Let’s talk Collagen

Written By Kayleigh Jones

Every woman on planet earth has probably heard of collagen. It’s as though the tv adverts selling face creams just know how to scare us all into buying the new ‘Collagen face cream’ in hopes of keeping us looking 30 for the rest of our lives. This level of scaremongering needs to stay in the past. So I’m going to cut the collagen information back to basics and talk about the most important bits, so that we can educate ourselves on making the right choices to keep our skin healthy. I’ll also add a few hints and tips throughout on how to increase our collagen numbers.

So, what is collagen? ✨

It’s a protein in the human body. We’re born with loads of it! It’s made in cells called fibroblasts and it travels around our body, influencing the health of our skin, gut, joints, hair and nails.

There are many different types of collagen - up to 28 in fact! But explaining all of them might be a collagen overload. So, I’ll keep it short & simple. The most relevant to your day-to-day life are collagen type 1, 2 & 3.

Type 1 - for skin, hair and nail health

Type 2 - gut health & bone health

Type 3 - muscle health & blood flow.

Fun Fact: Collagen is 30% of your body’s total protein, making it the most abundant protein in your body. So, it’s pretty important 🤓

Why is collagen important for your skin? ✨

It provides structural support to the skin, keeping it firm and smooth. As we age, the production of collagen decreases, leading to a loss of skin elasticity, wrinkles, and sagging (sounds fun, eh?).

Here’s an analogy and how I picture collagen in my minds eye 👀

I want you to imagine scaffolding around a building, and how it holds the roof from collapsing. Now I want you to think of collagen as the scaffolding, and the top layer of our skin as the roof. Well if the scaffolding becomes weak and frail, it will eventually collapse and the roof will come falling down, and this is what happens to our skin when we start to get wrinkles, kind of - the point of my analogy is that without collagen our skin will no longer be supported and this is when you’ll start to notice the lines, the wrinkles, the unfamiliar complexion and droopy skin.

So here comes the dreaded question…

When do we start to loose collagen? ✨

The rate of our collagen begins to drop around our mid 20’s but don’t freak out just yet. Knowledge is power 💪🏼 and I’m not here to gate-keep any of this information from you.

Here’s a stat for you 🤓

• Our collagen levels decrease by about 1-2% per year after the age of 25. By the age of 50, our collagen stores hit the floor.

Signs you don’t have enough collagen, you might experience:

🖤 Fine lines + wrinkles

🖤 A dull complexion

🖤 Digestive issues

🖤 Poor energy levels

🖤 Sore joints

🖤 Brittle hair and nails

What can we do to build collagen? ✨

Firstly it’s important that we look after the collagen that we already have, and we can do this by avoiding these things ⬇️

❗️Exposure to UV rays

❗️Pollution

❗️Poor diet

❗️Lack of sleep

❗️Stress

Secondly, the most effective steps to take to increase our collagen are:

🍊 Eating collagen-boosting foods rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and amino acids like;

  • Beef bone broth

  • Chicken (leave the skin on)

  • Fish

  • Citrus fruits

  • Leafy greens

  • Peppers

🧴 Use sunscreen daily to protect against UV-induced collagen breakdown.

💦 Drink lots of water.

🧴 Use products with collagen-boosting ingredients like retinoids, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. Check out the ones I’ve tried & recommend.

💉 Bi-yearly micro-needling & polynucleotide treatments, in clinic.

💊 Also consider adding collagen supplements to your diet to support overall collagen levels (I’m a huge advocate for supplements!). Check my favourites out here.

Oral supplements have been scientifically tested and shown to work. I’ve popped a few of the best types below ⬇️

Hydrolyzed Collagen (Collagen Peptides)

  • Description: Hydrolyzed collagen, also known as collagen peptides, is collagen that has been broken down into smaller, more easily absorbed molecules.

  • Benefits: Supports skin elasticity, hydration, joint health, and overall collagen production.

  • Forms: Often found in powders, capsules, and liquid forms, making it easy to mix into beverages or food.

Marine Collagen

  • Description: Marine collagen is sourced from fish skin and scales. It’s known for its superior bioavailability and is rich in Type I collagen, which is predominant in the skin.

  • Benefits: Supports skin, hair, nail health, and overall anti-aging benefits.

  • Forms: Available in powders, capsules, and liquids.

Bovine Collagen

  • Description: Derived from cowhide and contains both Type I and Type III collagen, which are essential for skin and joint health.

  • Benefits: Helps with skin elasticity, hydration, joint health, gut health, and muscle repair.

  • Forms: Commonly available in powders, capsules, and liquids.

A 2018 study found that participants had improved skin hydration and reduced skin wrinkles after taking collagen peptides for 6-12 weeks. A 2020 study reinforces these findings, showing that collagen supplements increased baseline markers for skin hydration and elasticity after 6-8 weeks.

Hard work pays off 🥰

After taking collagen supplements you’ll start to notice:

✨ Softer lines and wrinkles

✨Skin appears more vibrant

✨ Sleeping better

✨ Good energy levels

✨ Stronger nails

✨ Better quality hair

✨ Reduction in joint pain

Ageing is a beautiful thing, we shouldn’t have to feel as though we don’t recognise who we see in the mirror any more. Put yourself first & book yourself in for a consultation. I’m here to answer any questions and if or when you’re ready for some in-clinic treatments 🤍

All my love,

Kayleigh x

BSc (hons) RN Nurse

Kayleigh Jones