What are the benefits of taking collagen for the skin?

The article is professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thanh Van - Doctor of Internal Medicine - Dermatology - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital

Among the modern beauty methods today, surely all women have heard of "Drinking Collagen". However, “do oral collagen supplements really work?” is a controversial issue in the health and beauty care industry.

Collagen is a fibrous protein that makes up 25-30% of the total protein mass of the whole body, and is the main component of the extracellular matrix. The function of collagen is to bind tissues, create structural models for tissues, provide mechanical protection, and nourish tissues. Collagen also promotes regeneration and initiates wound healing through the activation of inflammatory cells and tissue blood vessels. Collagen has been shown to stimulate angiogenic growth factors, epithelial cell migration and proliferation, leading to epithelial remodeling.
The role of collagen with tissue is likened to cement in building a house. In the skin, collagen is located in the dermis, together with elastin to form a network that gives elasticity and firmness to the skin, making the skin younger and more supple. In vertebrates 28 types of collagen have been identified and described; in which, collagen in the skin belongs to type I and III.
Unfortunately, the body's natural collagen production slows down when you turn 20 and each year, the amount of collagen in the body loses about 1-1.5%. By the age of 40, most of us will have lost about 50% of the collagen in our skin. The process of collagen reduction can be more and faster when under the influence of factors: exposure to the sun, smoking, drinking alcohol, consuming a lot of sugar, stress, insomnia, sedentary. genetics, hormones and some diseases. Especially when women enter menopause. This is also the cause of wrinkles and lack of firmness, sagging in the skin of middle-aged women.
If you have a habit of applying sunscreen and limiting sun exposure, following a healthy, balanced lifestyle, you will be less likely to experience premature collagen loss. However, to be able to compensate for lost collagen and slow down collagen loss, oral collagen supplementation plays a very important role.

Exogenous oral collagen for cosmetic use is low molecular weight hydrolyzed collagen produced from the skin and connective tissue of animals on land (cow, pig, chicken) or from the sea (fish, jellyfish, etc.) ...). Oral collagen in beauty is mainly collagen type I and III, of which type I is most often used due to its biocompatibility with the body. Drinking Collagen has a positive effect on supplementing collagen for the body and safely anti-aging skin.
Oral collagen when entering the body will affect the process of extracellular changes in the synthesis of collagen in the skin, stimulate collagen production and promote the rate of skin renewal. The amino acids in collagen do not match the amino acids in other proteins, so oral collagen supply is necessary.
Changes in skin, hair and nails with enough oral collagen supplementation are:
Firmer, more hydrated skin, reduced wrinkles, brighter, healthier, less acne prone skin. Improves cellulite skin condition. Wounds heal faster. Less hair loss, faster growth, increased size and density of hair follicles. Nails reduce breakage, become thick, strong and strong. When compared with the use of collagen supplements in the form of creams, many studies have shown that: Taking collagen orally will help to enhance collagen effects on the skin many times over. This is because oral collagen can work into the deeper layers of the skin, targeting the dermis, where collagen loss occurs. Meanwhile, topical creams tend to primarily affect the epidermis - the top layer of skin. The improvements seen with the cream were mainly due to increased hydration, which promotes better healing, and not to the deeper structural changes achieved with oral collagen supplementation.
Oral collagen currently has 4 main forms:
Tablet form; Powder form; Jelly form; Water form. Each form has its own advantages and disadvantages. You can consider choosing a form of drink that suits your lifestyle and finances. The effective dose of collagen peptides that need to be supplemented per day is 2.5-15g. Dosage is according to the manufacturer's recommendations. However, the selected collagen should be of clear origin, reputable brand, tested, low in sugar and combined with antioxidant ingredients such as: Vitamin C, fern extract, pomegranate extract , glutathione, hyaluronic acid, coenzyme Q10.

Women and men both need collagen supplements and it should start as soon as possible. The ideal time to take collagen should be from 20-25 years old to achieve the best results. Although the effectiveness depends on each person's goals and lifestyle, in general, taking collagen in your 20s has the effect of preventing the inevitable skin aging process that will occur in the future.
Studies on collagen so far have shown that oral collagen (functional food) is safe and effective, no side effects have been recorded. The collagen production process is mainly derived from terrestrial or aquatic animals (usually cows, fish) so it may not be suitable for vegetarians and people with allergies to ingredients in collagen. drink. However, for subjects such as pregnant women, patients with medical conditions, there are no studies to support the safety of these subjects. Therefore, these subjects who want to use collagen should consult a doctor and weigh the benefits - risks when using.
To see the effect of oral collagen takes a long time, the fastest is 1 month, the average is 3 months, maybe longer for those who lack a lot of collagen, so you should not be in a hurry to take it. . The effect of collagen will increase with time with collagen supplementation. It takes persistence to achieve good results. The best time to take collagen is in the morning, on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before breakfast.
To prevent aging and help increase the effects of oral collagen, you should do:
Add Vitamin C to help exogenous collagen be absorbed and promote its effects in the body. Use collagen regularly. Avoid direct sunlight and apply sunscreen every day. Exercise regularly . Avoid staying up late. No smoking, no drinking alcohol. Limit sugar consumption. In short, collagen has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the skin. The use of collagen drinks in the right way and at the right time will help the skin prolong its youthful and radiant appearance. However, you also need to remember that collagen drinks are not a complete replacement for a healthy and balanced lifestyle.