Collagen is a vital aspect of skin health and vitality– as a steady, natural loss of this protein is what results in common signs of ageing including lines, sagging and wrinkles. In the beauty world it’s become a hot topic – with new creams, serums, tablets and drinks containing collagen introduced to the market every month.
Yet dermatologists and skin specialists are dubious about this explosion of popularity and the regular misuse of collagen in beauty marketing. Often this is misleading for consumers, who spend huge amounts of money on products that claim to renew and refresh depleting stores resulting in plumper, younger looking skin. In this blog we explain why collagen creams don’t work – and debunk common myths surrounding this vital protein to help you to buy smarter and more effectively nourish and protect your skin.
Collagen molecules are far too big to penetrate through the skin
One of the biggest obstacles for skin creams claiming to contain collagen is that scientifically, it’s very difficult to present collagen in a format that can penetrate through its many layers. Collagen’s molecule is notoriously large – therefore it’s unable to penetrate the dermis, where it’s needed most to be even the slightest bit effective. Whilst we encountered this issue ourselves when creating Nefera (Ennapeptide M also has a large molecule), it took plenty of research and scientific development to ensure that it was delivered exactly where it had to be to make a difference. Many inexpensive creams and serums simply don’t incorporate nanotechnology or the additional research and ingredients required to allow collagen to be effectively applied to the skin.
Do collagen drinks and tablets work?
If collagen can’t be slathered on the skin, can it be ingested instead? The short answer is no – though additional research in the future could help to shed more light on the development of these products. The ‘nutri-cosmetics’ industry is booming – as demand grows for powders, pills and drinks designed to beautify and restore with regular consumption. And whilst collagen is much more likely to be absorbed and used by the body when ingested as opposed to being applied topically, any results experienced have been obtained from small studies without enough data to scientifically prove that drinks containing it work to replenish depleting supplies. Some studies have proven that consumption of gelatin and powdered hydrolysed collagen have an effect on connective tissue, so this is perhaps the closest you could get to a result from ingestion. Anything else, unfortunately, is likely to be an expensive placebo. Also bear in mind that unless your diet and general health are in good condition, supplements rarely work.
What’s the best way to increase collagen production?
As with most improvements to health and appearance, a boost to collagen production must start from the inside out. To help our bodies to reproduce collagen, we must understand how collagen production is triggered, and the causes behind ageing skin. The best remedy to natural collagen loss caused by accelerated ageing and primary course of action is to avoid stressors such as sun damage, smoking, drinking, dehydration and poor diet. Then, if extra help is needed, collagen production can be stimulated using sophisticated scientific techniques. Most creams that actually help the body to reproduce collagen contain other ingredients that work within the skin to maintain a healthier, more youthful complexion.
Nefera creams trigger collagen production and strengthen skin cells for a more youthful complexion – but not through applying collagen topically to the skin. Instead a unique peptide is delivered via sophisticated nanotechnology to ‘wake up’ skin and encourage it to produce more collagen. Learn more about our innovative, clinically-developed products here.
