Nutrition Edit

Packed into skincare bottles and taking over supplement shelves, collagen is known as one of the building blocks of youthful-looking skin. 'Collagen supplements' is also one of the most-searched terms in the world of skincare.

Collagen is responsible for the elasticity, structure and strength of your skin and depletes with age. But while dermatologists and skincare brands preach the importance of this popular ingredient, often missing from the conversation are the hardworking ingredients – or collagen co-factors – upon which the natural production of collagen depends.

Yes, collagen co-factors are crucial for normal collagen. But what exactly are they? And which ingredients constitute ‘co-factors’? To find out more, we asked our skin experts to explain the role they play when it comes to collagen production.

Firstly, what is collagen?

Collagen is one of the most important proteins found throughout the body. It’s often referred to as the building blocks for bones, muscles and connective tissues and is essential for a strong, resilient skin and body.

These are three main types of collagen. Types 1 and 3 collagen are key components of the skin, which form a structural framework within the dermis layer to give the skin, strength, and elasticity, while type 2 is generally found in the cartilage.

Your body naturally produces collagen, but you can also get it from foods such as chicken fish, bone broth, tomatoes, egg whites, berries, and citrus fruits. As you age, your collagen levels deplete which is why many experts will recommend taking a collagen supplement or adding the ingredient into your skincare routine.

What are collagen co-factors?

Natural production of collagen in the body needs plenty of other ingredients. These are referred to as co-factors; they include vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, phytonutrients and more.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A, also known as the skin vitamin, helps to support skin cell renewal and maintain skin health**, all in all keeping the skin looking fresh and radiant.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a key vitamin and co-factor in the synthesis of collagen. Vitamin C supports collagen production* and must be present in the body to help build healthy-looking, resilient collagen.

MSM

MSM, a chemical found in animals, humans and plants, is known to help maintain collagen production in the skin. It also promotes the production of hyaluronic acid – the anti-ageing ingredient that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water.

Superoxide Dismutase

An enzyme found in skin cells, superoxide dismutase has plenty of skin benefits. Not only is it rich in antioxidants, but it’s also thought to have calming properties for the skin. Research shows that superoxide dismutase helps minimise skin ageing by supporting collagen production too[2].

Phytonutrients

Phytonutrients (examples of which include carotenoids such as flavonoids) are best known for their antioxidant properties along with their ability to help safeguard collagen from signs of premature ageing.

Zinc

Collagen production is dependent on zinc enzymes. Zinc is needed for building keratin and for the formation of the skin’s collagen. Zinc is essential not only for the enzymes producing type 1 and type 3 collagen but also for the cross-linking that gives collagen its durability and stability. Research has shown that decreased zinc in the diet results in decreased total collagen production[1].

Regardless of your age, routine or skin concern, it’s important to be aware of the role of collagen co-factors and to understand the synergy of ingredients required for the natural production of collagen.

*Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of collagen

** Vitamin A contributes to the normal maintenance of skin

Sources:

1. Zinc in Wound Healing Modulation. National Library of Medicine. Pei-Hui Lin, Matthew Sermersheim, Haichang Li, Peter H. U. Lee, Steven M. Steinberg, and Jianjie Ma. January 2018.
2. Extracellular superoxide dismutase prevents skin aging by promoting collagen production via activation of AMPK. National Library of Medicine. Min Jung Lee, Gaurav Agrahari, Hae-Young Kim, Eun-Joo An, Kyung-Hee Chun, Hyeokgu Kang, Yeon-Soo Kim, Chul Whan Bang, Lee-Jung Tak, Tae-Yoon Kim.