Real Evidence: Collagen Improves Wrinkles and Skin Health

In case you were wondering, the claim “collagen improves wrinkles and skin health” isn’t hypothetical or fantasy. There is research, on both animals and humans, supporting collagen’s benefits for the skin.

In fact, one study from 2018, specifically showed improvements in skin hydration, elasticity, and appearance of wrinkles.

It isn’t the only study supporting collagen as a skin anti-ager.

Let’s go over how our skin ages, what collagen is, and how it affects our skin, the research to support it, and why Keto Zone Hydrolyzed Collagen + Marine with Probiotics is a great option for all the benefits.

What Ages Our Skin?

What ages our skin? In one word: the sun.

Exposure to the sun and its aging effects on our skin is called photoaging. It’s induced by chronic sunlight exposure and is a form of extrinsic aging (from outside our bodies).

On the other hand, our skin also ages from the inside out. Intrinsic aging occurs from the decline of biological function and the effects of free radicals (1).

Although both intrinsic and extrinsic effects are affect aging, the effects of photoaging are much greater. One way we know: the age of skin on the face is significantly more advanced than the age on the buttock skin, which sees very little sun (2,3). Both have the same cellular intrinsic aging factors.

In skin with severe photoaging, the elastic fibers are highly disheveled and disorganized throughout the skin layer. In mildly photoaged skin, the fibers are only gradually fragmented (4,5,6,7).

The appearance of photoaged skin includes coarse wrinkles, dryness, loss of elasticity, pigmentation (1) from loss of collagen and elastic fibers (1,8,9).

What is Hydrolyzed Collagen?

Hydrolyzed collagen powder is a supplemental powder that has been hydrolyzed (broken apart to smaller pieces by hydrogen) from bones, hooves, skin, ligaments, and tendons of animals.

It contains powerful and effective nutrients and amino acids that are largely absent in modern diets.

In this powdered form, it’s easy to add to the diet. What’s more, compared to the larger molecules of gelatin, collagen readily mixes and dissolves in liquids.

Why Collagen is Studied As an Anti-Ager

The major structural constituents of the matrix outside cells in the skin are collagen, elastic fibers, and hyaluronic acid (10,11,12). Collagen likely makes up >70% of the dry weight of the human skin dermis (13,14).

The Study: Collagen Improves Wrinkles and Skin Health

In 2018, researchers studied the effects of taking oral collagen on 64 women.  They wanted to evaluate the effect of the supplements on human skin hydration, wrinkling, and elasticity (15).

The Method

The 64 women were randomly assigned to the collagen group or placebo group. The collagen group consumed 1000 mg of collagen supplement once daily for 12 weeks.

Skin hydration, wrinkling, and elasticity were analyzed at the beginning of the study, after 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks.

The Results

When the collagen group was compared to the placebo group, the researchers found:

• Skin-hydration values were significantly higher in the collagen group after 6 weeks and 12 weeks.
• Visual assessment score and skin wrinkling of the collagen group were significantly improved compared with the placebo group after 12 weeks.
• One of the three parameters of skin elasticity was significantly improved in the collagen group after 12 weeks. The other two were improved.

There were no adverse reactions or safety concerns.

Other Studies

This is not the only study showing that collagen improves wrinkles and skin health. Other studies include:

• A 2014 study of 46 women, ages 35-55, showed 8 weeks of collagen powder supplementation improved skin elasticity within just 4 weeks (16).
• Another 2014 study concluded collagen supplementation reduced wrinkles after just 8 weeks of use (17).
• What’s more, a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology concluded collagen supplementation, not only improved skin moisture, but also produced younger-looking, less-fragmented skin (18).
• In a 2017 lab study, researchers found that 6 months of oral consumption of collagen increased the collagen content in the skin. Collagen also improved the skin structure and improved the density of different types of collagen (Type I and Type III). This resulted in improved color and luster of the skin and fur. While this was a study on mice, it is promising for human skin and hair as well (19).

What Type of Collagen Improves Wrinkles and Skin Health?

When trying to gain benefits from collagen, it’s important to use the right type of collagen. Believe or not, over 30 types have been identified. When it comes to wrinkles and skin health, you need Type I Collagen.

Type I Collagen makes up 90% of our hair, skin, and nails.

Type I is most abundant in bovine and marine collagen. However, there is a relatively high incidence of allergy to bovine collagen among humans, and there are some concerns about disease in the cows transferred to humans. The best source is from fish. Check your sources and make sure they include fish (20).

Why Hydrolyzed Collagen?

The best option for collagen is hydrolyzed collagen powder. While native collagen may have the same amino acids, hydrolyzed is more efficiently absorbed and distributed throughout the body and skin.

In the skin, hydrolyzed collagen has been shown to 1) provide building blocks for skin collagen and elastin fibers, and 2) stimulate the creation and growth of new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid (21).

Bottom Line

There is strong evidence to support that collagen improves wrinkles and skin health. Hydrolyzed Type I Collagen from marine sources, such as Keto Zone Hydrolyzed Collagen + Marine with Probiotics, is the best option to start improving your skin today.