What Is Collagen, and What Is It Good For ?

Many people hoping to support the health of their skin, joints, and hair pop collagen supplements daily or add collagen powder to their morning coffee, tea, or smoothie.

Even though the use of collagen supplements and other collagen products is on the rise, most people don’t know what collagen actually is or what it does in the body.

This article tells you everything you need to know about collagen, including what it is, what it does in your body, and whether collagen supplements are worth it.

What causes collagen loss ?

As you age, your collagen production naturally declines. Additionally, collagen becomes fragmented and more loosely distributed (10Trusted Source).

These changes lead to the characteristic signs of aging, such as wrinkles and dry, sagging skin. The integrity of the collagen found in the skeletal system decreases with age as well, leading to reductions in bone strength (11Trusted Source).

While collagen loss and damage as you age are inevitable, certain dietary and lifestyle factors can accelerate this process.

For example, smoking cigarettes is known to degrade collagen and cause skin aging, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity (12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).

Excessive drinking has also been shown to accelerate skin aging by reducing collagen production and damaging skin repair mechanisms (13Trusted Source).

Additionally, following a diet high in added sugar and ultra-processed foods can lead to premature aging by contributing to a process called glycation, which reduces collagen turnover and interferes with collagen’s ability to interact with surrounding cells and proteins (14Trusted Source).

Excessive sun exposure degrades collagen production as well, so wearing sunscreen and avoiding excessive sun exposure can help prevent signs of premature skin aging (15Trusted Source).