Collagen, what it is and what it isn't

Over the past 20 or so years, collagen has often been hailed as a holy grail of anti-aging skin care products, and has recently evolved into a variety of collagen health drinks, sprays, creams, and more.

 What collagen is: 
Collagen is an important intracellular structural protein, making up about 30-35% of total body protein. It is a triple helix rope-like protein fibril made up of smaller individual tropocollagen molecules. Vitamin C is a critical cofactor in the formation of collagen cross linkages.

 Dietary collagen has been shown to have numerous health benefits.

  •  It has positive effects on bone health
  •  General reduction in joint deterioration associated with aging
  • Improved skin elasticity
  • reduced wrinkle depth






What collagen is not: 

Collagen is NOT the holy grail of topical skin care. Collagen is a large protein that cannot penetrate the stratum corneum (pictured right), so it is of no use to the underlying skin. The stratum corneum is the top layer of the epidermis, and while it serves many important protective functions, it is not made up of living cells-- the stratum granulosum is the most superficial layer of living cells. The appearance and health of skin is dictated by the living cells, not the dead ones. Topical collagen cannot reach those living cells, and therefore has no proven benefits. Applying collagen creams to the skin has no proven benefit. 

















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