The benefits of collagen and vitamin C on our skin and body
At age 25, collagen production in the body generally starts decreasing by as much as one percent each year. This is alarming, according to Dr. Francesca Sy-Alvarado, because collagen is a major structural protein that provides strength to the skin, muscles, bones, and connective tissues.
The board-certified dermatologist gave a talk at the launch of the Watsons Skin Solutions event on Oct. 3. She said for skin issues, one should choose products with active ingredients that stimulate collagen. She mentioned as examples vitamin C and retinol, which is a vitamin A derivative.
What about taking collagen supplements in either capsule, powder, or liquid form? Sy-Alvarado explained to Lifestyle that collagen doesn’t go straight to the skin when ingested. “It’s actually broken down into smaller molecules in the gut. These smaller molecules can be absorbed into the bloodstream and they usually go where they are needed like the hair, the nails, or joints. These small particles will form collagen fibers, and not become collagen right away.”
There’s no strong evidence supporting the use of oral collagen supplementation, she added, so she hopes for more studies to be done by independent medical groups. She then clarified that there’s “no harm” in taking supplements, especially those made by reputable manufacturers with a good reputation in the industry. “But I would say, don’t expect too much.”
Improve diet
Sy-Alvarado suggested instead incorporating collagen-rich food into the diet. Specific examples are meat dishes laden with a gelatinous substance made from bones, ligaments, and tendons, such as bulalo and pares. Other food sources that can help boost collagen production in the body include soy products, citrus fruits, berries, leafy greens, legumes, and avocado.
She also recommended consulting a dermatologist for specific skin problems, as they can be best addressed through different procedures that are done in a clinic. “If you’re taking care of your skin, that means having more collagen. You also want an antioxidant and a sunscreen to protect the skin.”
Another board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Katrina Luz, discussed the benefits of vitamin C, later explaining to us the difference between taking vitamin C supplements and using a topical product with vitamin C as an active ingredient.
Vitamin C
“The topical product will be absorbed into your skin,” she pointed out. “So, you know exactly where it will target the concern. If the concern is dark spots, vitamin C will go to the skin’s layer that is the problem. For collagen production, it will really stimulate at the level of the dermis, which is the second layer of the skin.”
On the other hand, she added, when vitamin C is taken orally, it will be digested in the body and then spread out with no particular target to benefit.
“There’s no fixed amount of vitamin C for topical use,” she said. “It’s really person-to-person as to the quantity. So it’s really about the consistency of use, and then you’ll get to see the effects gradually in time. Usually, it takes at least six to eight weeks for you to see a visible difference in the skin.
“Using the correct amount, of course, will help, like if it’s a cream, use a pea-sized amount. If it’s a serum, two to three drops a day, if your skin is able to tolerate it daily. In the morning, you can use a cleanser, then a vitamin C product, followed by a sunscreen.”
