Is there a right time to start collagen for anti-ageing?

If you follow the beauty world, you must have heard of collagen! It is one of the most heard about terms in the beauty realm. And for all the right reasons! For starters, it is the building block for your skin, hair, muscles, and bone. It contains a lot of anti-ageing properties that slow down the signs and makes you look radiant.

While there is a lot of buzz around collagen, do you know when you should start taking it? Health Shots asked Dr Renita Rajan, Celebrity Cosmetic Dermatologist, and Chief Consultant at RENDER Skin & Hair Clinics, about the right time to start collagen supplements. Here’s what she has to say.

When should you start taking collagen?

As per the dermatologist, collagen content in the skin is at its maximum between the late teens and late twenties. However, the decline of collagen content in the skin varies from one individual to another. It also depends on whether or not a person is suffering from a health condition.

“For some, it may be evident as early as 25 years of age, but for others, collagen depletion may be genetically programmed to start only at 34 years of age,” says Dr Rajan.

How to take collagen?

Dr Rajan suggests two ways of taking collagen, depending on your requirement:

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If you have noticed signs of ageing:

For someone who has already noticed the onset of ageing in terms of fine lines on your skin, or skin sagging, wrinkles, dullness, or if you are using collagen for scar remodelling, wound healing, or hair or nail issues – then that primary concern decides when you need to start collagen, suggests the expert.

Also Read: 10 foods you must eat often for wrinkle-free skin

If you want to start collagen for anti-ageing benefits:

For someone who wants to start taking collagen for its benefits in making your skin look younger, it would be alright to start between the late twenties and early thirties. She adds, “You can consider supplements if your diet is unable to provide you with at least 3-4 grams of collagen per day, which is quite possible with some good meal planning.”

Sharing with us the list of foods high in collagen, Dr Rajan says that it is an animal protein that can be derived from fish, beef, or pork.

Also Read: Add the goodness of these antioxidant-rich foods to your diet for healthy and glowing skin

Powder or tablet supplements?

Dr Rajan recommends that collagen powder supplement is better than collagen tablets. She says, “Tablets contain at best 0.5 to 1 g of collagen, while anti-ageing benefits are demonstrated in studies where collagen is used at 5 to 10 g per day, for demonstrable results.”

It is important to look at the source of the collagen mentioned in your supplement. If it says marine collagen, it is obviously fish-derived. If no source is mentioned clearly, then the probable source of the supplement is cattle or beef-derived. If fish-derived, look specifically for mercury-free fish collagen, Dr Rajan concludes.