A guide to collagen supplements and exactly how they work for your skin, hair and nails

Beauty supplements that contain collagen are one of the most talked-about topics in the skin and wellness industry today. When looking for ways to boost your health, the idea of just sipping a drink, chewing a gummy, or adding a powder to your smoothie sounds good. But we all want to know if collagen can really make your skin and hair better from the inside out.

Experts talk about collagen and the best collagen supplements to try right now if you want to add them to your routine.

What is collagen?

Dr. Alia Ahmed, a dermatologist, says that collagen is a protein that does many things in the body and is the building block of the skin. “It is a big part of the skin’s structure because it gives it strength hydration and elasticity.” Collagen keeps our skin from sagging, so it also affects how smooth and full it looks.

Do we need to add to the collagen we already have?

As we get older, especially women going through menopause, our collagen levels drop, which makes mature skin less firm.Dr. Paul Banwell, a plastic surgeon, says that our bodies naturally make less collagen every year from the time we are in our early 20s until we are 50. By that time, most people will have lost about half of the collagen in their skin. He says, “This can cause the skin to sag, become thinner, and get wrinkles.”

But not everyone loses collagen at the same rate.Daisy Whitbread, a nutritionist who specialises in beauty and ageing, says that the rate will depend on a number of lifestyle factors including diet, sun exposure, sleep, stress levels genetics, and hormones.

That means that wearing SPF every day, staying out of the sun, and living a healthy balanced life can all help keep collagen levels from dropping too quickly. You can’t go back in time, but experts agree that it’s never too late to take care of your skin.

How do collagen supplements help?

Collagen supplements are made to help top up your natural collagen levels, which may lessen the effects of losing collagen.

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