Does Collagen Help With Beard Growth?
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Even though collagen is generally marketed towards women for cosmetic and anti-aging reasons, men can also benefit greatly from this 'fountain of youth' when trying to grow facial hair. One thing increasing collagen intake can do is promote beard growth and slow down hair loss. But can collagen help beard growth?
Let's get more specific on how collagen helps with growing a beard, fill in patchy facial hair and how to increase collagen production...
Make sure you also check our reviews on the best collagen for beard growth.
How Collagen Helps With Beard Growth
1. Increases keratin production
Keratin is a type of protein and is the building block of hair on the body and provides a type of protective barrier and structural support.
Actually, it's the triple-combination of three proteins--keratin, elastin and collagen--that gives skin its strength and elasticity to help hold hair follicles in the scalp.
All proteins are made up of amino acids and both keratin and collagen share glycine as a major component of their genetic makeup.
By taking keratin and/or collagen supplements, you'll get a boost of glycine which can also help support more keratin production and preservation.
2. Helps fight free radicals
Scientists have shown that free radicals, caused by alcohol, poor diet, smoking, lack of sleep, stress, chemicals and pollutants in our environment, can damage DNA and proteins like collagen and keratin.
In fact, there is also a study that suggests free radicals damage hair follicles directly.
In short, adding collagen peptides can provide a highly antioxidant weapon you need to fight free radicals and, therefore, help beard and facial hair growth.
3. Slows down beard thinning
The reality is, starting in your late 20s, your body stops making as much new collagen.
Less new collagen in the skin (dermis) leads to weakness and less elasticity, which also leads to beard hair thinning, patchiness and less new facial hair growth.
Tips to Increase Collagen for Facial Hair Growth
Next, we're going to explore different approaches on how to improve beard growth with collagen:
Collagen peptides powder supplements
Because collagen can help fight the signs of aging, manufacturers offers all kinds of ways to take collagen beard growth supplements, including:
- Powder or capsules
- Liquid
- Protein bars
What's cool too is there are other potential benefits of taking collagen supplements.
For example:
- Increased muscle mass
- Improved joint health
- Healthier gut and immune system
- Tighter skin and fewer wrinkles
- Stronger arteries
- Improved mood and better sleep
- Higher testosterone levels
Plus, there's generally no side effects of taking collagen dietary supplements.
Actually, what's really convenient is that many collagen supplements also include biotin so it's easy to get the benefits of both in one convenient dietary supplement.
Bone broth superfood for beard growth
Bone broth can be called a 'superfood' or natural multivitamin because of the nutrients in it and how it can benefit nearly every part of the body.
By regularly drinking bone broth, you'll not only get collagen protein, you'll also receive a boost of glycine with can help support new collagen production and protect existing collagen.
In turn, a man may notice his beard growing full and lush the more bone broth he consumes.
Collagen roller for beard
The next way to help create new collagen is by using a dermaroller (also known as microneedling).
This process uses a tool that has small needles on a wheel. By rolling the tiny needles in the beard or facial area on the skin, small holes or wounds are formed.
Once the wounds exist, the body will rush in with new collagen and keratin to help with the healing process.
Therefore, more collagen in the area can help strengthens the skin and promote new hair growth and structure for the existing hair.
Eat healthy foods to support collagen production
Everyone knows eating a healthy diet (and not drinking too much!) can go a long way in supporting a well-functioning body throughout life.
In addition to bone broth, these foods can help support the body produce new collagen protein:
- Almonds
- Sunflower Seeds
- Winged beans
- Beef liver
- Egg whites
- Fruit high in vitamin C (oranges, kiwi, berries)
- Green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale and green beans)
Red Light Therapy
Red light (also known as LED, infrared) is a color wavelength that can go through the skin, down to the cell level. It's a pain- and a prescription-free way to encourage new hair growth and slow down hair loss.
Actually, red light therapy at home has been shown to stimulate the energy center (ATP) of cells. In turn, that action stimulates blood flow and new collagen production.
More collagen production and blood flow will encourage new beard and facial hair growth.
Also, red light therapy can help fill in those patches where new hair refuses to grow.
As a consequence, you'll also enjoy the results on other parts of your face as well!
FINAL THOUGHTS
If the man in your life (or you are a man) is struggling with growing and maintaining a full beard, there's hope!
The normal aging process results in a lack of keratin, collagen and elastin--all of which contribute to weaker skin.
Unfortunately, weaker skin on the face doesn't support growing and maintaining a good-looking beard or other facial hair.
By increasing collagen (and keratin) through supplements, bone broth, dermarolling/microneedling and/or red light therapy, a determined man can reach his facial hair goals!