Style July 22, 2019
Can it REALLY improve our hair, skin and nails?
ENTITY shares the information you need to know about collagen supplementsCollagen supplements have recently been blowing up in the health and beauty space. People are expecting their hair and nails to magically grow faster and complexion to clear. BUT, how realistic are these expectations? Are these collagen brands actually being transparent about the benefits or is all of this a hoax? Medical professionals are beginning to spill the beans on the truth about the collagen supplements.
Let’s take a look.
As reported in Medical News Today, “Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, found in the bones, muscles, skin and tendons.” It holds the body together and creates a scaffold to provide strength and structure.
As we age, our collagen production declines. Dr. Diane S. Berson, associate professor of dermatology at Weil Cornell Medical College, says that in our 20s, we begin to lose the collagen in our skin which can be further damaged by factors such as sunlight, pollution and cigarette smoke.
Because of this, brands are now promoting collagen supplements, which are supposed to restore these depleted collagen levels. They are being sold in the forms of powders, gummies, capsules and even being infused into snacks.
Brands such as Vital Proteins promise consumers that their collagen supplements will: promote collagen formation that will affect hair, skin and nails, support a healthy glow, enhance skin clarity and smoothness, increase the body’s natural moisture level and maintain firm skin. Sound’s amazing right?
However, is there research to back up these claims?
New York City dermatologist, Dendy Engelman M.D., says that supplements are “not well regulated” and that “you can pretty much claim a lot of things that aren’t substantiated in science or in proof.” So, could this be true for collagen?
Alice Callahan, scientist and nutritionist, wrote in The New York Times that “some small studies suggest that collagen supplements may have limited benefits, but the evidence is far from definitive” and that “marketing claims seem to have gotten ahead of science.”
Question: Once we consume collagen in the form of powders, gummies and capsules, how does it reach our skin, hair and nails?
Well, dermatologist Lauren Eckert Ploch has some MIND BLOWING information to share to collagen enthusiasts. She says that when you eat collagen proteins, your stomach acids break them down BEFORE they reach the skin. Say what? So, these collagen supplements we’re spending 20+ dollars on aren’t even impacting what we want it to?
Bottom line: Don’t waste your money.
Using collagen supplements won’t do any harm to the body, but they can serve as a good protein source. However, don’t expect to see any miraculous beauty results. Focus on eating a well-balanced diet, drinking enough water and taking care of your skin and hair, not spending money on supplements making fallacious promises.
As stated by Dr. Berson, “care for the collagen you already have, rather than trying to replenish it with supplements.”
