Book Now 
Type III Collagen
Collagen is a fibrous protein and serves the purpose, to help tissues withstand stretching.
With clever marketing of the cosmetic industry and miseducation, many people assume that getting more collagen into our body or skin will lead to a dramatic improvement in the appearance and health of our skin. There is some truth to this commonly educated belief, the reality is slightly more complicated than simply collagen ingestion.
Collagen can’t be absorbed by the body in its whole form. This means collagen proteins must be broken down into smaller peptides or amino acids before they can be absorbed. Collagen supplements are typically already broken down into peptides of two or three amino acids for the purpose of increasing their bioavailability. These collagen peptides are then absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. It’s important to note that collagen supplements are not regulated by any administrations, and manufacturers don’t have to prove that they’re effective or safe before putting them on the market.
Types of Collagen
There are 28 types of collagen that have been discovered, but by far, the most common are types I through IV. Collagen is part of most body tissues including skin, tendons, bones, blood vessels, cartilage and also found in the majority of organs. Collagen is part of the repair processes for damaged tissues and wounds in the skin layers. Type 1&3 are generally the particular types of proteins that forms the matrix responsible for the skin’s mechanical properties – flexibility and elasticity.
- Type I – 90% of our body’s collagen is Type 1. Found in tendons, bones, skin and other tissues, particularly in scar tissue;
- Types II, IX, X, XI – Cartilage;
- Type III – Common in fast growing tissue, this collagen keeps us looking young;
- Type IV – Basal lamina (filtration membrane of capillaries, basement membrane where the outer layers of skin meet the inner layers of the human body);
- Type V, VI – Generally found alongside type I (Eye Cornea, Placenta);
- Type VII – Epithelia (lining of GI tract, urinary tract, etc.);
- Type VIII – Lining of blood vessels;
- Type XII – Found alongside and interacts with types I and III;
Chemistry of Collagen
Collagen is a fibrous protein when fully mature, it develops into a matrix of fibres in the form of a 3D Triple Helix, unlike some other proteins in our body that are essentially 2D Hexagonal Networks . Collagen’s composition is also different and is particularly rich in 3 primary amino acids:
Glycine, Proline, and Hydroxy-proline.
However Hydroxy lysine is also a vital part and serve as attachment sites for carbohydrates and they play a crucial role in stabilising intra- and intermolecular crosslinks. Since glycine is the smallest of all the amino acids, it allows the chain to form a tight configuration, and it can withstand stress.
Bundles of collagen fibres in a connective tissue stained with a silver method.
The collagen fibres show a typical wavy appearance.
Quantity and Quality
Whilst the quantity and quality of the collagen in our skin is a vital determinant in the appearance of our skin, it is also important that collagen be undamaged and properly deposited. Collagen is secreted by various cells, but mainly by a fibrous connective network of cells called ‘Fibroblasts’. When healthy fibroblasts secrete good types of collagen, it has a coherent and orderly structure that enhances the desirable qualities of elasticity and flexibility of our skin. When collagen is damaged by UV rays, free radicals, impaired glucose metabolism, smoking or other factors, its structured matrix becomes disconnected, leading to poor skin texture, wrinkles and other imperfections.
Types of collagen and the ageing process
As we age the quantity and quality of collagen in our skin declines. This decline can be accelerated by lifestyle choices including smoking, sun exposure, excessive alcohol and sugar (AGE’s) consumption.
But we also need to appreciate how the different types of collagen behave. In a child’s skin there is an abundance of T3 Collagen, the type common in fast growing tissues.
The abundance of T3 Collagen is partly responsible for the softness and suppleness of children’s skin. As our body growth slows, the quantity of T3 Collagen declines, while T1 Collagen increases. For most of us, T1 Collagen continues to build up until about age 35, where our skin reaches peak mechanical strength at which point T3 Collagen begins to decline, and we all know that by the age of about 60, all types of collagen are significantly below that of our younger days.
Understanding collagen types is important because, different agents capable of stimulating collagen synthesis may affect different collagen types differently. That is one reason why some collagen boosters are more appropriate for the skin than others are. Most components of the skin, including collagen, are replaced in an ongoing process. New collagen is continually produced and recycled throughout life. In younger bodies, the creation of collagen is greater than the loss, but by about age of 40, the degradation of collagen increases.
Considering that collagen types I and III are known to predominate in our skin, the agents and laser treatments shown to stimulate the creation of these types of collagen are particularly promising.
Why does the body remove Collagen?
Collagen is resorbable. This means it can be broken down, converted, and absorbed back into the body.
Minimising these external factors, leading a healthy life is always a good idea but may not be sufficient to keep collagen degradation under control. A more advanced approach is to inhibit the enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-s). These enzymes (particularly the one called collagenase) are chopping up collagen into small pieces which then get recycled. Considering that older skin does not respond to collagen synthesis boosters particularly well, inhibiting the degradation of collagen by MMP-s whether used alone or in conjunction with stimulating the development of new collagen by Q-switch laser may prove to be a superior methodology.
We know that some common skin care ingredients appear to inhibit MMP-s indirectly by inhibiting certain pathways of inflammation or suppressing the synthesis of MMP’s. Such agents include lipoic acid, and retinoids.
Should you be taking collagen or not?
As with many nutrition trends, collagen has likely been over-hyped in the media. Despite some promising results in small research studies, it remains uncertain whether the benefits found were specifically from a collagen supplement or if adequate protein intake would have achieved similar results. Additionally, it’s important to reiterate that we cannot decide what collagen peptides will be used for in the body. While supplementation may not be harmful, adequate protein intake (from plant and/or animal sources) should provide enough amino acids to synthesise sufficient collagen without the need for a supplement. If you have trouble getting enough protein in your diet, find a registered dietitian in your area to help you seek food options that work best for you.