What Are The Different Collagen Types
There are over 16 collagen types, but the most plentiful are types I, II, III, and IV.
- Type I: Nearly 90% of the human body’s collagen is within the type 1 classification. It makes up fibers that form bone, skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and more. It’s a critical structural aspect of several tissues and bodily functions.
- Type II: This collagen type forms articular cartilage and makes up around 50% of cartilage protein. Articular cartilage’s primary role is to cushion joints.
- Type III: This collagen type supports the structure of muscles, organs, and arteries.
- Type IV: Various physiological and pathological functions rely on type IV cartilage.
How To Integrate Collagen Into Your Diet To Promote Hair Growth
Want to try adding collagen supplements into your routine to support healthy hair growth?
A collagen supplement can give you an extra dose of collagen. Collagen supplements are sold in pill form and powder form, so that you can easily incorporate them into your routine.
You can also up your collagen intake by eating more foods that contain natural collagen. Some collagen-rich foods include:
- Chicken
- Beans
- Nuts
To keep your collagen levels up, living a balanced, healthy lifestyle is key. Make sure you eat a balanced diet, avoid smoking, and wear SPF when going outside.
If you do decide to try taking a collagen supplement for hair growth, it’s important that you avoid taking too many pills at once. “There is a specific medical condition called Scleroderma that arises from an overproduction of collagen in the skin, which can lead to several skin-related complications,” Herbert tells Live Science. “This however is very rare and unlikely to arise from normal diet or supplementation. There is no RDA for collagen however studies investigating the benefits of collagen supplements have evaluated doses ranging from 2.5 to 10 grams per day.”
In other words, try to take the recommended dosage of collagen – more isn’t always better.
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Do Collagen Peptide Supplements Help With Hair Growth
Many people take a daily collagen supplement as part of their daily nutritional regimen. Many positive effects are attributed to collagen, from stronger, more limber joints to fresher, smoother skin. One other benefit claimed for collagen supplements is that they can improve your hair, making it thicker, stronger, and glossier. Is there any evidence to support the use of collagen? Specifically, does collagen help hair growth?
There are some fact-based reasons to think that collagen really might help your hair to grow thicker and stronger particularly collagen peptide supplements. Here are a few reasons to try collagen peptide powder for your hair.
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Collagen For Hair Growth
Collagen is an important component of health and function of scalp and hair follicles. Some believe collagen supplements can stimulate hair growth, prevent hair loss and slow graying, but more research is needed.
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How Much Collagen Should I Take For Hair Growth
You should focus on taking a sufficient amount of protein per day, rather than focusing on collagen alone. A sedentary adult should consume 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, or 0.36 grams per pound. Ensure you consume enough protein from varied sources. Note that hydroproxyline is only available through consumption of collagen and not available through other protein sources. Depending on your lifestyle and particular body needs (if you exercise regularly your muscle will require a higher amount of collagen, therefore increasing an overall need to have leftover for your hair. A 2.5-15mg daily dose appears to be safe and effective.
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Collagens Role In Supporting Follicle Function
Collagen plays a significant role in maintaining follicle function, even though only a tiny amount of collagen is located in the outer layers of your hair shaft. Yet, you can find it in the dermal tissue surrounding your follicles.
Several studies have shown that during the hair’s growth phase, the collagen amount surrounding the hair bulb thickens and increases. When the hair follicle passes into the catagen stage, it sheds two layers of collagen encompassing it.
As our bodies create more collagen, the layers regenerate. This supports our hair follicles re-entering the anagen phase, maintaining the ongoing hair growth cycle.
Theory: Collagen Peptides Slow Hair From Graying
It has also been proposed that free radicals contribute to graying hair, the so-called free radical theory of graying. Our hair naturally loses pigment as it ages, but exposure to free radicals possibly makes this worse.
The theory is that free radicals destroy the cells that make the pigment in our hair, and without enough antioxidants to help defend against this destruction of cells, hair begins to turn gray.
Presumably, according to this theory, increasing antioxidant consumption could slow down the graying process.
We need more research to better understand the effect of antioxidants on the graying process and whether collagen supplements can promote antioxidant activity in your body to help fight free radicals and slow this process.
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How Does Collagen Help Prevent Thinning Hair
Our hair is mainly made up of the protein keratin. Collagen has amino acids that help build keratin. Therefore, when you consume collagen, you are providing your body with the essential amino acids it needs to make new proteins and compounds, including your hair.
Collagen also helps fight damage to hair follicles caused by free radicals. Free radicals are compounds that develop in y9oru body because of stress, air pollutants, smoking, poor dietary choices, alcohol, and other environmental influences.
70% of our dermis is also made up of collagen. The dermis is the middle layer of our skin that holds each individual root of our hair. According to the National Library of Medicine, collagen may prevent hair thinning associated with aging by contributing to the elasticity and strength of your dermis.
The Relationship Between Collagen And Vitamin C
One of the reasons that could potentially drive you to take the collagen supplement is the complex process required to synthesize this protein.
You see, for natural collagen production, it needs to go through multiple steps that need vitamins, enzymes, and co-factors. One of these indispensable compounds is vitamin C, which is critical for the production of type I collagen. Of course, this means that vitamin C is also necessary for types II, III, and IV collagen.
Vitamin C ensures the structural integrity of collagen. Other compounds also intervene with collagen production. A disruption at any point of this interconnected chain will halt the synthesis of collagen.
Before taking any collagen supplementation, make sure to speak with your primary care physician, dermatologist, or nutritionist to receive tailored medical advice.
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Include More Antioxidants Into Your Routine
We are constantly exposed to free radicals. As we age, our bodys ability to fight free radicals starts to decrease, while the production of free radicals increases. This is when oxidative stress occurs. Oxidative stress can cause a range of medical conditions from hair loss to cancer.
While we can always add more free-radical-fighting foods into our diet like dark chocolate, berries, and nuts, supplementing with a powerful antioxidant, like Masqueliers French Pine Bark Original OPC is one of the best forms of protection from free radical damage.
These tablets are clinically studied and scientifically proven to neutralize excess free radicals and toxins and strengthen your vascular system for maximum blood flow and blood circulation throughout the body, including the scalp.
This antioxidant also acts as a protector and vitamin for collagen, which can improve the quality and health of the hair and scalp. With regular use of this treatment, women typically also experience other benefits like a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, a more supple complexion, and a strengthened immune system.13
Benefits Of Collagen Peptides For Hair
Many of the purported benefits of collagen peptides for the hair are the result of orally ingesting them either through supplements or natural diet. Kinler explains that collagen peptides do not necessarily impact growth or loss per se, rather they impact the health of the follicle for optimal growth. Collagen peptides are often found in powdered form or as an ingredient listed in hair supplement capsules. Garshick explains that the hydrolyzed collagen peptides are smaller molecules that allow for more easy absorption from the gut to the bloodstream. “Peptides, more specifically, are chains of amino acids and are considered the building blocks of proteins,” Garshick explains.
While topical application of collagen peptides does not have the same effect on the hair and skin, they do still provide benefits. Kinler says “Collagen peptide infused shampoos and conditioners or serums are really about moisture and the amino acids benefits protecting and defending hair and scalp.” Garshick adds that when peptides are applied to the skin, they provides a signal to the body that healing or recovery needs to take place and this actually helps to boost natural collagen production. Research has shown collagen peptides’ ability to accelerate wound healing and prevent scar formation.
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May Prevent Hair Thinning Associated With Aging
Collagen makes up 70% of your dermis, the middle layer of your skin that contains the root of each individual hair .
In particular, collagen contributes to the elasticity and strength of your dermis. With age, your body becomes less efficient at producing collagen and replenishing cells in the dermis. This may be one of the reasons why hair gets thinner over time .
Therefore, providing your body with collagen may help maintain a healthy dermis and prevent hair thinning.
One eight-week study in 69 women aged 3555 found that taking daily collagen supplements significantly improved skin elasticity compared to a placebo .
Another 12-week study in more than 1,000 adults found that a daily collagen supplement improved the amount of this protein in the skin and reduced signs of skin aging .
Since hair grows out of your skin, the potential of collagen to counteract the effects of skin aging may contribute to better hair growth and decreased thinning. However, research on the impact of collagen on hair thinning is unavailable.
Summary
Since collagen protects the layer of skin that contains hair roots, it may help prevent age-related hair loss and thinning but research on these effects is currently unavailable.
Collagen Improves Circulation And Skin Elasticity To Prevent Thinning Hair
According to the Academy of Dermatology, your hair grows from a root in the bottom of the hair follicle. The root is made of cells and protein, and the blood from the blood vessels in your scalp feed the root. This creates more cells and makes the hair grow.
In several in vitro studies, collagen has been shown to enhance the cells in your scalp that are responsible for creating the connective tissue that keeps your skin around the root from expanding and blood circulating. In laymans terms, collagen keeps the pores on your head tight and the hair follicle closer. This ensures that your hair absorbs the maximum amount of nutrients to grow thicker and healthier.
The same studies also found an increase in overall collagen levels that improve collagens structural properties , an increase in the dermal matrix precursors , as well as an increase in collagen type I .
As the hair grows, it gets pushed up through the skin and takes the newly generated cells with itcreating an abundance of thicker hair! As we age, our bodies become less efficient at producing collagen, so taking a collagen supplement can replenish the cells in the dermis and fight age-related hair thinning!
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Does Collagen Help Hair Loss What You Need To Know
Collagen is a key component of the body’s different structures. You can find this substance in both humans and animals. Primarily, collagen and collagen peptides are found in the skin, hair, nails, bones, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and blood vessels.
The important role of this substance and its abundance in various tissues drove the collagen supplement industry to grow.
In this article, we will cover some of the benefits that collagen offer for the integumentary system, then switch focus to the main topic – does collagen help hair loss? But first, let us briefly touch on the types of collagen, as well as its relationship with vitamin D, vitamin E and other compounds.
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Neocell Super Collagen Powder
NeoCell Super Collagen powder is a dietary supplement that can be added to any beverage of your choice. According to Dr. Russak, consistency and choosing a supplement with a minimum of 2000mg like NeoCell Collagen supplements is key and after about a month, youll see how the supplement replenishes and rebuilds damaged collagen fibers resulting in.
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Theory: Collagen Peptides Fight Free Radical Damage To Hair Follicles
One theory about why hair loses quality as we age focuses on the battle between free radicals and antioxidants. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that can directly damage the proteins, DNA and lipids that make up our cells.
In particular, circumstantial evidence suggests that free radicals may damage our hair follicles the tunnel-like structure under our outer layer of skin where hair starts to grow and collagen is particularly susceptible to attack.
Our bodies produce free radicals , but they are also found in our environment in things like UV rays, cigarette smoke and other pollutants. Antioxidants, in contrast, can reduce and neutralize these molecules but, not surprisingly, we make fewer of these as we age.
The idea is that because collagen is thought to boost the activity of fibroblasts which induce natural collagen production in our bodies oral collagen supplementation may help counter the loss of collagen via free radicals by helping spur natural collagen production.
More research is needed to determine whether taking collagen supplements can help fight free radicals in your body, including those that may damage your hair follicles.
What Does Collagen Do For Hair
Collagen acts as an antioxidant, according to several studies.
What good are antioxidants for hair? Well, antioxidants fight off the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are compounds that your body develops as a result of several factors, and theyre harmful to lots of things, including hair.
Collagen can even help prevent hair thinning by strengthening skin around your hair roots. It may even help slow down your hair turning grey.
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Contact A Bay Area Hair Restoration Specialist To See If Hairline Surgery Is Right For You
Dont count on collagen supplements to restore your thick head of hair or prevent baldness, if balding has already started. When incorporated with a healthy lifestyle, collagen pills and powders may prolong or slow hair loss, but not cure it. For male or female hair loss treatment and hair restoration, contact MHTA Clinic today for a free and confidential consultation with Dr. Diep.
How Can Collagen Improve Your Hair
Collagen can evidently help to support healthier skin and joints but what about hair health? There are many anecdotal accounts of collagen being a game changer for hair, but just how accurate are these stories?
According to a study in Science, we know that hair loss is directly linked to our natural collagen supplies. This is why many men and women experience hair thinning as they age.
“Collagen is primarily made up of three nonessential amino acids: proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline and it is Proline, which is also the main component of keratin, the fibrous wool-like substance that makes up our hair and nails,” explains Medical Physicist and founder of 28 Day Skin, Kevin Herbert. “Consuming proline-rich collagen provides our body with the building blocks it needs to create hair.”
“There isn’t a huge amount of clinical data to support how collagen helps hair growth,” adds Herbert. Yet the minimal research so far is promising.
Some studies in and Food and Function have been done on the potential for collagen, which is an antioxidant, to fight free radicals that can damage hair follicles. However, there are few human studies that illustrate just how effective collagen supplements are for people with hair follicle damage.
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Collagen Fights Free Radical Damage That Contributes To Weak And Brittle Hair
Around our mid-20s and early-30s, our bodys ability to produce collagen declines, and we eventually stop producing it altogether. Over time, whatever collagen we do have in our bodies begin to decline as well. This is typically when the physical signs of aging kick infine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, achy joints, and even weak and brittle hair. If wrinkles and sagging skin werent bad enough, whats worse is that as we continue to age and our collagen supply is dwindles, we become even more susceptible to elements that accelerate the aging processlike free radical damage. Free radicals are compounds that develop in your body as a result of environmental influences like air pollutants, smoking, alcohol, poor dietary choices, and more. Free radical damage can have adverse effects on our health, including damage to our hair follicles.
In order to combat free-radical damage and promote healthy hair, your body needs a healthy supply of antioxidants. Certain types of collagen, like marine collagen, can act as an antioxidant and fight damage caused by free radicals. Marine collagen is also rich with Type I collagen, which happens to be one of the most abundant types of collagen found in the human body. Type I collagen not only provide your body with adequate antioxidants to fight free radicals and prevent damaged and brittle hair, but also strengthens weaker hair follicles to reduce breakage.