Collagen is an incredibly important protein that keeps your tissues and bones together. Specifically for your skin, collagen helps give your skin structure and elasticity, or that famous “bounce.” So, in theory, boosting your skin's collagen levels — or preventing its loss — would help you look younger.
Current research reveals that collagen use could result in a reduction of wrinkles, rejuvenation of skin, and reversal of skin aging [16], which may improve skin hydration and elasticity [17].
Research has shown that oral collagen can improve skin health and reduce skin wrinkles.
Collagen is a huge factor in the skin's elasticity. Boosting your body's collagen production is one way to reduce loose skin.
The loss of collagen with age causes our skin to lose its firmness. There are options that can help rebuild collagen in your face for smoother, younger looking skin. Fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin are all part of the natural aging process, and collagen, or lack of it, is often the culprit.
Several studies have suggested that regular intake of collagen supplements can deliver noticeable improvements on the skin, resulting in a radiant, youthful glow. Skin produces less collagen with age, leading to dry skin and *gasp* wrinkles.
Some research has found that taking daily collagen powder could help make your bones denser, slowing the aging process that makes them brittle and helping your body to produce new bone. Skin elasticity and hydration. Collagen supplements have been shown to improve skin hydration and elasticity for older people.
Taking a collagen supplement will not cause you to gain weight. In fact, it can help support you on your weight loss journey along with proper diet and exercise. Collagen is beneficial to your bones, muscles, hair, skin, and nails. It also helps to improve your heart health.
Some studies show that taking collagen supplements for several months can improve skin elasticity, (i.e., wrinkles and roughness) as well as signs of aging. Others have shown that consuming collagen can increase density in bones weakened with age and can improve joint, back and knee pain.
As such, no matter your goal for using collagen, it will take at least 8 weeks to experience noticeable results ( 6 ). Most studies use a minimum of 8 weeks to assess collagen's effects on skin health and joint pain relief, but other studies use longer periods, such as 12 months, for bone health ( 9 , 14 , 22 ).
Any age can benefit from collagen. But since aging effects manifest later in life, collagen supplementation is advised to begin in the early 20s. You might find that the effects of aging set in more quickly if you lead a strenuous lifestyle.
How can I naturally rebuild collagen? You can naturally support the collagen production process by using topicals such as vitamin C and retinol, collagen peptide supplements, eating a nutrient rich diet, and avoiding habits that damage the collagen (such as poor sleep and sun exposure.)
Human studies are lacking but some randomized controlled trials have found that collagen supplements improve skin elasticity. [3,4] Other trials have found that the supplements can improve joint mobility and decrease joint pain such as with osteoarthritis or in athletes.
Collagen's role in the body
Collagen is a protein that serves as one of the main building blocks for your bones, skin, hair, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. "Collagen is what keeps our skin from sagging, giving us that plump, youthful look," says dermatologist Dr. Ohara Aivaz.
Collagen may help reduce the appearance of gray hair by supporting the healthy structure of the hair follicle (where the pigment that gives hair its color is produced). When collagen creams or gels are applied directly to the scalp, gray hair can appear darker and less dry.
One of the primary amino acids that are found in collagen is glycine. Glycine is known to increase your serotonin levels without simultaneously raising your dopamine levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate mood. Low levels of serotonin can leave you feeling unhappy and depressed.
After daily collagen supplementation for a few weeks, you will typically start to notice a few things: hair growth, skin hydration and skin moisture, improvement in joint health and skin health, lessening of fine lines, and other possible anti-aging improvements.
If you are gaining weight when you take collagen over the long-term, then it is likely because you are getting increases in bone mineral density, more connective tissue around your joints, retaining water or bloating.
No, collagen supplements aren't known to provide significant breast enlargement and you may not go up a cup size, but they will make them look firmer, plumper, and more youthful for a more natural breast enhancement.
Taking collagen may improve the health of your scalp and hair, but there isn't much objective evidence that it will result in hair growth for everyone who takes it. Other potential collagen benefits include improvements in the health of skin, joints and bones.
When you have too much collagen, your skin can stretch, thicken, and harden. It also can cause damage to internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.
Collagen peptides have been safely used in doses up to 10 grams daily for up to 5 months.
Collagen supplements may not be safe for: People with fish, shellfish, or egg allergies (collagen supplements may contain these allergens as ingredients)16. People with a Kosher or Halal diet. People with a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Collagen is essential for giving the skin elasticity. It makes the skin look fuller, plumper and smoother.