Collagen is one of the most popular supplements on the market today. You can also find it in lotions and creams designed to help plump up the collagen already in your body.
Collagen is a protein that is naturally in our bodies, and it is essentially the glue that holds everything together.
Collagen also helps keep us younger looking. If you put a teenager next to an elderly person, the teenager will not only have more collagen in their body, they will also have the appearance of a more plump face.
In addition to the collagen that is naturally found in our bodies, you can also take collagen supplements to help restore any lost collagen.
Collagen supplements have become extremely popular in the last few years, and you are likely to start finding more of them on the shelves instead of the skin creams that have collagen.
You will notice a breakdown in your collagen as early as your twenties, and it will only continue to break down even further over time.
Most women will begin trying lotions and creams in their mid-twenties to help keep up their youthful appearance, while some may wait until they are older or they may choose not to use collagen treatments at all.
About 3 Types of Collagen
There are different types of collagen that can be found in our bodies, but there are only three that you need to look at if you are considering a collagen supplement.
The type of collagen supplements you should choose will depend on the area of your body that you want to increase the collagen in.
Type 1 collagen, Type 2 Collagen, and Type 3 Collagen all target certain areas in our bodies, and they all do something different.
Type 1 Collagen
This type of collagen comprises 85%-90% of our hair, skin, nails, bones, and ligaments. This is the most popular type of collagen since it is able to cover more areas that the others.
If you are looking for a collagen supplement, choosing one with Type 1 collagen is the best way to go.
Type 2 Collagen
This type of collagen applies solely to cartilage. This is the type you want if you are only interested in seeing benefits for your cartilage.
Type 3 Collagen
This type of collagen is for the fibrous protein in your body. This is the type you want if you are looking to help out your tendons, bones, or any connective tissues.
In regards to beauty and the use of collagen in your skin, hair, or nails, you will want to stick with Type 1 collagen.
Type 1 is considered the best for anti-aging. Using Type 1 will help you to see the best results in your skin overall, and it will help you to continue to see results over time.
Even if you are not looking for collagen for your skin, you may want to look into it either way. Not only would you get younger looking skin, but you can also use it to help with other problems areas that you are having.
Sources of Collagen
Dietary collagen is what you are going to be looking for when it comes to a collagen supplement.
There are many sources for this particular collagen, but there are some that, according to research, will work better for you in the long term.
This means that you will not be trying different collagen products every few weeks just to try and find something that works.
Piscine
This collagen peptide is derived from fish, and while fish peptides are considered to be among the best for supplements, they can also be some of the most expensive ones. For those who are on a budget, this may not be your top choice.
Bovine
This collagen peptide comes from cows. Because of the availability of bovine collagen, this is one of the least expensive collagen supplements.
It also comprises the majority of collagen supplements due to its accessibility. However, research has shown that it is not as effective as piscine collagen supplements.
Porcine
This collagen peptide is derived from pigs. The Porcine collagen supplements are very similar to the Bovine supplements, as porcine collagen is easily accessible and is cost effective.
Both Porcine and Bovine collagen are behind Piscine collagen when it comes to how effective they are, but more people are purchasing collagen supplements made from these because of the cost.
Fowl
This type of collagen peptide comes from chickens. This peptide is not considered helpful when it comes to using it as a beauty supplement.
It is more suited for supporting the cartilage in the body. If you are looking for something that is strictly for beauty, this is not the peptide for you.
Is a collagen supplement right for me?
Now that we have talked about what collagen is and where it comes from in regards to what you may be looking for, let’s talk about how you can know if you need a collagen boost or if you are experiencing a collagen deficiency.
Most people assume that if your skin begins to sag on your face that you are losing collagen, but that is not the only thing that can alert you. Here is a list of some of the common signs of collagen loss.
- Sagging skin and enlarged pores
- Fine lines and wrinkles. That’s right, those crow’s feet around your eyes and lines around your mouth could indicate that you are losing collagen in your skin.
- Receding Gums
- Brittle Nails
- Dry Skin
- Thin Hair
- Joint stiffness. If you have been experiencing joint stiffness, it is quite possible that you are losing a good bit of collagen in your joints and cartilage.
To be on the safe side and make sure that it is not caused by an underlying disease, you should consult with your medical doctor to review your symptoms.
Which collagen supplements should I take?
One of the most important questions that you may be asking yourself is what to look for in the collagen supplements that you select.
There are so many out there on the market today that you may feel overwhelmed with the choices.
And with multiple choices, you may not feel that you can make an informed decision about which ingredients you truly need in your supplement and which ones you can do without.
Once you have decided on the area that you need the most help with in terms of collagen repair, you will want to do some research on the products that are available.
If you are looking for skin creams and lotions, you will want to stick with ones that are geared solely towards the areas you are having trouble with.
For example, if you are looking for collagen plumping in your face, you will want to choose a collagen cream that is specifically designed for your face.
But what about overall collagen help?
You may want something that will help repair and regrow the collagen in your entire body. For these areas, you will want to choose a supplement that is mainly collagen with little to no other ingredients in it.
Because of the popularity of collagen products, you will have a wide variety to choose from and you will be able to purchase them almost anywhere that you shop.
If you are looking for a specialty supplement, you will want to visit a pharmacy or a specialty store like GNC.
These places will have the largest variety and the staff available to help you make the best choice.
When you are looking for your collagen supplement, you will want to make note of a couple of ingredients that research studies have shown have the most beneficial impact on your collagen repair.
Vitamin C
If you can find a collagen supplement that already has Vitamin C in it that is your best bet. If you cannot find a supplement that contains Vitamin C, you will want to purchase a separate Vitamin C supplement.
Vitamin C helps to activate the natural collagen producing cells in your body when you take it orally.
This will not only help you repair any collagen lacking areas, but it will also help your body to continue to produce collagen on its own. This means that you will not need to take as many doses of collagen supplements.
Hyaluronic Acid
According to research studies, having HA in your collagen supplement or on its own can help you to alleviate your dry skin. By keeping your skin hydrated, you will have a greater chance of continuing to produce your own natural collagen.
This will also help you to decrease the number of wrinkles on your face, as well as plump your face, which will help give you a more youthful appearance.
As with any other supplement that you may take, or any medication for that matter, there are some items that you will want to avoid.
When it comes to collagen supplements, you will want to steer clear of anything that brings up a red flag in your mind.
You are going to be taking these supplements, and you need to be comfortable with the ingredients that are in them. But from a general standpoint, there are a few things that you need to look out for when it comes to collagen supplements.
You will want to stay away from any collagen supplements that have any type of fillers in them. These fillers can be anything, but they are usually items like artificial ingredients, anything with sugars or flavors in them.
So if your supplement is berry flavored, then you know it contains a filler that may counteract some of the repairs that you are hoping to achieve.
If the list of ingredients is longer than the list of what the supplement can do for you, you will probably need to reconsider that supplement and find one that does not contain a large number of ingredients.
You will also want to stay away from collagen supplements that contain Branched Chained Amino Acids, as these show no significant help when it comes to overall beauty or collagen repair to the face.
They are mainly used in recovery when muscles have been through trauma, or if you have had a muscle injury.
Collagen Supplement Review Summary
When it comes to how often you should be taking your collagen supplement or how much you should take, there is not enough available research to give a clear answer.
You will want to follow the dosing directions on the product that you choose to purchase. You may find that some collagen supplements want you to take it once a day for a certain period of time, while others may want you to take it more than once a day.
If you are unsure of whether you should be taking collagen supplements on a daily basis, or maybe you feel uncomfortable taking them, consult with your regular doctor. They will be able to give you the advice that you need to make an informed decision.
Most doctors do not want you taking supplements of any kind on a regular basis, as it can do damage to your liver. Before you begin taking collagen supplements, talk with your doctor and make sure that you are healthy enough to begin taking these supplements.
It is important for you to do your own research on which type of collagen supplement that you wish to take.
Look at reviews for products. The most helpful resource you have available are the reviews of other consumers.
After you have discussed collagen supplements with your doctor and have chosen your product, there are a few things about supplements that you need to know.
When you choose your collagen supplement, you will want to choose the smallest bottle you can purchase.
The reason for this is supplements also have expiration dates on them. If you choose a bigger bottle and do not use it on a daily basis, it can expire before you finish and then you are out that money.
Also, if you want to try different supplement brands, you will need to purchase the smaller bottles in case you are not happy with the first product you chose.
Make sure to do your research and consult with your medical doctor before you begin any collagen supplement.
This will help to point you in the right direction and get you on the right track towards collagen repair.
