What is Collagen? All You Need to Know

By Sara M, Founder

What is Collagen? All You Need to Know

  • Type 1: Collagen is majorly responsible for providing a proper structure to your skin, bones, ligaments, and tendons.
  • Type 2: Type 2 collagen is found in elastic cartilage. It is responsible for providing joint support.Collagen accounts for 30% of the total protein present in the human body. It is present in our skin, bones, tissues, and where not. The levels of collagen in your body are directly proportional to your skin and bone health. The structure and strength of human skin and bones are greatly influenced by the amount of collagen present in the body.
  • Although collagen levels naturally decrease as you age, you can prevent collagen loss by paying attention to your diet and taking proper care of your skin. Taking collagen supplements can be a good idea, but there are also some dietary and skincare recommendations that you can consider. As per ScienceDirect, using collagen-rich products or taking collagen supplements can promote skin health by reducing wrinkle formation. 
  • Let us take a deeper dive into what collagen is, what it does, and how you can maintain ideal collagen levels in your body:

  • What is Collagen?

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  • Collagen is a type of protein found in human skin, bones, tissues, cartilage, and tendons. It is the most rich protein in the human body as it makes up 30% of your body’s total protein. It is like the building blocks of human skin, bones, and tissues. 
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  • The amount of collagen present in your body directly impacts the health of your skin and bones. Like every protein, Collagen is also made up of certain amino acids, including proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline. The major role of Collagen is to provide proper structure and strength to your skin, bone, and your overall body.

  • Types of Collagen

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  • Collagen is of 28 types, which differ on the basis of how molecules have been assembled and also based on where is this collagen used in your body. Understanding all the 28 types of collagen can be challenging, but let us help you understand 5 major collagen types:
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  • Type 1: This is the most important type of collagen as it makes up 90% of the total collagen present in your body. The molecules are densely packed in this. 
  • Type 3: Type 3 collagen is found in human organs, arteries, and muscles.
  • Type 4: Type 4 collagen is found in the layers of your skin.
  • Type 5: Type 5 collagen is also found in some layers of your skin along with your hair, cornea, and placenta tissue.

    • Why is Collagen Important?

    Collagen is one of the most important proteins present in the human body. As mentioned earlier, it provides structural support to human skin and bones. Apart from this, collagen plays a vital role in cellular processes, such as immune response, tissue repair, cellular communication, and cellular migration. Some other major functions of collagen are listed below:


    • It plays an important role in replacing dead skin cells in the human body.
    • It helps fibroblasts form in your middle skin layer, which further contributes to the growth of new cells.
    • It provides a protective covering for the organs.
    • It is responsible for providing elasticity and strength to your skin.
    • It helps your blood to clot.

    How to Know If Your Body is Experiencing Collagen Loss?

    Collagen is naturally present in your body and it keeps producing. In case collagen levels decrease in your body, you can even consume it through dietary sources, such as chicken, fish, or collagen supplements. Even cosmetic companies use collagen in skincare products, such as moisturizers, face serums, etc. But an important question that arises here is: how do you know if collagen level is decreasing in your body?


    Honestly saying, you can not measure collagen in a blood test or in any other way. However, there are signs that you may notice when your body’s collagen levels are decreasing. These signs include:

    • Wrinkled, dull, or dry skin
    • Shrinking or weakening muscles
    • Ligaments and tendons becoming less flexible
    • Joint pain due to worn cartilage or loss of mobility due to joint damage
    • Thinning of the lining of your digestive tract, which may cause gastrointestinal issues

    What Happens to Collagen As You Age?

    As you become older, the collagen levels in your body start decreasing. The existing collagen breaks down at a faster rate and new collagen is produced in lower amounts. As per studies, a woman’s body loses around 30% of its collagen during the first five years of menopause. After the age of 60, everyone experiences a significant reduction in collagen levels, resulting in wrinkled skin, stiff muscles, and weaker bones. 

    Possible Reasons for Collagen Loss

    Losing collagen with age is a natural process. However, some dietary habits and supplements can accelerate the process of collagen loss at younger ages as well. Individuals who often consume alcohol or cigarettes experience collagen loss much faster than those who don’t consume these things. 


    Apart from this, diets that include added sugar and extra processed foods can also have a negative impact on your body’s collagen levels. Another reason for premature skin aging due to collagen loss can be sun exposure. This is why it is advisable to wear SPF sunscreen whenever you step out in the sun.

    How To Maintain Collagen Levels in Your Body

    In order to increase and maintain an ideal collagen level in your body, you will have to pay special attention to your diet as well as the skincare routine that you follow. Here are some tips that you can consider:


  • Taking Collagen-Rich Diet: Collagen is found in the bodies of all animals, more specifically in their joints and bones. So, taking foods such as chicken skin, fish skin, jellyfish, and products made from animal bones & ligaments, can be highly effective in improving collagen levels in your body. Apart from this, beans, whole, grains, eggs, foods containing Vitamin C, amino acids, etc, can be helpful.

  • Minimizing Sun Exposure: Exposure to the sun’s UV rays can significantly damage collagen. You can reduce the impact of sun exposure on your skin by wearing sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. 

  • Avoiding Habits That Damage Collagen: Smoking and alcohol consumption should be minimized or entirely avoided as these habits can badly damage your body’s natural collagen. Also, you must avoid processed foods and foods with added sugars.

  • Using Collagen-Rich Skincare Products: You can look for collagen-rich skincare products, including moisturizers, face serums, toners, etc. Generally, anti-aging skincare products contain collagen in good amounts. 

  • Taking Collagen Supplements: Taking collagen supplements is another great idea that you can consider to maintain ideal collagen levels in your body. These supplements can help improve your skin appearance as well as bone health, minimizing the impact of collagen loss with age. 

    • Benefits of Taking Collagen Supplements

    Collagen supplements are made using breaking down the proteins into smaller parts to make it easier for the human body to absorb. As per a study conducted by NLM, collagen supplements can support skin health by improving skin hydration and elasticity. Not only this, but these supplements also have great benefits in terms of bone health. Here’s why you should consider taking collagen supplements if your body has low levels of collagen:

    • Studies suggest that hydrolyzed collagen supplements can greatly improve skin elasticity, hydration, and the appearance of wrinkles. Taking 0.5 to 15 grams of collagen supplement per day for 8 weeks or longer can be highly beneficial.
    • Taking  5 grams of collagen peptides per day for one year can significantly increase BMD in women’s spine and femur post-menopause.

    Final Thoughts..

    Collagen plays a vital role in providing strength and structure to the human body. Although the debate around the effectiveness of collagen supplements continues, we cannot overlook the importance of collagen in maintaining skin and bone health. For this, you must ensure that you take a collagen-rich diet and avoid habits like smoking that can result in collagen loss. 


    Take a well-balanced diet, protect your skin from sun exposure, and avoid drinking or smoking too often. By following all these, you can prevent collagen loss to a great extent and keep your skin and bones healthy for longer periods.

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