We often get questions from customers about the topical use of our cod collagen hydrolysate in homemade creams or facial masks. Recipes for such creams and masks, as well as ready-made collagen creams, are readily available online. They often come with the suggestion that the application of collagen hydrolysate to the skin has a favorable effect on the collagen in skin tissue.

Significance of particle size

This is incorrect. A molecule must be small enough to penetrate the skin. This is known in science as the 500 Dalton rule. Subject to exceptions, the 500 Dalton rule is a good guideline to decide what can actually enter skin cells and the skin’s intercellular matrix.

Our own wild cod collagen hydrolysate has a particle size of 6000 Daltons. This is 12 times greater than 500 Daltons, and thus one can reasonably assume that external application of collagen hydrolysate will have no effect on the skin’s own collagen stock.

To support the production of collagen in your skin, you could use creams or masks but with the following ingredients: Vitamin C, retinoids, niacinamide and MitoQ. These are proven effective, Dalton-wise.

Okay, but what about eating collagen and skin health?

This actually works. The bioavailability of collagen hydrolysate is very good. After taking collagen hydrolysate not only do free amino acids enter the bloodstream (via the small intestine) but also various types of beneficial peptides.

Free amino acids: Glycine, proline and hydroxyproline

For example, prolyl-hydroxyproline (Pro-Hyp) is the peptide most commonly found in the blood after intake of collagen hydrolysate. With respect to the free amino acids, glycine, proline and hydroxyproline all support collagen metabolism throughout the body.

Collagen hydrolysate has a dual effect on skin health

1. The supply of free amino acids, that support the build-up of collagen and elastin.
   2. The supply of peptides, that via receptor activation stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin.

Skin-specific effects of collagen hydrolysate have been well-studied. The conclusion of one study published in 2016 reads as follows:

“This study demonstrated that the use of the collagen hydrolysate with a higher content of Pro-Hyp and Hyp-Gly led to more improvement in facial skin conditions, including facial skin moisture, elasticity, wrinkles and roughness”.

Conclusion

Use creams such as MitoQ serum to support your collagen status from the outside, and nourish your skin from within by consuming collagen hydrolysate.