Wakeup call. What is collagen? Many do not know it, but it is the most abundant protein in the human body, responsible for tissue cohesion (thanks Larousse). Clearly, collagen has the function of cementing cells together, which gives structure to our skin and ensures its resistance. Unfortunately the effects of collagen are limited in time. Its natural production will decrease by 30% during menopause. The results ? The skin sags and wrinkles appear.
According to research published this month in the Journal Cosmetic Dermatology and taken over by the magazine Elle , drinkable collagen could keep skin youthful. In fact, during the study, women who ingested a collagen peptide once a day for eight weeks found that the appearance of their skin had improved. The density of collagen present in the dermis (the middle layer of the skin that separates the epidermis from the hypodermis) has increased. While the fragmentation of the collagen network has decreased. The results are said to have even continued for up to twelve weeks after stopping taking the peptide.
A first study published in 2013 in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology , is also interested in the effects of drinkable collagen. One hundred women ingested a 2.5 gram hydrolyzed collagen peptide 7 days a week for eight weeks. They were able to see 20% less wrinkles around the eyes. The results lasted over the long term:the skin revealed maximum hydration and more elasticity, even 4 weeks after the end of the treatment.
Nevertheless, not all drinkable collagens are equal and do not promise the same effectiveness. "No one knows what actually makes a collagen peptide effective" , says Stephen Oesser, founder of the Collagen Research Institute in Kiel, Germany. He also states that the products on the market are more or less effective (even ineffective for some). His advice:choose products that have been followed by a study.
If drinkable collagen turns out to be a miraculous product in the years to come, eternal youth is ours. In the meantime, a healthy and varied diet as well as good skin care can always help us to preserve it.
