When it comes to our skin, hair and nails there are two main supplements that the beauty industry is constantly touting as “must have” supplements: biotin and collagen. Is one better than the other? Can you take biotin and collagen together? Read on to find the answers to these questions and more.

What is Collagen?

In order to understand the benefits of collagen, from preventing hair loss to nail health and skin elasticity, first we must know what exactly collagen is. Collagen is more than a supplement, our body naturally produces this powerful protein.

Our body depends on collagen. It’s one of the staple proteins found in our connective tissues: skin, tendons, ligaments, joints, muscles, organs and blood.

Collagen is structural, providing strength, elasticity and hydration to all these vital tissues. Unfortunately as we age, natural collagen synthesis begins to decline. Since the body is so dependent on it, keeping our collagen levels up is why many people turn to collagen supplements.

Health Benefits of Collagen

Collagen has so many health benefits! As our collagen production decreases we certainly see the effects of it in many areas of our body, from wrinkles to joint pain and even digestive issues. Simply speaking, collagen impacts our overall health.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the fabulous benefits of collagen:

Skin, Hair & Nails

The beauty industry has been claiming the health benefits of collagen for some time now, but collagen is not just about skin creams and having a few less wrinkles. It actually plays a fundamental role in the health of our skin, hair and nails. It’s made up of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. These amino acids are essential for the production of new collagen fibers. Without sufficient amino acids, our bodies cannot produce collagen, and our skin elasticity, hair growth and nail strength suffer as a result.

Collagen provides strength and structure to our skin, helping to keep it firm and plump. It helps to protect our skin from damage and keeps our hair strong and lustrous. Likewise, our nails need collagen to be strong and healthy. As our collagen levels naturally decline, so does the health of our nails leaving us with dry, brittle and weak nails.

Without collagen, our skin, hair and nails would be vulnerable to many problems.

Joints, Bones & Muscles

Feeling stiff and sore could very well be the tell tale signs of declining collagen production in your body.

Collagen provides structure and cushioning for our joints so naturally, if our body isn’t producing enough, we feel it. Not only are we losing the necessary protein our body needs to work properly, we lose the necessary amino acids that keep our joints flexible and hydrated for ease of mobility.

Our bones can actually lose density with the decline of collagen in our bodies which can lead to concerns of breakage or even malformation.

Collagen makes up a large part of our muscles. Collagen provides essential nutrients that help our muscles to grow and repair themselves. It also helps to keep our muscles strong and flexible by preventing the deterioration of muscle tissue. Studies have shown that collagen helps reduce inflammation and speeds up the healing process after an injury.

Gut Health & Reduced Inflammation

Collagen even affects our gut health. This protein helps to keep the lining of the gut intact, which is important for preventing leaks and maintaining a healthy microbiome.

Collagen provides amino acids and proline, which are necessary for gut healing. It has been shown to boost immunity and reduce inflammation with its anti-inflammatory properties. 

Risks & Side Effects of Collagen

For most people, taking collagen supplements has no risks or side effects. For those that do experience side effects, it’s usually because they are taking too large of a dose at the beginning and their body is having a hard time breaking it down. This can be avoided by being sure to start with a low dosage, increasing if necessary.

The possible risks or side effects to be mindful of when taking collagen supplements for the first time include:

Heartburn

Being a protein, collagen can be difficult for the body to digest. For a small number of people this can cause heartburn. This is typically mild and temporary and usually corrects itself in a few days as your body adjusts. Lowering the dosage often solves this concern.

Bloating

Again, due to the fact the body has a hard time digesting or absorbing large amounts of collagen, digestive issues such as gas or bloating may occur at the onset of collagen supplementation.

A lower dosage or choosing a collagen supplement with smaller peptides such as powder or liquid, and this concern is probably a non-issue.

Allergic Reaction

Because collagen supplements are usually made from bovine or marine, people with allergies to seafood of any kind may have an allergic reaction to collagen supplements. Be sure to read the labels when choosing your choice of supplements to avoid any brands that contain fish or shellfish.

What is Biotin? 

Ready to take a look at a biotin? Biotin and collagen have some very similar health benefits but they are different.

While collagen is a protein, biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that’s part of the B-vitamin family. It plays an important role in energy metabolism and is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids and glucose. Unlike collagen, our body does not produce biotin but rather gets it from a variety of foods that we eat such as eggs, nuts, legumes and dark leafy greens.

Health Benefits Of Biotin

Biotin has numerous health benefits. Read on to see why taking biotin supplements could be beneficial to your health.

Skin Health

Biotin helps to produce keratin, the protein that makes up your skin, hair and nails. We need biotin to keep our skin hydrated, preventing dryness. It also helps fight inflammation. When our bodies are suffering from inflammation, our skin is often greatly affected resulting in rashes, redness and more.

Improved Metabolism

Biotin helps the body convert food into energy and synthesize fatty acids and even glucose production. All of this works together for our metabolism.

By adding biotin supplements to our wellness program, results may be improved blood sugars, weight management/weight loss, more energy and overall better digestive health.

Faster Wound Healing

Biotin and collagen are both promoters of wound healing. Biotin aids in the production of enzymes that are essential for cell growth. This stimulation of new cell growth also stimulates healing, speeding up the process. 

Reduced Inflammation

Biotin’s ability to reduce inflammation may be its most promising benefit. Experts have proven that biotin has anti-inflammatory properties. These properties have shown to improve the symptoms of psoriasis, eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions as well as other inflammatory conditions including arthritis and bowel disease.

Thus, biotin is considered a treatment for health concerns that are rooted in inflammation.

Risks & Side Effects Of Biotin Supplements

Since biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, it’s unlikely to cause any risks or side effects. Any excess of the vitamin is eliminated in urine. That being said, there may be a handful of people who may experience some unpleasantness when beginning to take biotin supplements.

Trouble Sleeping

We know that biotin is involved in energy production and metabolism which could make it harder to fall asleep or even stay asleep.

Skin Rashes

It’s very rare that taking biotin supplements causes skin rashes but it has happened. The cause for this is really unknown. Experts suggest that it could be dosage or somewhat of an allergic reaction for a very small number of people.

Being a vitamin supplement, it is also important to check the label for ingredients being sure that there is nothing else that could be the cause of this irritation. Quality supplements can often prevent any such concerns.

Upset Stomach

When biotin is taken in large doses, it can cause an upset stomach. Reducing the dosage will usually correct this.

Biotin And Collagen: What’s The Difference?

You know some of the similarities between biotin and collagen but what exactly are the differences?

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that our body gleans from food sources for the complete health of our skin, hair growth and nails.

Collagen however is a protein that is naturally produced by the body to help keep our skin firm, our hair shiny and our nails strong, but also for the overall health of all of our body connective tissues. 

Can You Take Biotin And Collagen Together?

There is a lot of talk in the health and wellness industry of the benefits of both biotin and collagen. Is one better than the other? Both have incredible health benefits and complement each other very well. It should be biotin and collagen not biotin vs collagen.

There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t take both.

Should I Take Biotin And Collagen Supplements Everyday?

When it comes to your health and wellness, consistency is key for any supplement to do what it promises to do. If you are going to take biotin and collagen supplements and expect to see results, then you should take both of them daily.

Can You Take Too Much Biotin And Collagen? 

In the world of supplementation, it’s always best to begin with a low dosage until your body adjusts. So, yes you can take too much biotin and collagen but taking the recommended dosage or lower to begin with is completely safe.

The Bottom Line

Clearly, when it comes to supplementation and aging well biotin and collagen supplements have lots to offer. We hope you have found the information necessary to confidently answer the question: “Can you take biotin and collagen together?’ with a yes and answers to other questions you may have had before reading this post. 

In order to ensure that you are taking quality supplements, head on over to our Health BLOG and collagen supplement page and start your biotin and collagen supplementation sooner rather than later!

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