Collagen is the most prolific protein in your body, accounting for 30% of your body’s protein. Like all proteins, collagen is composed of amino acids. Proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline are the main amino acids that make up collagen.
Collagen is the main building block of your muscles, skin, bones, and connective tissues, in addition to being found in your intestinal lining, blood vessels, and organs.
What does collagen do?
Collagen plays several roles in the body. These include:
- Assisting in the formation of fibroblasts within the dermis, facilitating the growth of new cells.
- Contributing to the replacement of dead skin cells.
- Providing a protective layer for organs.
- Enhancing the structure, strength, and elasticity of the skin.
- Playing a crucial role in blood clotting.
- Promoting tissue repair.
- Supporting the immune response.
- Participating in cellular migration, which is an essential process for tissue maintenance.
What happens to collagen levels as we age?
As we grow older, our bodies start to produce less collagen. As collagen fibres are responsible for the skin’s elasticity and hydration, this decrease in collagen means our skin becomes drier, thinner, and loses elasticity. This leads to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
The loss of collagen begins when we turn 30, with the effects becoming apparent several years later. This is a natural process, but exposure to pollution and too much sunlight can speed it up, as well as a poor lifestyle.
The decreasing amount of collagen doesn’t just affect our skin. Our bones, joints, and muscles also suffer. Bones become weaker, the cartilage in our joints wears out, and our muscle function decreases
How to increase our collagen intake
While our body produces collagen naturally, there are ways to get more of it into our bodies. For instance, you can ingest collagen from dietary sources such as fish skin or chicken skin. The consumption of bone broth has also been shown to help with collagen production.
You can also buy collagen as a supplement in the form of a capsule, powder, or liquid. These can be taken orally or added to food or drink.
Some cosmetic companies also use collagen in their products thanks to its regenerating and moisturizing abilities. It also acts as a humectant, binding moisture to the skin so that it stays hydrated throughout the day.
If you’re a cosmetic company that’s interested in how the use of collagen could enhance your skincare products, then reach out to speak to a member of our team. With our contract manufacturing services, we can work with you to create market-leading collagen-containing skincare products.