How to Measure Collagen

anti-aging collagen treatmentsBoosting the production of collagen and elastin is all well and good, but having the ability to actually measure the improvement could prove to be a boon to spas. “There are several instruments that can test collagen levels,” says Sara Sibilla, Ph.D., clinical trial manager and senior research scientist at Minerva Research Labs, which manufactures Pure Gold Collagen. “Some are more consumer-friendly, such as ultrasound probes that measure the collagen density in the skin. Others are very sophisticated instruments that are usually used for clinical trials and scientific research, like confocal microscopy.” According to Sibilla, a DNA screening test can also be used to measure the expression levels of particular genes involved in the production and degradation of collagen. Here are some instruments that can be used to measure collagen:

  • Dermascan by Cortex Technology (www.cortex.dk)
  • Multiphoton Tomography DermaInspect by Jenlab GmbH (www.jenlab.de)
  • DermCup by Atys Medical (www.atysmedical.com)
  • Ultrascan UC 22 by Courage + Khazaka Electronic GmbH (www.courage-khazaka.de)
  • Osteoson-Collagenoson by Minhorst (www.minhorst.de)
  • Vivascope by Mavig (www.mavig.com)
  • LabRam by Horiba (www.horiba.com) 

Here are some questions you’ll want to ask when considering any collagen-boosting products or treatments.

  1. Is there evidence, such as clinical trials or independent studies, to back up any product or treatment claims?
  2. For any collagen-based products, is the collagen in a molecular form that is small enough to be absorbed by the body?
  3. Is there any downtime or side effects associated with the product or treatment?

Learn more about how collagen helps preserve a youthful appearance and turns back the clock.