Collagen is far more complex than a single beauty buzzword. While most people have heard of collagen in relation to skin health and aging, few realize that scientists have identified 28 distinct types of collagen in the human body. Each has specialized role in keeping us strong, resilient and youthful from the inside out.
Understanding Collagen Types
Think of collagen as your body's scaffolding system or the body's natural "glue". These proteins provide structure, strength and support to virtually every tissue in your body. The different types are numbered using Roman numerals (Type I, Type II, etc.) and vary in their molecular structure and function.
The Major Players
While all 28 types matter, five types make up the vast majority of collagen in your body:
Type I Collagen accounts for about 90% of your body's collagen. It's the tough, fibrous protein found in your skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, and teeth. This is the type most associated with youthful, firm skin and bone strength.
Type II Collagen is the primary component of cartilage, making it essential for joint health and cushioning. If you've ever heard of people taking collagen supplements for joint pain, they're usually targeting Type II.
Type III Collagen works alongside Type I in skin, blood vessels, and internal organs. It provides structure to hollow organs like your intestines and blood vessels, and plays a crucial role in wound healing.
Type IV Collagen forms the base membrane layers that separate different tissues. Think of it as the filter system in your kidneys and the protective layers around your organs.
Type V Collagen is found in hair, the surface of cells, and the placenta during pregnancy. It works with Types I and III to regulate the formation of collagen fibers.
The Specialists
The remaining 23 types of collagen serve more specialized functions throughout the body:
- Types VI, VII, and XVII support skin structure and cell adhesion
- Types VIII and X play roles in bone development and cartilage calcification
- Type IX and XI assist Type II in cartilage formation
- Types XII, XIV, and XVI help organize and stabilize collagen fiber networks
- Types XIII and XXV are found in cell membranes
- Type XVIII contributes to blood vessel formation and eye health
Some of these "minor" types are still being studied, and researchers continue to discover their specific roles in health and disease.
What Happens as We Age
Starting in our mid-20s, collagen production begins to decline by about 1% per year. This gradual loss contributes to wrinkles, joint stiffness, weaker bones, and decreased muscle mass. Environmental factors like sun exposure, smoking, and high sugar intake can accelerate this breakdown.
How to Support Your Collagen
Diet and healthy lifestyle choices are crucial, but we won't deep dive into those topics in this blog post. We covered that in a previous blog post: https://www.sesenspa.com/blogs/blog/collagen. Here, we'll focus on two topical skincare products that are formulated specifically to support your collagen and to help achieve firmer, more youthful looking skin.
Intensive Pro-Collagen+ Serum and Cream by Institut Esthederm uses patented technology to deliver targeted collagen support directly to your skin.
Both the serum and moisturizer combines 3 biomimetic peptides with a biomimetic plant sugar to stimulate the skin's biological mechanisms and restart the natural production of 5 types of collagen (I, III, IV, VII and XVII) at different levels within the skin. I know, I know this sounds like a sales pitch, but let me focus your attention on two key words: biomimetic and peptides.
Biomimetic is an important indicator, it means that the ingredient mimics the skin's natural processes, making it highly compatible and allowing it to be effective in restoring function rather than just treating surface issues - this approach treats underlying causes of skin concerns by working with the skin's biology.
Collagen, in its native form, cannot be absorbed by the skin - the molecule is too large. That's why formulating with collagen peptides is so important:
- First, peptides have a smaller molecular structure, allowing them to more easily penetrate the skin's outer layer. A product that simply sits on the surface of the skin, can't effect the change you want to see.
- Second, these small (but mighty) molecules are biological messengers that signal skin cells to produce more collagen. Again, the idea is to work with the skin's biology.
The Bottom Line
Your body's 28 types of collagen work together as an intricate network, maintaining everything from your skin's youthful appearance to your joints' smooth movement. While aging inevitably reduces collagen production, supporting your body through proper nutrition, sun protection, healthy lifestyle choices, professional skincare treatments and products can help maintain this crucial protein network for years to come. Via this blog post, I'm introducing you to a moisturizer and serum that are dedicated to doing just that!
Understanding collagen isn't about vanity; it's about vitality. Supporting your body's collagen through a balanced diet, mindful lifestyle choices, professional skincare and nutritional supplementation means nurturing the very framework that keeps you strong and radiant at every age.
