When it comes to collagen – how do you take yours?<\/p>\n
There are parties where people even drink shots of the anti-ageing supplement, often followed by a hefty tequila – though the latter is probably not recommended in the quest for youthful, peachy skin.<\/p>\n
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, and forms the scaffolding that helps maintain the structural integrity of our skin and musculoskeletal system.<\/p>\n
In short, collagen helps to keep our skin plump, our joints and bones strong, and our hair and nails healthy.<\/p>\n
It’s become so treasured that some dermatologists recommend \u00ab\u00a0banking\u00a0\u00bb it – investing in our collagen supply early so we have surplus when the inevitable happens.<\/p>\n
Yes. The inevitable. Ageing. Sigh.<\/p>\n
Our collagen supply naturally starts to decrease, on average around 1% a year, as we reach our mid to late 20s.<\/p>\n
The speed of its decline depends on factors like our exposure to the sun, diet, and stress levels.<\/p>\n
But is there credible science to say supplements can replenish our dwindling supply? And if so, what’s the best way of getting it into our bodies?<\/p>\n
Kimberlie Smith started taking collagen about six months ago. The 33-year-old began using it after a \u00ab\u00a0traumatic year\u00a0\u00bb in 2024. Her son was born prematurely, and as a result of stress, the mother-of-three says her skin took a \u00ab\u00a0huge hit\u00a0\u00bb.<\/p>\n
She uses marine collagen, the type derived from fish, in a tropical-flavoured gel she drinks every day.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0My skin definitely seems to be brighter and clearer, plus my hair has never looked better since I started taking it,\u00a0\u00bb Kimberlie says. \u00ab\u00a0As a sleep deprived mother, it’s definitely made a difference.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
Emma Wedgeworth, a consultant dermatologist based on London’s Harley Street, says while there is some research to suggest taking collagen orally has an impact, she remains sceptical.<\/p>\n
She says the idea that collagen can make its journey through our body – not the easiest of quests – and land exactly where we need it to be is probably wishful thinking.<\/p>\n
For a start, it has to get through the gut without being completely broken down. Collagen is a large molecule so companies have now started to break it up into smaller pieces – collagen peptides – otherwise known as hydrolysed collagen.<\/p>\n
Even though this collagen – now in its smaller form – has a better chance of making its way through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream, it still has a long way to go.<\/p>\n
It has to reach the skin to have an impact, and it could just as easily slip off to support other organs in the body. It’s a valuable resource.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0There is little reliable evidence on this, but there is a theory that because our skin is the organ with the ‘fastest turnover’ of cells, it might be more likely to use these collagen peptides above other organs.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
And that’s when you might get an increase in collagen being made in the skin cells.<\/p>\n
That all seems very complicated – and uncertain. It may leave you asking: what about using collagen creams? They’re going directly onto the skin, so won’t they stand more chance of getting where they need to be?<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0No,\u00a0\u00bb is Ms Wedgworth’s simple answer. \u00ab\u00a0The collagen will just sit on the outer layer of your skin, it won’t reach the dermis – which is the middle layer.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
There are three different types of collagen supplements: marine (from fish), bovine (from cows), and vegan. Of the three, the dermatologist recommends marine if you are taking collagen orally.<\/p>\n
This is because it contains more type 1 collagen – the most common of the five types and the one that gives structure to our skin cells, as well as playing a crucial role in the health of our bones, tendons and connective tissues.<\/p>\n
Vegan collagen is the least effective, says Ms Wedgeworth. Collagen is an animal-derived protein, so these products are not actually made of collagen, and instead contain a range of amino acids and vitamins.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0I’m trapped,\u00a0\u00bb Ali Watson tells me as she points to packs of bovine collagen powder in her kitchen. \u00ab\u00a0Yes, this one is for me and well, this one is for Tommy.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
I look at the slender brown hound next me, grey whiskers poking out round his nose. He lifts an eyebrow in acknowledgement.<\/p>\n
Ali, a neuroanaesthetist who, by her own admission, \u00ab\u00a0knows a lot about dosing\u00a0\u00bb, feels like now she’s started taking collagen, she can’t stop – and nor can she stop giving it to her dog.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0I started taking it as a powder a couple of years ago. At first, it wasn’t about my appearance, it was about my joints, I wanted to protect them because I do a lot of weight-lifting.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
Ali’s not sure that she’s noticed any difference with her joints, but she has noticed a change elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0My skin feels like it glows more, my hair feels thicker and my nails feel stronger.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
I glance down at Tommy, who seems more interested in his dog bowl than any powdered supplements.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0I know, it seems mad,\u00a0\u00bb Ali says, \u00ab\u00a0but Tommy seemed a bit slower, a bit less enthusiastic just before summer, so I thought I would try him on dog collagen.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0I wanted to see if it could help with his joints – he’s getting old now. And he is a bit brighter, but that might just be because the weather’s got colder again and he’s less hot and lethargic.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
Ali’s not completely convinced the supplement is making a difference, and it’s costing her \u00a360 a month to ensure she and Tommy get their daily dose.<\/p>\n
But she says she now can’t stop. \u00ab\u00a0That’s the thing with these supplements,\u00a0\u00bb the 46-year-old says, \u00ab\u00a0life does have its ups and downs. You might take them when you’re on a down, then things pick up again – and it might have very little to do with the supplements.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0But by that stage, you can’t risk stopping.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
Professor Faisal Ali, a consultant dermatologist at Mid Cheshire NHS Trust, says one of the issues consumers and clinicians face is the amount of conflicting information and conflicting interests in supplement research.<\/p>\n
A recent, relatively small, study compared research funded by the wellness industry to studies that did not have the same conflict of interest.<\/p>\n
While industry-funded studies suggested collagen supplements significantly improved skin hydration, elasticity and wrinkles, those that did not receive funding from pharmaceutical companies revealed no effect on skin.<\/p>\n
Prof Ali says industry-funded studies are not \u00ab\u00a0inherently bad\u00a0\u00bb, it’s just such a varied picture. But he says there is a lack of robust evidence to suggest oral and topical collagen have any substantial effect.<\/p>\n
So if I could turn back time and start drinking and banking collagen in my 20s, would I have smoother, more youthful skin now, I ask him? Probably not, he says. It doesn’t stay in the body for that long – we haven’t got a collagen store cupboard that we can just dip into.<\/p>\n
However, Prof Ali believes we can potentially boost collagen output and maintain elasticity in our skin by using special techniques such as laser collagen stimulation and microneedling.<\/p>\n
This means using a number of tiny, specialist needles or a laser to make small wounds to our skin, which then encourage a repair process, triggering new collagen formation.<\/p>\n
But that’s not cheap. You could be paying up to \u00a3300 for one session. Is there a less costly alternative?<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0The best thing you can do for your skin,\u00a0\u00bb Prof Ali says, \u00ab\u00a0is using decent sunblock. We know the sun has a huge impact on ageing our skin.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0Sun cream, healthy diet, and if you smoke, stop.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0These will have a far greater impact than collagen supplements.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When it comes to collagen – how do you take yours? There are parties where people even drink shots of the anti-ageing supplement, often followed by a hefty tequila – though the latter is probably not recommended in the quest for youthful, peachy skin. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, and forms […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-9221","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-uncategorized"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9221"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9221\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}