Common Signs of Low Collagen in the Body
Collagen is all the rage lately. If you browse through social media, you’ll find claims of collagen restoring your youthful beauty, erasing wrinkles, and helping your hair grow by the inch. But how do you know if your body actually needs collagen?
Every year after you turn 30, your collagen levels deplete by an average of 1%. Your body gradually loses this structural protein that makes up its connective tissues. To put it simply, we start aging.
While aging might be natural, low collagen symptoms should not be ignored. Below, our team at RenewSkin Co™ explains the top signs of low collagen so you can take action and prioritize your health.
What Is Collagen and What Does It Do?
Collagen is a type of protein molecule made of amino acids that gives your skin, muscles, and connective tissues the support and structure they need to function properly. Your body contains numerous types of proteins, though collagen accounts for about 30% of them. This essential building block forms structures in your organs, tendons, blood, hair, and more.
Collagen plays many important roles in your body, including:
- Giving your skin structure, strength, and elasticity
- Replacing dead cells
- Helping new cells in your dermis grow
- Promoting blood clotting
- And more
Collagen naturally depletes as you age, though this process can happen more rapidly for some people, leading to a concerning deficiency. For example, UV exposure or smoking increases the free radicals in your body. These unstable molecules damage collagen at faster rates, potentially leading to faster skin aging and other concerning symptoms.
Collagen Deficiency Symptoms
Are you suddenly noticing more fine lines around your eyes when you look in the mirror? Do your nails keep chipping off at the ends, no matter how much you spend on the latest mani-pedi? Maybe you just feel generally weak, tired, and achy.
Low collagen symptoms can show up in many different ways. As your body loses this vital protein, you might experience:
Skin Elasticity Loss
Wrinkles form when your skin loses its elasticity from decreased collagen production rates. Around three-quarters of your skin is composed of collagen, so when this vital resource depletes, your body's largest organ cannot repair itself as quickly, leading to increased wrinkle formation.
You might notice more fine lines forming around your eyes, mouth, or hands. Wrinkles do not necessarily mean that you have a deficiency, but if you're suddenly noticing decreased elasticity at a younger age, it might be time to consider collagen masks or supplements.
Thinning Hair
Collagen supports the structures of your hair in the same way it supports your skin. Without this vital protein, your hair follicles cannot recover properly, so you might experience thinning and dull hair.
If you're suffering from a collagen deficiency, your body cannot properly fight off free radicals, such as UV rays, that can damage melanin and break down essential components. Your once glossy and thick hair may now be riddled with split ends.
Brittle Nails
Do your nails keep splitting or peeling at the ends? One of the common symptoms of low collagen is weak or splitting nails due to lower keratin production rates. Collagen contains many of the amino acids found in keratin, which is the building block for strong and healthy nails.
Your nails can become brittle from a variety of other causes as well, such as gel or acrylic treatments. But if you're experiencing weak nails along with thinning hair and poor skin elasticity, collagen is likely the culprit. You can incorporate a high-quality supplement into your diet, like Taut® Premium Collagen Powder, to restore your natural radiance and cell structure.
Increased Joint Pain or Issues Recovering From Injuries
Low collagen doesn't just affect your outward appearance. Because this protein forms structures found throughout the body, you may experience numerous physical symptoms if your levels are low.
After working out, collagen helps aid in the muscle recovery process, helping to repair and restore your cells. If you're feeling excessively weak, tired, or achy lately, a deficiency may be to blame. Because this protein aids in cell repair, it can also contribute to longer wound healing times, meaning a minor scratch might take a week to scab over rather than days.
Bone Density Loss
As collagen declines throughout the body, we also face decreased bone density levels, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. If you're noticing any of the other common low collagen symptoms along with concerns like increased fractures, back pain, or loss of height, consider having a bone density test done.
Stomach Problems
Does your stomach hurt after every meal? Believe it or not, you may be experiencing one of the common low collagen symptoms.
Your intestines contain many tightly sealed junctions in charge of absorbing nutrients from your food. When your collagen levels drop, your intestinal walls lose their elasticity, just like your skin. You may experience leaky gut, where dangerous particles and bacteria seep through gaps they shouldn't, causing inflammation, bloating, discomfort, infections, and digestive issues.
By restoring your collagen, you give your body the tools it needs to repair your intestinal walls. When shopping for supplements, ensure that the product contains only safe ingredients, so you don't accidentally worsen your gastrointestinal irritation. For example, the Taut® Liquid Collagen Drink is preservative-free, vegetarian, gluten-free, sugar-free, and enriched with only natural flavors, so you aren't introducing any harmful ingredients into your delicate gut biome.
Do You Need To Restore Your Body's Collagen Levels?
If you're experiencing these low collagen symptoms, it may be time to consider adding supplements to your daily routine. You may eat collagen-rich foods, such as bone broth, citrus fruits, or chicken skin. For more significant deficiencies, though, the Taut® Intense Transformation Program delivers science-backed, proven results, offering 13,000 mg of marine collagen peptides in a dermatology-tested, gluten-free, non-GMO, and non-dairy formula.
This three-box program gives you exactly what you need to begin your journey back toward glowing, healthy skin. At RenewSkin Co™, we're here to answer all of your questions about skincare, anti-aging products, and collagen. Next, learn about taking collagen while pregnant.
