The recent news stories have been all about collagen in the body and collagen for healthy skin. We have all been hearing about clinical trials being conducted on human volunteers who have been injected with collagen protein to see if it would help them heal more easily from sports injuries. Collagen is a protein that our bodies make naturally, but the aging process makes it break down. In younger age-old humans, collagen protein is present in abundance.
It was once thought that collagen had no effect on one type of aging, like wrinkles on the forehead or facial lines on the face. But after the recent news stories, we are learning that it could play a major role in skin rejuvenation. Basically, collagen is a fibrous protein that our bodies make in huge quantities. It plays a major role in our strength and elasticity. Because it is a protein with two long and short strands, scientists were able to figure out how this fibrous protein was absorbed.
The absorption process worked like this. There was a small tube with a little plastic tube at one end that was fitted into the area being treated. When the skin surface was touched, the collagen molecule was mixed with a small amount of a solution containing trace amounts of metals. After a few minutes, a chemical reaction occurred and the molecule of collagen became hydrated. This hydration gave the user a smoother complexion.
Another use of hydrolyzed collagen is for joint health. If you walk around the grocery stores today, you will see that most of the joint care products that you see are made from collagen. These types of joint health products have been around for years, but they are only just recently being packaged as cosmetic products. One reason why they have been slow to be approved for use as a cosmetic product is that it takes the FDA a lot of time to decide if a compound is safe enough for use in cosmetics. They also want to make sure that the company who makes the product has enough clinical evidence to prove that it works.
Another reason why it has taken so long for collagen to enter the mainstream of skin care products is that it is actually harder to absorb than regular collagen. It is composed mostly of cysts which are insoluble. Collagen type 1 is insoluble and can be readily absorbed by the body. The molecular structure of collagen type 1 collagen makes it very sticky and when you apply it to your skin, it becomes almost impossible to remove because it clogs up the pores.
Fortunately, there is a company in New Zealand that has developed a unique delivery system using their unique nano-hydrolyzed collagen protein. The nano-hydrolyzed daltons, also known as “active” or “visible” daltons, are insoluble in water and can easily be removed by washing the skin with a mild cleanser. Because they are insoluble, the daemons will not slough off of the skin like regular collagen protein would. Instead, the nano-hydrolyzed daltons bond with the skin and form a protective layer. Once this layer is formed, collagen protein will readily absorb into the skin’s layers and will act like a liquid tissue over the years, helping to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.