Get glowing!

Wonder how some of our B-town beauties manage to look so radiant? As if the glow is emanating from within and enveloping them on the outside. One of the latest beauty fads doing the rounds among our actresses is taking help from a mystery powder, and no it’s not meant to dab or smear on the face. This powder is Amino Colagen Skin Glow, which is essentially a collagen supplement. This tasteless, colourless and odour-free powder is to be taken once a day. A spoon (7 gm) can be mixed and consumed with beverages or any food. Though Meiji’s Amino Collagen Skin Glow comes in a powder form, there are other companies who have collagen in tablet form along with Vitamin C.

How does it help?

Collagen is a protein naturally present in our body. It adds elasticity and firmness to our skin (more than superficial glow). With increasing age, collagen depletes. We asked Dr Abhijit Desai, cosmetic dermatologist and laser specialist, founder, Skinsense — Skin and Laser Clinic, how this collagen supplement comes into play. “Supplements can be tried but there are no concrete reports or standardised studies to prove their efficiency. They can be a part of treatment plan to boost collagen. Non-surgical and non-ablative lasers (nonablative lasers are light-based treatments that penetrate the skin without visible wounding the skin surface) are the main stay scientific evidence and study-based treatment for collagen stimulation. These supplements can be an addon.
I would recommend as add-on but not as the primary and only treatment for collagen stimulation.”

“Effectiveness of collagen powders has not been proved without doubt. They are very effective in people who do not consume sufficient quantity of high quality proteins and amino acids in their diet. Since these are of animal and fish origin, they are absorbed from the intestine easily and broken down to form other building blocks like the muscle and skin collagen. Protein in the skin increases the skin tone, glow and provides tightness,” says Dr Mohan Thomas, senior cosmetic surgeon, Cosmetic Surgery Institute and Breach Candy Hospital, adding that collagen supplements may help thicken hair, improve nail disorders, help boost the immune system and skin, making it look radiant and glowing.

Results

Dr Thomas says that usually it takes four months to see the results. “It takes time for the proteins (collagen) to get absorbed from the intestine, broken down by the enzymes, converted to amino acids and then based on requirements converted to muscle, cartilage or deposited in the skin. After the molecule is broken down, the fragments are absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed through the entire body, including the skin, where small fragments remain for up to 14 days. This stimulates fibroblasts to produce more collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid so as to give the skin its youthful qualities.”

Can anybody take it?

One should not expect miracles like skin glow immediately after consuming these supplements. Skin glow is a very tempting terminology used to attract consumers. A lot of factors are important in attaining or maintaining healthy skin. And healthy skin shows better lustre than dry, dull and not looked after skin. Regular simple skin care comprising of good cleanser, hydrating or moisturising, sun protection and exfoliation are still the gold standards for healthy skin, explains Dr Desai.

Dr Thomas says that collagen powders are ideal for people who are losing weight and thus, have cut down on their calories. It is also useful for people who are exercising a lot in the gym. It does not help people who are already consuming high-protein diet and are non-vegetarian as the protein uptake is already saturated. Also, he says that consuming collagen powders alone won’t give radiant, glowing skin. It’s a combination of other factors like glutathione injections, antioxidants and other cosmetic procedures, which the women from the glamour business won’t reveal.

Side-effects

Dr Thomas says that the most common side-effect of collagen consumption is a lingering taste in the mouth. As a result, it is usually consumed with a flavoured fruit juice. Allergic reactions are possible in individuals allergic to collagen sources (bovine, porcine, fish, shellfish, chicken). Decreased appetite is usually observed due to high protein intake associated with these powders.

Before buying...

Not everyone has to consult a skin specialist before consuming these proteins but people who have any medical history such as kidney diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure or intestinal absorption disorders should discuss with their treating physicians. When looking for a collagen powder, always make sure it is gluten-free, with no additives, no fillers, no sugar. Make sure that the highest quality bones are being used like wild fish and grass-fed meat bones. The important thing to check is, if it contains Vitamin C, or eat Vitamin C rich foods which work in synergy with collagen supplements, advises Dr Thomas.

Six products to help you get glowing skin

Healthy skin is achieved by a combination and not by using just one product, opines Dr Abhijit Desai and suggests some good products to try:
A-derma soap free foaming gel cleanser from Ducray for normal to dry skin.
Sebium Gel Moussant from Bioderma for oily skin.
RoC pro correct anti-wrinkle rejuvenating night cream and RoC prosublime anti-wrinkle eye reviving cream.
LaShield sunscreen SPF 40.
Avene Thermal Spring Water spray for skin hydration and reducing redness. It’s great all year round.
VC tone gel for your daily application of topical vitamin C.