If you’re like me, skincare and aging is of top interest. Behold Collagen! It’s everywhere and just like I thought, it’s a major TREND making me wonder what the hype is all about.
I follow quite a lot of beauty and fitness bloggers and right now they’re sharing stories on how wonderful Collagen is. They rave about results from Collagen supplements they’re adding to their foods and drinks via powder, capsules or gummies. I even began to see more and more traffic on Collagen intake from some of my favorite food bloggers. My first reaction was to dive in on a Collagen rich diet but then, like a good consumer that I am, I decided to start with a little more research before taking the plunge.
The elite bloggers I follow that are posting about the amazing benefits from Collagen supplements fall into the following categories:
- all females under 35 years old
- they have a huge following (200k +) and represent major beauty brands
- have a daily workout regimen and are very thin and on strict diets
- often visit specialists for face enhancement procedures
Now you can see why I’m skeptical. Lets educate ourselves into what Collagen is and is not.
In the most basic definition, Collagen acts like glue for our bodies. It’s the most abundant protein that gives structure to your skin, bones, muscles, and all other connective tissue. Your body produces less of it as you get older, which results in fine lines and wrinkles. The argument is that some say taking collagen orally can improve skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles, and increase skin moisture.
I’ll jump on the trend train if the subject matter is interesting and can offer me some type of benefit, so naturally I wanted to know if all the hype on Collagen is legit. I searched around the web for articles and information on Collagen intake and all I came up with was that the opinions on the benefits of Collagen supplements vary 60/40, depending on who you want to believe. However, the consensus is that there just isn’t enough research to support the idea that Collagen supplements via pills, gummies or powder improve your aging skin. In other words, it’s basically beauty hearsay from bloggers and pharmaceutical companies advertising to sell their products.
Here’s a fantastic article regarding Collagen intake and it’s benefits, or lack thereof. The information given breaks it down for you to understand Collagen very simply. And in this article on Collagen it pretty much sums it up without all the fanfare.
- “Moyad, author of The Supplement Handbook: A Trusted Expert’s Guide to What Works and What’s Worthless for More Than 100 Conditions, says many of the studies done so far on collagen are small and at least partially funded by industry.”
- “Augusta, GA-based dermatologist Lauren Eckert Ploch says stomach acids break down collagen proteins you eat before they reach the skin intact. “It is unlikely that someone would see any benefit from it.
Having said all that, if you’re gonna jump on the Collagen craze, in this case for beauty purposes, choose wisely. It’s really about preferences and which brand appeals to you most. One thing to keep in mind is that if you’re concerned about animal cruelty or are a vegan, this is absolutely not a diet for you. Valori Treloar, MD, dermatologist and nutritionist says, “look for companies that get their bones and tissues from cage-free, free-range, and antibiotic-free sources.”
After reading up on much of the Collagen hype, I’ve decided that it’s not worth the extra expense. Collagen when taken in supplement form over the long term is about as effective as a placebo.
I already take good measure in protecting my skin with creams, serums and ointments and I avoid too much sun exposure, (a huge contributor to premature aging) and I always use sunblock and drink plenty of water. Good genes are a plus… In my humble opinion, Collagen supplements is exactly that, a trend. Hopefully in the near future, research with exact results will give us more definite answers to the search for the fountain of youth.
Full disclosure; I am not an MD nor a cosmetologist or esthetician. All views and opinions are strictly my own. Consult your PCP for more information.
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