The natural decline of collagen levels in the body that takes place with age—approximately 1 percent per year after the age of 20—can take a toll on the health and appearance of our skin, causing wrinkles and sometimes other issues like dryness, eczema, etc. (1)(2). Although there is an endless number of topical products offering solutions toward achieving healthy and radiant skin, what you put in your body, rather than on, can often have a significantly greater impact.

Collagen’s Effect on Skin

Collagen is the protein that gives our skin structure and elasticity, so it’s no surprise that maintaining healthy levels of this vital nutrient has been linked to improving skin health. 

When we are young, a glowing and healthy complexion is attributed to the ample amounts of collagen that the body naturally produces. Luckily, research has shown that high-quality collagen supplements can be an effective way to compensate for the natural collagen loss that comes with age (1)(2).

So, what can collagen help, as far as skin is concerned? 

1. Fine Lines & Wrinkles

Although wrinkles are a natural part of aging, it’s no secret that many of us would prefer to minimize them if we can. Research shows that regular collagen consumption is effective in reducing wrinkles by helping the body to produce its own collagen and by promoting elasticity and moisture (1). In one study, 69 women aged 35-55 years experienced a significant reduction in eye wrinkles after consuming hydrolyzed collagen for 8 weeks (3).

2. Dry Skin

Dry, flakey skin is a hallmark of aging, and living in a colder climate (yes, we’re talking to you, fellow Canadians!) can further exacerbate the issue. If it seems like no amount of moisturizer will help to quench your dry skin, you might benefit from a marine collagen supplement. Regular collagen consumption has been shown to improve the skin’s moisture barrier by boosting hydration, density, elasticity, and structure (4).

3. Eczema & Psoriasis

Many different factors might contribute to chronic, inflammatory autoimmune skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, such as genetics, allergies, chemical irritants, etc. However, consuming foods that support a healthy immune system can help minimize inflammation.

Although research on the effect that collagen has on eczema and psoriasis is limited, collagen is often recommended to people who have skin issues because of its ability to improve skin health, including hydration and structure (4).

As a source of 8 essential and 8 non-essential amino acids, hydrolyzed marine collagen is also a high-quality protein. Consuming adequate amounts of protein (the general consensus among nutritionists is approximately 1 g per 2 pounds of body weight daily) is important in treating skin issues, like eczema and psoriasis, as it is essential for skin healing.

4. Cellulite

Cellulite is a normal and healthy feature of many women, and sometimes even men’s, bodies. However, if it is something you are concerned about, regular consumption of collagen can help to minimize the appearance of cellulite. In a 6-month study, 105 women ages 24-50 years old saw a significant decrease in cellulite after ingesting collagen daily (5).

Why Landish Marine Collagen is the smarter choice for your skin

Choosing a high-quality collagen is important to reap the skin benefits that this nutrient has to offer. Here’s why. 

Bioavailability

As its name implies, Landish North Atlantic Marine Collagen is made highly bioavailable (easily absorbable) through hydrolysis, a process using a food-grade, water-based acidic formula and non-GMO enzymes to break collagen protein molecules down to shorter chains of amino acids called peptides. This process doesn’t involve using any synthetic (unnatural) chemicals so there is no possibility of the final product being contaminated by any undesirable processing agents.

Marine collagen has also been proven to have a greater absorption rate than other animal sources due to its low molecular weight (6). Research has also shown that marine collagen peptides are efficiently absorbed from the digestive tract, as high levels of peptides are found in the bloodstream following ingestion (7).

Purity

Moreover, marine collagen made from wild-caught fish is guaranteed to be free of any hormones or antibiotics, which is often not the case for bovine collagen (made from cowhides), the most widely sold collagen on the market by far.

Finally, you’ve almost certainly heard that fish can contain heavy metals such as mercury. In this case, worry not! During hydrolysis, any heavy metals are filtered out and our final product is third party lab tested to ensure purity. For example, mercury is undetectable in our collagen at a sensitivity level of 0.02 parts per million (ppm), which is 25 times lower than the Canadian health standard of 0.5 ppm. Now that’s what we call pure!

With no fishy taste or smell, our pure, wild-caught and Canadian-made marine collagen is the perfect addition to any beverage or food of your choice. Shop our North Atlantic Marine Collagen now—your skin will thank you! 

Referenced Sources

• Ganceviciene, R, et al. (2012) Skin anti-aging strategies.
• Proksch, E, et al. (2013) Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
• Proksch, E, et al. (2013) Oral Intake of Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides Reduces Skin Wrinkles and Increases Dermal Matrix Synthesis.
• Schunck, et al. (2015) Dietary Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides Has a Body Mass Index-Dependent Beneficial Effect on Cellulite Morphology, Journal of Medicinal Food.
• Asserin, J. (2015). The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network: evidence from an ex vivo model and randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials.
• Vollmer, D. L, et al. (2018) Enhancing Skin Health: By Oral Administration of Natural Compounds and Minerals with Implications to the Dermal Microbiome.
• Hitoshi Matsumoto, et al. (2006) Clinical Effects of Fish Type I collagen hydrolysate on skin properties, ITE Letters on Batteries, New Technologies and Medicine.