Does collagen help hair growth?

Table Of Content

• Interested in collagen supplements for skin health?
• Gua Sha Experts On How To Lift & Depuff Your Eyes In No Time
• Top 6 Ways Collagen May Improve Your Hair Related Articles
• Wear wide-brimmed or UV-protective hats and clothing when you're spending a lot of time in the sun.
• What are the best types of collagen for hair?
• © 2024 Harvard Health Publishing® of The President and Fellows of Harvard College

However, “our body’s natural collagen production decreases as we age, and the effects of lost collagen result in less firm, more wrinkled skin,” Dr. Saedi adds. There are also external factors, like stress and UV exposure, that can damage and slow down collagen production throughout the body. Oral collagen supplements may be sold as pills, powders, or certain foods. They may be in the form of collagen peptides or hydrolyzed collagen, which are forms of collagen that are broken down and more easily absorbed.

Interested in collagen supplements for skin health?

Collagen supplements might potentially help with hair growth, but there aren’t any studies proving it as a tried-and-true method just yet. Everyone produces collagen naturally from amino acids in the foods we eat, but the goal of collagen supplementation is to increase or boost the total collagen in your body. However, when it comes to hair regrowth, more research is needed to definitively determine how and if collagen supplementation will help. As the body’s most abundant protein, collagen gives structure to many parts of the body, including the hair, skin, nails and ligaments. But since collagen production in the body slows down significantly as we grow older, adding collagen supplements to your diet is recommended. Keep reading to learn all about collagen for hair, including whether it helps with hair growth.

Gua Sha Experts On How To Lift & Depuff Your Eyes In No Time

Foods highest in AGEs include processed meat products like hot dogs and bacon, fried foods like french fries and fried chicken, and roasted and grilled meats, according to newer and older research (33, 34). As mentioned above, diet and other lifestyle factors can significantly affect your body’s collagen production. It’s impossible to prevent all age-related collagen loss, but it is possible to slow down the process.

Top 6 Ways Collagen May Improve Your Hair Related Articles

3 Supplements That Experts Say Are Practically Useless For Thinning Hair—Don’t Waste Your Money! - SheFinds

3 Supplements That Experts Say Are Practically Useless For Thinning Hair—Don’t Waste Your Money!.

Posted: Mon, 31 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. However, research on the effects of collagen on human hair is limited. Nevertheless, research on the antioxidant effects of collagen in humans is currently lacking. Here are 5 evidence-based ways that collagen may improve your hair.

May help maintain a healthy scalp

There is no controlled data showing the efficacy of this product as an addition to specific treatments for hair loss conditions. A 2023 study found that participants given this supplement had a better response to hair treatments than those who received the treatments alone, but the study had several limitations. The study was not double-blind (double-blind means that neither the participants nor the researchers know which treatment the individual participants are receiving). The study's authors were employees of the company that commercialized the product. We don’t have any definitive evidence that collagen supplements work, but we do know that they have the potential to cause harm.

Age-related collagen loss is unavoidable, but dietary and lifestyle factors such as smoking and excessive alcohol intake can speed up this process. Additionally, collagen becomes fragmented and more loosely distributed (10). There are 28 known types of collagen, with type I collagen accounting for 90% of the collagen in the human body (2). Collagen is the primary building block of your body’s skin, muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments, and other connective tissues. It’s also found in your organs, blood vessels and intestinal lining. While more research is needed to support collagen’s effect on hair, people report that taking collagen may help your hair avoid breaking as easily.

Wear wide-brimmed or UV-protective hats and clothing when you're spending a lot of time in the sun.

All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. Collagen has hydrating properties, which help retain moisture in the scalp (and thus, the hair!) (7). Well-hydrated hair is less prone to dryness, brittleness, and breakage.

This can be especially beneficial for those experiencing hair thinning or wanting to enhance the volume and thickness of their hair. Collagen supplements are sold in pill form and powder form, so that you can easily incorporate them into your routine. Collagen is a popular supplement for people looking to support healthier looking skin and hair. Your body needs amino acids to produce keratin, and collagen is well-known for its amino acid content. The body breaks down collagen into amino acids which are then used to produce keratin. Hair is mostly made up of keratin, which is a protein that helps keep hair smooth and promotes the growth of new hair follicles.

© 2024 Harvard Health Publishing® of The President and Fellows of Harvard College

Hydrolyzed collagen is a common type of collagen used in supplements that is created using a process called hydrolysis. This process breaks down the protein into smaller pieces, making it easier for the body to absorb (20). 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. While other benefits may exist, most claims about weight loss, gut health, and brain health aren’t backed by research. Although several foods contain collagen, it’s unknown whether these foods offer the same benefits as supplements. In a 12-month study of postmenopausal women, some took a calcium and vitamin D supplement with 5 grams of collagen and others took a calcium and vitamin D supplement with no collagen daily.

However, some reports suggest that supplements may cause a lingering aftertaste, stomach discomfort, or heartburn (25). Research shows that free radicals may also damage hair follicles. Since your body’s defense against free radicals decreases with aging, older adults are especially susceptible to hair damage (8). Therefore, consuming proline-rich collagen should provide your body with the building blocks it needs to create hair (2). When you consume collagen and other proteins, your body breaks them down into amino acids that are then used to build new proteins and compounds (4).

Within the human body, 29 types of collagen have been identified, with three types making up the vast majority. Collagen molecules are large and cannot be absorbed by the skin. Thus, shampoos and serums containing collagen have little to no effect on increasing hair growth.

It will first be broken down into individual amino acids within the gastrointestinal tract before reaching the bloodstream. The body will then reassemble and form new proteins where it sees necessary and for a use it feels is needed. When digested via the stomach, collagen is broken down into its structural amino acids. These are later used by the body to promote healthy skin, bones, muscles, and maybe even hair.

The FDA doesn't regulate collagen powder or any other type of dietary supplement. So, there's no guarantee that your collagen supplement contains the type or amount of collagen the label says it does. Collagen powder has the same active ingredients as collagen capsules and gummies. Some people find it easier to add collagen powder to drinks or foods than to swallow several capsules. And you may not want the added sugar that's in collagen gummies. Before you reach for a collagen product, it might be a smarter move to ask your doctor or dermatologist why your hair is thinning or falling out.

Emerging research suggests that taking a collagen supplement may generally improve the appearance of the skin. However, biotin is a vitamin that the human body cannot make on its own, so people must get it from another source. Consuming enough protein, vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc in a balanced diet is a healthy and less expensive alternative to supplements.

Many anti-aging treatments seek to slow or reverse aging by supplementing certain proteins or amino acids that give hair and skin a youthful glow. Other types of collagen offer different benefits beyond healthier hair. Types 2 and 3, for example, are rich in the amino acids glycine and proline, which are generally responsible for bone, joint, and organ health. When your body produces collagen, it uses amino acids, vitamin C, zinc and copper. To get the necessary amino acids (Castillo specifically names proline and glycine) you can eat eggs, bone broth, beans and meat.

This may also reduce the need for chemical dyes, keeping your hair healthier for longer. Hair that lacks elasticity tends to break easily and become thinner as time goes on. But collagen offers a way to slow this down, preserving hair density and preventing breakage. Collagen makes up a major component of the dermis layer of the skin. Since hair grows out of your skin, collagen peptide supplementation can prevent thinning by promoting skin elasticity.