The conversation around anti-ageing skincare often rallies around collagen, and it’s easy to understand why. As one of the core components of the skin, collagen’s benefits for the skin include providing age-defying elasticity and reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of ageing.
While collagen may seem like your tour guide to the fountain of youth, we sat down with an expert cosmetic dermatologist, Dr Jaishree Sharad, to understand what it can realistically do for your skin.
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What is collagen?
To definitively know if your skin could use a collagen boost, it’s important to understand its role in maintaining a plump, supple visage. Dr Sharad explains, “Collagen is a protein that is naturally present in our skin, providing structural support and helping to maintain its elasticity and firmness. As we age, the collagen production in our skin decreases, leading to the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of ageing.”
Breaking it down for us, she describes collagen’s role as the building blocks for skin, hair, muscles and even bones and ligaments. But, as with everything that’s good in the world, there’s a catch— while we are born with a plentiful supply of collagen in our skin, its presence starts decreasing as the skin ages. Environmental factors can also adversely impact the amount of collagen in the skin, causing a loss of elasticity that leads to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Topical and ingestible collagen
While women tend to lose collagen from their mid-20s, the number is reported to escalate to 30% in the first five years of menopause alone. For this, the beauty and wellness industry has come up with a solution.
Topical collagen has recently begun to flood market aisles in every conceivable form –edible gummies, creamers, skin supplements and collagen-spiked skincare formulas. “There is some evidence to suggest that consuming collagen supplements as well as skincare products with collagen may help to improve the appearance of ageing skin,” elaborates Dr Sharad.
Benefits of collagen
Here’s what you can expect in return for adding collagen to your wellness routine:
Improved skin hydration: Collagen for skin is known to help retain moisture, which can improve overall hydration and make the skin look more plump and youthful.
Reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles: Supplemental collagen stimulates the production of new collagen in the skin, which in turn can help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles while improving skin elasticity.
Improved skin texture: Collagen can also aid in increasing the thickness and density of the skin, which can make it look smoother and with a more even texture.
Enhanced skin elasticity: Collagen is an important component of the skin's extracellular matrix, which is responsible for maintaining its structural integrity and elasticity. By increasing collagen production, the skin may become more resilient and less prone to sagging or drooping.
Do you need to add collagen to your skincare routine?
So, should you make the leap and dust a collagen creamer over your morning smoothie? Dr Sharad believes that there may be prudence in patience. “It's worth noting that while there is some scientific evidence to support the use of collagen for improving skin health, more research is needed to fully understand its benefits,” she advises. “Additionally, the effectiveness of collagen supplements and skincare products may vary depending on the individual and their skin type,” she signs off.
Meet the expert: Dr Jaishree Sharad is a distinguished and respectable name in cosmetic dermatology. She has been practising cosmetic dermatology for over 22 years and is among the most internationally renowned names in the industry.
