Do collagen supplements work to reduce signs of skin ageing?

When it comes to collagen – how do you get yours?

There are parties where people even have shots of anti -aging reinforcement, usually follows a heavy tequila – the second is probably not recommended to seek skin like a young, peach.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and forms a scaffold that helps to maintain the structural integrity of our skin and muscle -infidelity system.

In short, collagen helps to keep our skin full, our joints and bones strong and our hair and nails are healthy.

It has become so valuable that some dermatologists propose “banking” – they invest early in our supply of collagen, so there’s too much when it is inevitable.

Yes. Inevitable. Aging. Inner check.

Our collagen supply starts to decrease naturally, When we reach the end of the 20s in the middle of the 20s, an average of 1% per year.

The velocity of the decline depends on factors such as sun exposure, diet and stress levels.

But is there a reliable science to say that supplements can renew our diminishing supply? And if so, what is the best way to enter our bodies?

Kimberlie Smith began to take collagen about six months ago. The 33 -year -old child began to use after a “traumatic year” in 2024. His son was born early, and as a result of stress, his mother’s mother says that his skin received a “big hit”.

In a tropical flavored gel he drinks every day, he uses sea collagen, which is derived from fish.

Kimberlie said, “My skin looks absolutely brighter and clear, my hair has never been better since I started to buy plus.” “As a mother deprived of sleep, it certainly made a difference.”

Emma Wedgeworth, a consultant dermatologist based on Harley Street in London, while there are some Research has an effect to propose to buy collagenHe remains skeptical.

He says that the idea that the collage is not the easiest tasks, but that he can make his journey in our bodies and go down to the exact place.

For a start, it must pass through the intestine without being completely broken. Collagen is a large molecule, so companies began to disintegrate into smaller parts – collagen peptides – to smaller pieces known as hydrolyized collagen.

Although this collagen – now smaller – has the chance to enter the intestinal wall and the bloodstream, it still has a long way.

It should reach the skin to have an effect and can easily shift to support other organs in the body. This is a valuable resource.

“There is very little reliable evidence in this regard, but since our skin is the ‘fastest turnover’ organ of the cells, these collagen peptides have a theory that may be higher likely to use on other organs.”

And then you can get an increase in collagen in skin cells.

They all look very complex – and uncertain. It can let you ask you: How about using collagen creams? They go directly to the skin, so they will not have a chance to reach where they should be more?

“No,” Mrs. Wedgworth’s simple answer. “Collagen will only sit on the outer layer of your skin, will not reach the dermis – this middle layer.”

There are three different collagen supplements: sea (fish), cattle (cows) and vegan. From three, if you take collagen from the oral road, the dermatologist recommends Marine.

The reason for this is that it contains more type 1 collagen – the most common of the five types and the structure of our bones, tendons and connective tissues that give structure to our skin cells.

Wedgeworth, vegan collagen is the least effective. Collagen is an animal -derived protein, so these products are not actually made of collagen, and instead contains a number of amino acids and vitamins.

“I fell into the trap,” says Ali Watson points to me with cattle collagen powder packages in his kitchen. “Yes, it’s for me and it’s good, it’s for Tommy.”

I look at the thin brown greyhound with me, the gray mustache turns around his nose. It lifts an eyebrow as approval.

With his own acceptance, Ali, a neuroanaestyist who knows a lot about dosing, is now he started to take collagen, he can’t stop – and he can’t stop giving him to his dog.

“I started to take it as a dust a few years ago. At first, it wasn’t about my appearance, it was about my joints, I wanted to protect them because I lift too much weight.”

Ali is not sure he noticed any difference with his joints, but he noticed a change elsewhere.

“My skin feels more shining, my hair feels thicker, and my nails feel stronger.”

I’m looking at Tommy, who is more interested in the dog bowl than any dust supplement.

“I know, it looks crazy,” says Ali, “but Tommy looked a little slower, a little less enthusiastic just before the summer, so I thought I would try him in the dog collagen.

“I wanted to see if he could help his joints – now he gets older. And a little brighter, but it could only be cool down again and that he is less hot and drowsiness.”

Ali was not convinced that Ekin made a difference, and he costs £ 60 per month to get Tommy and Tommy’s daily doses.

But now he says he can’t leave both of them. “Something about these supplements,” says the 46-year-old, “Life has ups and downs. You can get them when you’re below, then you can get things again-and there may be little interest with supplements.

“But at that stage, you can’t take the risk of stopping.”

Dermatologist Professor Faisal Ali, Advisor to Mid Cheshire NHS Trust, says that one of the problems faced by consumers and clinicians is contradictory information and contradictory interest in reinforcement research.

Recent, relatively small work Research financed by the health industry work without the same conflict of interest.

Studies financed by the industry suggest that collagen supplements significantly improve skin hydration, flexibility and wrinkles, while those who did not receive funds from pharmaceutical companies did not have any effect on the skin.

Prof Ali says that the studies financed by the industry are not “bad by nature”, but that it is only a variety of paintings. However, he says there is a solid lack of evidence to suggest that oral and topical collagen has a significant impact.

If I could turn down time in my 20s and start drinking and start the banking collagen, would I have a smoother, younger skin? Probably he says no. It doesn’t stay in the body for so long – we don’t have a collagen store cabinet that we can immerse.

However, Prof Ali believes that we can potentially increase the collagen output using special techniques and maintain flexibility in our skin. Like laser collagen stimulation and microt.

This means using a series of small, expert needles or laser to make small wounds on our skin, which triggers the formation of new collagen by encouraging a repair process.

But that’s not cheap. You may be paying £ 300 for a session. Is there a less cost alternative?

“The best thing you can do for your skin,” says Prof Ali, “Good sunscreen. We know that the sun has a great effect on our skin aging.

“Sunscreen, healthy diet and smoking stop.

“These will have a much greater effect than collagen supplements.”