In recent years, the popularity of “collagen” continues to rise among beauty-conscious women, and many “collagen drinks”, “collagen powder”, “skin care products containing collagen”, “collagen injections” and other products have appeared on the market. “Skin care products containing collagen”, “collagen needle” and so on, so what are the pros and cons of eating, applying, injecting collagen? Eating collagen is not the same as supplemental collagen Collagen is one of the common proteins in the daily diet of human beings, the proteins are digested and absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, in the form of raw materials (amino acids) are mainly used to build the human body protein. Can eating collagen replenish human collagen? Ingested collagen and collagen in the human body may seem similar, but it is very different. Collagen in the body is synthesized by cells and has little to do with eating collagen. Collagen only exists in the human and animal body, all plants do not contain collagen, so any claim that “plant collagen” health products are naked deception. Collagen as a food additive. Has been extracted from animal skin, bones, tendons, food-grade “gelatin”, as a food additive in yogurt, ham, milk drinks and other foods; or provide industrial-grade gelatin (the famous “shoe extract”) for non-food industrial products. The main component of gelatin is collagen, or collagen and gelatin is “all the way goods”, much the same. There is no difference in essence between the two, just a slight difference in extraction method and solubility. Can applying collagen on the surface of the skin reduce wrinkles? This starts with the surface structure of the skin. Human skin is actually very dense, with a strong “defense” consisting of keratin and other proteins on its surface. Although there are some “gaps” for the inner organs of the skin (such as sweat glands and sebaceous glands, etc.) to breathe and secrete some substances, absorbing some small molecules, but any large molecules are not easy to be absorbed into the material, especially proteins such as larger molecules. Theoretically, applying collagen skin care products can only deliver collagen to the top layer of the skin and cannot enter the dermis. Not only that, repeated and excessive application of collagen may also trigger skin allergies, causing localized skin rashes, itching and other discomforts, as well as making the skin dependent on skin care products. Are collagen injections reliable? Of course, the way to deliver collagen into the dermis is not impossible. Currently, in regular medical aesthetic institutions, doctors can improve facial wrinkles or localized depressions by injecting collagen. After the collagen is injected, some of it will be absorbed by the body and the rest will act as a filler for the skin. For a period of time, the skin will look delicate and plump, but the price is expensive, and the maintenance time is short, a few people will also have allergic reactions, it is recommended to only go to the more technologically advanced hospitals to receive injections, the effect of cosmetic injections generally can only be maintained for about half a year, and will need to be injected again later.