What is collagen?
Collagen is a protein that accounts for around 25% to 35% of the proteins in the human body. It is critical for cell viability, scar formation, disease development, and recovery. There are 28 different forms of collagen, with type I collagen accounting for 90% of all collagen in the human body. In one study, collagen was utilized as a carrier to transmit fibroblast growth factor (FGF). Furthermore, it was able to produce an additive impact, resulting in faster chronic wound closure. Collagen is present in tendons, connective tissue, cartilage, ligaments, skin, bones, blood vessels, muscles, and the gastrointestinal tract.
What is the structure of collagen?
Under a microscope, collagen cells appear as long, ropey threads. Collagen is mostly made of the amino acids proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline. Three collagen polypeptide chains intertwine to produce collagen tissue. These chains contain about 1050 amino acids, generating a collagen molecule with a tight triple helix shape. Water plays an important role in this molecular action, as collagen molecules aggregate to create an insoluble collagen fibril. Collagen fibers unite to form collagen tissue.
What’s the importance of collagen for the skin?
The skin is the largest organ in the human body and serves an important role in protecting against foreign invasion and regulating body temperature. Collagen is essential for maintaining youthful skin around the face. It promotes strength, elasticity, and moisture, resulting in a visibly youthful complexion.
How does the skin lose collagen?
Natural aging causes a steady loss of function in all organs and tissues, including the skin (the body’s biggest organ). Children and teenagers receive a constant supply of new collagen, which keeps their skin beautiful and healthy. However, as a person reaches their twenties, they begin to lose collagen at a rate of 1% each year, leading to skin thinning. Each layer—the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis—loses collagen, softness, and protection. Aging causes wrinkles and expression lines on the face, particularly in the forehead, frown, rictus, and around the eyes.
What are the factors that play a role in collagen loss?
Age is not the only factor influencing collagen loss. Overexposure to the sun, smoking, environmental toxins, and certain lifestyle habits can all contribute to our body’s delayed production of this vital protein.
Furthermore, eating a diet high in added sugar and ultra-processed foods can contribute to premature aging by promoting glycation, a process that lowers collagen turnover and impairs collagen’s capacity to interact with surrounding cells and proteins. Vitamin C is required for collagen synthesis; hence, low vitamin C levels can affect collagen production.
How can we get collagen back?
There are ways to combat aging and replenish collagen levels in the skin, resulting in healthier, more vibrant, and younger-looking skin. Many people who want to improve the health of their skin, joints, and hair take collagen supplements every day or mix collagen powder into their morning coffee, tea, or smoothie.
Many cosmetic formulations contain collagen as a significant ingredient. Collagen supplements and face creams are popular both orally and topically. Collagen face masks enable this skin-boosting protein to enter deep into the pores of the skin.
Different types of collagen face masks
Collagen face masks are available in a variety of forms, each designed for a certain skin type. Sheet masks are pre-soaked in collagen-infused serums and are incredibly simple to use. Collagen gel masks are intended for delicate skin and often provide cooling and soothing benefits. Cream masks with a fuller texture work best for dry skin.
Origin of Collagen for all these products
Collagen can be derived from various sources, with bovine and porcine by-products being the most common in an industrial setting. These sources are associated with the possibility of zoonotic disease transmission, such as TSE (transmissible spongiform encephalopathy), BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy), and FMD (foot and mouth disease), as well as religious restraints. Other sources, such as marine collagen, are emerging as viable alternatives to their mammalian counterparts. Several animals, including marine sponges, jellyfish, squid, and fish, have been used to harvest marine collagen.
Is it possible to get collagen from all these products?
Questions persist about collagen’s bioavailability when supplied as a topical formulation, as well as its capacity to penetrate the epidermis’ multilayer structure and provide skin rejuvenation effects. Collagen forms a large and complex molecule that cannot penetrate the skin from the outside. Although collagen-containing creams may hydrate the skin, they will not increase collagen production. Oral supplements are another popular option, but stomach acid breaks down the majority of what we eat, and little enters the bloodstream.
A study by Janssens‐Böcker, C., Wiesweg, K., & Doberenz, C. (2024) on collagen sheet mask consisting of >92% native bovine collagen showed that it had various skin benefits, including increased hydration, reduced erythema, wrinkle reduction, and the maintenance of a healthy skin microbiome and skin barrier. Collagen’s promise as a biomaterial in tissue regeneration has been well established, with studies demonstrating its capacity to stimulate cell signaling, proliferation, and differentiation. More research is needed to fully understand the potential of collagen in cosmetics and other uses.
References
- Aguirre-Cruz, G., León-López, A., Cruz-Gómez, V., Jiménez-Alvarado, R., & Aguirre-Álvarez, G. (2020). Collagen hydrolysates for skin protection: Oral administration and topical formulation. Antioxidants, 9(2), 181.
- Lee, C. H., & Lee, Y. (2016). Collagen-based formulations for wound healing applications. Wound healing biomaterials, 135-149.
- Valentino, C., Vigani, B., Zucca, G., Ruggeri, M., Boselli, C., Cornaglia, A. I., … & Rossi, S. (2023). Formulation development of collagen/chitosan-based porous scaffolds for skin wounds repair and regeneration. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 242, 125000.
- Amnuaikit, T., Shankar, R., & Benjakul, S. (2022). Hydrolyzed fish collagen serum from by-product of food industry: Cosmetic product formulation and facial skin evaluation. Sustainability, 14(24), 16553.
- Janssens‐Böcker, C., Wiesweg, K., & Doberenz, C. (2024). Native collagen sheet mask improves skin health and appearance: A comprehensive clinical evaluation. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 23(5), 1685-1702.
