
Collagen, a wondrous protein, plays numerous roles in our body, such as strengthening the structure of our connective tissues, bones, ligaments, and tendons. Additionally, it is a fundamental building block of the skin and plays a crucial role in the health and appearance of our skin. As we age, the natural decline in collagen production in our body presents challenges like loss of skin elasticity, the formation of wrinkles, and a general decrease in vitality. Therefore, understanding the role of collagen in maintaining skin health and how proper care and intake can support its beauty and functionality is essential. In this article, we will explore the importance of collagen for the skin and how we can optimize its benefits in our daily skincare routine.
Collagen in the Body
Collagen, the primary protein in mammals, constitutes about 30% of the total protein mass and has a crucial structural role in the human body. It is characterized by a unique combination of amino acids like glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and hydroxylysine, and a specific triple helix structure. Although there are many different types of collagen (28 in total), the three most common types – I, II, and III – account for the majority of collagen fibers (80-90%) in the human body.
Type I Collagen
- The most prevalent type.
- Found in the skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments, providing them with strength and resistance.
Type II Collagen
- Predominant in cartilage, providing flexibility and resilience essential for joint health.
Type III Collagen
- Present in various tissues such as skin, blood vessels, and muscles, maintaining their structure and flexibility.
Although the body can synthesize collagen, this ability begins to decline after the age of 25 (by about 1-1.5% annually), leading to a reduction in collagen levels, which affects the health of all structures that collagen forms. A deficiency in collagen will particularly impact skin health as collagen is its main building block. Therefore, it is crucial to consider collagen intake as early as the early twenties.
The functions of collagen in the body are numerous, including maintaining the health of connective tissues, bones, arteries, blood vessels, and joint functionality, as well as supporting tissue regeneration and recovery after injuries. However, it is especially important to note that collagen is key to preserving the beauty and health of our skin.
Collagen for the Skin

The skin constantly changes throughout life, and aging brings about numerous physiological changes. Collagen is the main component of the skin, making up 80-90% of its dry matter. It plays a role in strengthening the skin’s structure, as well as in its elasticity and hydration. As we age, our body produces less collagen, leading to increased skin dryness, reduced elasticity, and the formation of wrinkles. For this reason, collagen supplementation is desirable for those over 25 years old to maintain the beauty and youthful appearance of the skin in the long term. Numerous studies confirm the impact of collagen on the skin.
How Collagen Works on the Skin
The mechanisms by which collagen affects the skin are numerous and influence the health and beauty of the skin in various ways, from maintaining moisture, elasticity, softness, and density to reducing hyperpigmentation and preventing UV damage. Collagen affects the skin by:
- Promoting the production of elastin and hyaluronic acid
- Having antioxidant effects on the skin
- Protecting against the loss of hydration factors
- Protecting against excessive melanin production
- Stimulating the growth of fibroblasts and extracellular protein matrices while reducing metalloproteinase activity
Collagen Promotes the Production of Elastin and Hyaluronic Acid
Collagen binds to fibroblasts in the dermis, thereby stimulating the production of elastin and hyaluronic acid. Elastin is a protein found in the skin (and other tissues like the lungs, bladder, and blood vessels) that provides elasticity and flexibility. Hyaluronic acid is crucial for skin health as it binds water, which can improve skin moisture levels and simultaneously strengthen the skin barrier, i.e., the outer layers of the skin.
Collagen Has Antioxidant Effects on the Skin
Free radicals have strong oxidative capabilities, which can trigger oxidative reactions in the body, including the skin, leading to photoaging. Collagen peptides with antioxidant activity can neutralize excess free radicals in the human body, thereby slowing skin aging and improving its overall appearance.
Collagen Protects Against Excess Melanin Production
Skin color is linked to the amount of melanin, a substance produced by melanocytes that acts as a protective mechanism against stress. Melanin absorbs UV rays. When exposed to sunlight, melanocytes produce melanin, which darkens the skin and absorbs excess UV rays to prevent them from penetrating the body, thus playing a protective role. However, under UV exposure, melanin generates reactive oxygen species that can cause cellular mutations, leading to harmful effects on the body. Additionally, excessive UV exposure can lead to overproduction of melanin, causing various skin disorders such as freckles, skin darkening, age spots, and even skin cancer. Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in melanin formation, gradually converting tyrosine into melanin. Tyrosine residues in collagen peptides can interact with the active site of tyrosinase, reducing its activity. Consequently, tyrosinase cannot catalyze the conversion of tyrosine to melanin, leading to decreased melanin production. Thus, collagen peptides may help reduce excessive melanin production and exhibit a photoprotective effect.
Collagen Protects Against Loss of Hydration Factors
The Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) is a hydrolyzed derivative of the protein filaggrin. Components of NMF are highly effective humectants such as urea, uric acid, and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, which can absorb water from the external environment. Therefore, NMF helps maintain the basic stability of water content in the skin’s dermis. Collagen peptides contain a high amount of NMF, including Ser, Asp, Hyl, Hyp, etc. Additionally, collagen peptides have many hydrophilic groups, such as hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, which can enhance the skin’s ability to bind and retain water, effectively improving the water content in skin subjected to photoaging.
Collagen Stimulates Fibroblast Growth
Collagen stimulates the growth of fibroblasts, which are located in various layers of the dermis. These fibroblasts produce numerous extracellular protein matrices that improve skin health and slow down its aging process.
Collagen Against Wrinkles
Aging has a detrimental effect on the skin’s connective tissue, resulting in a decrease in elastic and collagen fibers and leading to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Furthermore, aging reduces the production of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans (such as hyaluronic acid) in the skin and cartilage. As a result, skin tissue weakens, loses its integrity, and becomes dry, unable to retain adequate moisture. Additionally, wrinkles advance as the dermal thickness decreases over time due to reduced collagen levels. Since collagen levels significantly impact wrinkle formation, collagen supplementation could be highly beneficial, as supported by studies.
Collagen Against Hyperpigmentation
As explained in previous sections, collagen protects against excessive melanin production, which can reduce hyperpigmentation and decrease the appearance of spots, skin darkening, age spots, and even skin cancer. A 2022 study found that daily intake of 5 g of collagen over a period of 3 months led to a significant reduction in pigmentation spots.
Collagen for Wound Healing
In a healing wound, collagen is synthesized by cells such as fibroblasts and modified into complex morphologies. The type, amount, and organization of collagen in a healing wound determine the tensile strength of the healed skin. Additionally, collagen is believed to initiate a strong and sharp inflammatory response that is transient and resolves quickly to promote wound healing progression. Furthermore, collagen plays an important role in promoting the anti-inflammatory, proangiogenic phenotype of wound macrophages through microRNA signaling. It also contributes to angiogenesis and extracellular matrix remodeling, which are crucial in the wound and burn healing processes.
One study investigated the effects of a high-dose collagen drink (40 g daily for 4 weeks) on the healing of burn wounds. The results showed that those consuming the collagen drink (or collagen with omega-3 fatty acids) experienced faster wound healing and improved scar status. Another study also reported positive results, indicating that a supplement based on hydrolyzed collagen can significantly improve wound healing, pre-albumin circulation, and reduce hospital stay duration in burn patients.
How Much Collagen is Needed for Optimal Skin Health?
Currently, health authorities have not provided official guidelines on the exact daily amount of collagen to consume. Most studies examining the impact of collagen on skin health have used daily doses ranging from 5 to 15 grams, and this amount is generally considered effective and safe for use. Additionally, it’s important to note that collagen supplements should be taken for a period of at least 1-2 months to achieve visible results. Moreover, fish collagen might be a better choice as its smaller molecules are absorbed more efficiently in our bodies compared to bovine or porcine collagen.
Which Collagen is Best for the Skin?
The benefits of collagen for skin health are undisputed, but the question remains: which is the best?
Beauty Harmony Collagen is a unique product on the Croatian market that contains a combination of 2 patented collagens: Naticol® and Naticol® CySkin. These form a blend of 10,000 mg of peptide complex and L-Cystine with a unique amino acid profile, which supports skin health in several ways:
- Increases collagen levels in the skin
- Improves skin firmness
- Enhances skin elasticity
- Boosts skin hydration
- Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and pigmentation spots
With a protein content of over 99% relative to dry matter, Naticol® products are among the purest collagen peptides on the market and offer an excellent neutral sensory profile. It contains hydrolyzed fish collagen type I, which is considered the strongest and safest form of collagen. Generally, fish collagen is more effectively absorbed in the body due to its smaller molecules compared to bovine or porcine collagen. Studies conducted on Naticol® have demonstrated its anti-aging effects and its ability to stimulate dermal collagen synthesis:
- Naticol® reduces wrinkles by 11%
- Naticol® increases skin firmness by 20%
- Naticol® improves skin elasticity by 24%
- Naticol® enhances skin hydration by 23%
Additionally, L-cystine has shown the ability to stimulate the growth of epidermal keratinocytes (in vitro). Besides the patented collagen, Beauty Harmony Collagen is enriched with a high amount of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), hyaluronic acid, coenzyme Q10, amino acids, zinc, and natural extracts of wild and cultivated rose hips, to further boost collagen production and contribute to skin health and beauty. What sets Beauty Harmony Collagen apart from other similar products is that it is a liquid collagen with a great taste, featuring 4 types of fruit: apple, red currant, raspberry, elderberry, with the addition of the natural sweetener stevia.
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