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Collagen seems to be everywhere these days: as a powder to add to your drink of choice, in your skincare, collagen supplements, even collagen shampoo!
We’ve all heard of collagen before, but what’s the big deal with this omnipresent ingredient? And why is it so important? Let’s dive in…
Collagen is a protein that serves as a structural support net, giving our skin its elasticity and firmness while helping it retain moisture. Therefore, a reduction in collagen can lead to excessive dryness, skin sagging (especially around the jawline) and more visible wrinkling. Other effects of collagen decline include thinning hair, achy joints, and loss of bone mineral density over time.
Collagen and aging go hand in hand because starting in our 20s, our body's production of this vital protein slows down around 1% each year. Lower levels of collagen will also tend to impact collagen production. In fact, studies find that women can lose up to 30 percent of collagen in the first five years of menopause. So, it’s only natural that we want to find ways to boost collagen within our body, but how can we do this?
You might have seen a few skincare brands touting collagen in their formulas, but in the case of topically applied collagen or collagen creams, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that topically applied collagen improves the production of collagen. According to a recent Allure article, "collagen molecules — synthetic or otherwise — are just too large to plunge below the surface of skin and stimulate collagen synthesis." Therefore, applying collagen to the skin, will not result in any meaningful improvement to collagen within the body.
Collagen peptides are a slightly different story. Also known as hydrolyzed collagen, collagen peptides are made of the same amino acids as collagen but are more easily absorbed by the body. Because they are more bioavailable, they can enter the bloodstream upon digestion. However, there is much debate about whether these collagen supplements actually end up fueling collagen production where it is needed. On one hand many doctors cite that there is no credible evidence to suggest that oral collagen is prioritized to the dermis in preference to another part of the body. While a study in Germany demonstrated that animal sourced hydrolyzed collagen ingested by 69 women aged 35 to 55 over an 8 week period of time improved skin elasticity compared to those that were given a placebo. Sounds promising, but scientists suggest that the studies are flawed because they haven’t taken into account the dietary component [of protein], which is a huge confounding factor in skin viability and the progression of collagen synthesis.
Given all the uncertainty and debate around Collagen peptide supplements, the bottom line is that they likely won’t hurt anything, but whether they actually provide a benefit to skin health is not yet clearly proven.
What we do know for sure is that sparking our body’s own production of collagen has been proven as a key factor in achieving healthy, well-supported, elastic skin. Great, but how do we do this? The answer: Stimulating fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin fibers, within our body. The Pause Fascia Stimulating Tool, a proprietary, patented, multi-award-winning Fascia Stimulating Tool was engineered to restart the body's collagen production within the fibroblasts through a daily facial massage regimen to help improve blood flow, promote lymphatic drainage (in the face and neck), optimizes overall skin nutrition and aid in cell regeneration. When combined with Pause Collagen Boosting Moisturizer and using the tool as directed here, clinical results showed a 24% improvement in skin density when the tool and moisturizer were used by participants for 5 minutes/day over an 8 week period.
In summary, make sure you do your research before buying any topically applied collagen products. When it comes to ingesting collagen peptides, the jury is still out, but it likely won’t hurt anything and may result in some improvement. But, if you're looking for a proven way to boost your body's collagen production, we invite you to explore fascia and fibroblast stimulation. Your skin will thank you!
