Last Updated on 20th April 2023 by Caroline Haye
Formulations for health and / or beauty?
Anyone familiar with the story of my “accidental vitiligo recovery” will know that I attribute my re-pigmentation (over a decade ago) to several nutritional supplements. And that one of these was pure collagen powder. Exactly how collagen may have helped was the subject of a previous blog called Collagen and Vitiligo. But in today’s post I want to de-mystify the different types and formulations of collagen products available today. And try to answer the following question… Which collagen supplements help vitiligo most? Or, at least, which ones seem to have the best ingredients for success.
The different types of collagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body… In the whole animal kingdom, no less. Sometimes called “the glue that holds us together”, it is responsible for the entire structure of our connective tissue. This includes bones, skin, cartilage, muscles and internal organs. There are actually multiple types of collagen, nearly 30 in fact. But, of these, just four or five are particularly relevant to human health. And so it is these that feature most often in collagen supplements.
The key collagen Types are:
- I – There is more of this type (roughly 90%) in the human body than any other, including the skin
- II – This is the most common type in supplement form (and the main collagen in cartilage)
- III – This type is found in the structure of our organs and muscles
- IV and V – These are abundant in layers of the skin, as well as other tissues.
However, as far as supplements are concerned, choosing a good quality collagen is more important than choosing a specific type. This is because taking any of the five types listed above encourages your body to produce more collagen of its own. And it will utilise all of that collagen wherever it has the greatest need. (The only exception to this is a particular kind of type II collagen that is especially helpful for arthritis.)
Collagen supplement facts
Because collagen molecules are relatively large, the protein (which consists of a chain of amino acids) has to be modified for use in supplements. This is so that the body can absorb and utilise it more easily. The end result is “hydrolysed” collagen powder, sometimes referred to as collagen peptides.
The best way to take collagen so that your system can effectively synthesise it is with vitamin C. And it is worth knowing that copper and zinc also help to maximise its effectiveness.
Collagen brands usually target specific markets, namely the health, sports and beauty sectors. And the types of collagen, plus any other ingredients used in these products, vary accordingly.
Bovine collagen is used mainly in supplements that target joints, bones, ligaments and muscles, as well as skin. Marine collagen, on the other hand, is better suited to skin and wound healing.
Types I and III collagen typically feature in beauty products. This is because of their positive effects on hair, skin and nails. (Although type I is also used in health and sports products for its joint support.)
You will find type II in many health and fitness supplements due to its joint and cartilage benefits. And it is this type that offers the best results for arthritis sufferers.
Liquid versus powder, supplements versus diet
Some brands of liquid collagen boast that liquid absorbs quicker into the body than powder. But this is a bit misleading because powder becomes a liquid when you mix it with water or juice anyway. And powder is generally much better value for money than a liquid product. In essence, when you buy a liquid collagen you are paying someone else to mix your collagen powder with water for you.
Some people are wary of nutritional supplements. They think it should be possible to get all their nutrients from their food. And they worry about the risk of overdosing on certain vitamins and minerals if no diagnosed deficiency exists. But collagen is a very different kettle of fish (or cow!).
For a start, it is not possible to get collagen in a form the body can use from our diet. And, because everyone beyond the age of around 25 breaks down their collagen reserves at a faster rate than they replenish them, we are all (to a greater or lesser extent) deficient in collagen.
Essentially, the symptoms of this deficiency are what we think of as the ageing process. These are the familiar signs we associate with growing older… Wrinkles, sagging skin, loss of skin and muscle tone, thinning hair, brittle nails, tooth loss, aches and pains, arthritis and wear and tear on the internal organs of the body.
Sources and dietary credentials of collagen
Obviously, we all like to know where ingredients we are putting into our body come from. And whether or not they will agree with us. So it’s worth knowing that collagen is free from most allergens, including gluten, lactose and nuts. And it is also low in carbs, making it both paleo and keto friendly. However, as collagen does not occur in plants, it generally comes from either bovine (cow hide) or marine (fish) sources. So it is not vegetarian or vegan. (And, of course, anyone with a fish allergy would need to avoid marine collagen anyway.) Nevertheless, some people may feel the numerous health benefits of supplementation outweigh this consideration. And, with the exception of anyone with a fish allergy mistakenly taking marine collagen, there are no unwanted risks or side effects to taking supplements.
Pure collagen versus “collagen-plus” products
The collagen powder I have been using for the past 11 years is a pure hydrolysed bovine collagen from Xenca. As I have described, it works really well for me. And I highly recommend pure collagen for its general benefits and as part of a vitiligo protocol. But, of course, I also take other nutritional supplements. (Boost natural tanning capsules and Five a Day super-green food.) So I am sure the nutrients in these help with collagen synthesis too.
Collagen supplements today often include additional ingredients in their formulation. These are what you might call collagen-plus products. So I am in the process of trying a new skin collagen product from the same company. Marketed as “Beauty Collagen”, this is a mix of both bovine and marine collagen… Plus other nutritional and plant ingredients targeted at skin, hair and nail health. My expectation is that I will continue to experience the same benefits of pure bovine collagen that I am used to. But that the added marine collagen and other ingredients will deliver further improvement from a vitiligo perspective.
The additional active ingredients in this raspberry flavour Beauty Collagen are:
- Aloe Vera Extract – This has anti-inflammatory properties and aids the natural production and release of collagen. It also speeds up wound healing and helps repair sun damage.
- Olive Leaf Extract – This anti-ageing, antioxidant ingredient accelerates wound healing, protects against sun damage and has some anecdotal success at re-pigmenting vitiligo.
- Rosemary Leaf Extract – This has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Green Tea extract – This calms irritation, evens out skin discolouration and reduces the appearance of blemishes.
- Vitamin C – This antioxidant is also essential for the production of melanin and for collagen, carnitine and neurotransmitter biosynthesis.
- Vitamin A – Both the upper and lower layers of our skin need vitamin A because it helps prevent sun damage. It does this by interrupting the process that breaks down collagen. It is also important to melanin production.
- Vitamin E – A powerful antioxidant which helps reduce UV damage in skin.
- Vitamin K2 – This has better bioavailability than other forms of Vitamin K. It regulates immune function by reducing inflammation and preventing cellular damage.
- Copper Citrate – A naturally occurring amino acid which helps collagen and elastin production to produce smoother, firmer skin. It also plays a part in the pigmentation process.
- Selenium – This helps prevent free radical damage in skin, guarding against UV damage and inflammation.
- Zinc – This protects against sun damage and works together with copper in contributing to the creation of melanin. It also has antimicrobial properties which may improve the gut and skin microbiome.
The collagen supplement most likely to help vitiligo
To sum up, collagen supplementation is safe and has many health benefits. In addition to which, it can help improve both the texture and appearance of human skin. And, as I have described in other posts, there are many reasons to believe that it may aid vitiligo recovery. The specific type of collagen you take does not seem to be crucial. This is because your body knows how to convert it into the “right type” for the job. But, of course, the quality of collagen used is important, as is the formulation of other ingredients in a “collagen-plus” product.
Given that collagen supplements work best when consumed with certain other nutrients, a collagen-plus formulation makes perfect sense. Especially when some of these ingredients are involved in the pigmentation process. And the inclusion of ingredients with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties may make this Beauty Collagen especially vitiligo-friendly. I have certainly not seen another collagen-plus product that looks as promising. Which is why I have decided to start using it myself and have added it to the other existing collagen supplement options available in Vitiligo Store.
If you decide to try this supplement for yourself I would love to hear your feedback. So please drop me a line via the Contact Me Page or leave a message in the comments below.
