Collagen

-three major parts to our skin: collagen, elastin, GAGs (Glycosaminoglycans)

-type of protein

-relation to the skin

-more than 28 types of collagen that naturally occur in the body:
~collagen one: skin, tendon, vascular,ligature, organs, bone

~collagen two: cartilage

~collagen three: reticulate

~collagen four: forms bases of cell basement membrane

-most plentiful proteins present in the bodies of mammals, including humans

-more than 80% of our skin made of collagen

-it makes up about 25% of the total amount of proteins in the body

-the combination of collagen & elastin is very important in many parts of the body

-without it, the body would, quite literally, fall apart

-as people age, collagen degradation occurs, leading to wrinkles



-processing great tensile strength, collagen functions in a manner that is very different from many other types of protein

-can be found both inside and outside of cells

-collagen fibers are important in contributing to the external structure of cells & present on the inside of some cells as well

-some skincare professionals, advise people on ways to stimulate the production of collagen in skins cells

-because it is so important in the body, collagen also has many medicine uses:


~cosmetic surgery procedures

~burns surgery

~supplement created for joint mobility

~treating & managing serious burns

~used in creating man-made skin substitutes

Functions of Collagen
-supports & connects other bodily tissues such as skin, bone, tendons, muscles & cartilage

-supports the internal organs: lung, bones, tendons

-support teeth



-provides firmness, strength, flexibility & resilience

-blood vessels rely on both collagen & elastin

-fights the visible effects of aging on the skin

-tissues development

-present in the cornea and lens of the eye in crystalline form

-hydrolyzed collagen can play an important role in weight management

-as a protein, it can be advantageously used for its satiating power

-construction of artificial skin

Deficiency
-osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)

-Ehlers-danlos syndrome



-Alport syndrome

-Ulrich myopathy

-Atopic dermatitis

Side Effects
When used cosmetically, there is a chance of allergic reactions causing prolonged redness; however, this can be virtually eliminates by simple inconspicious patch testing prior to cosmetic use.

Sources for Medical & Cosmetic Use
Most medical collagen is derived from:
~young beef cattle (bovine) from certified BSE (Bovine spongiform encephalopathy) free animals

~most manufacturers use donor animals from either "closed herds" or from countries which have never had a reported case of BSE such as Australia, Brazil, New Zealand

~porcine (pig) tissue is also widely used for producing collagen sheet for a variety of surgical purposes

~patient's own fat, hyaluronic acid or polyacrylamide gel

~eqine

~human