bone density.
- 15 g/d - may improve muscle mass.
How to get collagen in your diet
The decision to invest in collagen supplements or skin creams is yours. However, these products should only ever be used in addition to - and not as a replacement to - a healthy diet that enables your body to make its own collagen supply.
"My main advice to increase and absorb more collagen is to focus on your diet," says Göker. "When your body makes collagen, it combines amino acids. These are the nutrients you gain from eating protein-rich foods like beef, chicken, fish, beans, eggs and dairy products.
"This process also requires vitamin C, zinc, and copper. Eating foods rich in vitamin C and amino acids can increase the levels of hyaluronic acid and collagen in the body. Both are important for healthy skin."
Research shows that people following restrictive diets are at risk of decreasing their collagen production and increasing their rate of collagen ageing. Conversely, being overweight is also linked to ageing.
Collagen ageing doesn't just affect your skin's appearance. It concerns your cartilage, heart ventricles, and artery walls: issues with these can lead to a number of serious health problems.
Foods that promote collagen production
- Protein sources (containing amino acids) - includes chicken, beef, fish, pork, eggs, Greek yoghurt, cottage cheese, and beans.
- Vitamin C sources (crucial for collagen synthesis) - includes citrus fruits, strawberries, potatoes, peppers, and broccoli.
- Foods containing gelatin (a protein substance derived from collagen after it's cooked) are usually obtained by boiling animal skin, tendons, ligaments, and/or bones in water.
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Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions.