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February 06, 2019 8 min read

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    If you’re lucky enough to live someplace where the winter months can be characterized as “balmy” rather than “blizzard”, your skin is likely to be thankful (and glowing!). For the rest of us, however, winter is the season when our skin suffers the most, which isn’t surprising at all taking into consideration factors like wind, lack of moisture, and sub-zero temperatures.

    In some aspects, we may have it all figured out when it comes to winter: a cup of hot chocolate, a marathon of Netflix series, warm blankets, and hopefully a nice fireplace. But when it comes to our skin, falling into hibernation and waking up when it’s all over isn’t so much of an option. Furthermore, If you’re managing more chronic skin conditions such as eczema, your skincare routine in winter months is even more critical.

    Aside from pampering yourself with daily and weekly skincare rituals including exfoliation, hydration, masks, and toners that are suited to your skin type this time of year calls for a more in-depth, focused routine, starting with your nutrition. The simple act of adding a scoop of Wild-Caught Marine Collagen Peptides can help you to better manage the causative factors when it comes to managing eczema rather than simply concealing the symptoms topically, the latter of which can quickly escalate into mission impossible during the winter months.

    Daily Life with Eczema

    Have you noticed any red, itchy, irritated spots on your skin? Eczema is, unfortunately, a very common skin condition, manifested through inflamed patches on the skin. While infants and children seem to be the most affected group when it comes to this skin issue, it is not uncommon for adults to experience it, either. In fact, many people develop eczema as adults as well.

    Eczema Symptoms

    What are the most common symptoms?

    Symptoms of eczema tend to be extremely uncomfortable and visibly noticeable as well. These include characteristics such as red, rough, itchy, textured skin, which can become even more irritated when scratched or when left untreated. In addition, you may notice a thickening of the skin in areas affected, as well as dark-colored patches on the skin as signs of eczema begin to appear. According to Health Line, eczema tends to disappear for some time, and then flare up again.

    In many cases, the terms “eczema” and “atopic dermatitis” are used interchangeably. However, atopic dermatitis is just one of the possible types of eczema you can suffer from, but also the most common and chronic form of it (more than 18 million Americans deal with it, according to the National Eczema Organization). Contact dermatitis, a less aggressive form of eczema, is caused by a known irritant, and the irritation seems to go away as soon as the irritant has been detected and removed.

    Moreover, seborrheic dermatitis causes rashes on the head area, including the scalp, eyebrows, nose, eyelids, and behind the ears. Dyshidrotic dermatitis, on the other hand, affects hands and feet, while nummular dermatitis has a close connection with our topic of nutrition today since it occurs precisely in the winter months, in the form of dry patches.

    While eczema can erupt pretty much anywhere on the skin, the most affected areas seem to be the inner elbows, arms, back of the knees, as well as the scalp and cheeks (especially in babies). Contrary to what many people perceive, it is not contagious and cannot be transferred via touch. Phew! What scratching the affected area can do, on the other hand, is to irritate eczema even more, which may trigger infections, Health Line states. Eczema + infection = major discomfort!

    What Causes Eczema?

    So, what causes it? Unfortunately, there are numerous theories and possibilities when it comes to the causes of this condition, one of them being that your immune system is literally “overreacting” to certain irritants. In most cases, however, the actual cause of eczema remains a mystery. When it comes to eczema flare-ups, these can be triggered by temperature changes, contact with texturized or scratchy materials, chemicals in certain products such as detergents; allergies, as well as respiratory infections.

    How do we get to the very root of the issue? The answer often starts with our nutrition and making certain we get a healthy, balanced diet with the right nutrients. Today we’re exploring the role of supplementing with Fish Collagen Peptides from wild-caught cod when it comes to managing eczema and maintaining healthy skin.

    Wild-Caught Marine Collagen

    The Role of Marine Collagen in Skin Health and Eczema Management

    The already dry, itchy, inflamed, and sensitive skin affected by eczema is often made worse by cold and dry winter climates. It’s common for people suffering from eczema to have more severe symptoms during the winter months, so it’s a great time to examine new ways to manage the discomfort.

    Some may wonder why we should even supplement with Marine Collagen in the first place if our body can manufacture collagen naturally.

    (In case you didn’t already know, our bodies produce collagen on their own). Well, there’s a reason behind all the hype surrounding collagen as we age, the natural production of this super protein slows and we need to find other ways of maintaining it, a study by James Varani and colleagues suggests. In this study, the focus was on chronologically aged skin, which showed a significant lack of type I and III collagen - precisely the collagen types present in non-GMO Marine Collagen powder.

    What roles does collagen, as a structural protein, play in our bodies?

    First and foremost, according to Molecular Cell Biology, collagen is a major fibrous protein in our connective tissue, largely present in tendons, ligaments, joints, muscles, and arteries. Furthermore, a study on the role of collagen in bone strength has shown that collagen gives our bones their structure, making them stronger and less brittle.

    According to a study on the structure and function of the skeletal muscles, collagen has also been found to promote muscle strength, and the growth of lean muscle mass. In addition, Health Line suggests that oral collagen supplementation helps to promote nail and hair growth, as well as helping to support their strength, shine, and structure.

    Among numerous collagen benefits, today we will be focusing on its immense effect on skin, namely the skin’s health and structure.

    Wild-Caught Marine Collagen is known as a superfood, not only for the body but also for anti-aging skin care. Adding a daily scoop of marine collagen to your diet helps to decrease the appearance of wrinkles and promotes the skin’s hydration and plumpness, a study on oral collagen supplementation suggests. In addition, the same study found that collagen supplementation enhances skin moisture and elasticity, thus decreasing the signs of roughness and dryness - which are some of the most prominent symptoms of eczema, especially in the winter.

    Furthermore, collagen supplementation has been found to combat skin imperfections by increasing skin moisture and repairing the dermal collagen network, a study by Asserin J. et al. suggests. Speaking of the dermal network, severe cases of infected eczema can manifest themselves through wounds, which can also lead to scarring later on. A review by David Brett showed that collagen plays a major role in wound healing, leading to faster regeneration of dermal matrix in case of wounds, rashes, and scars.

    According to the National Eczema Association, bacteria such as the staphylococcal bacteria that live on the skin, have been known to cause eczema in specific cases. Given its potential antibacterial effect,Fish Collagen Peptides powder may be extremely effective when it comes to managing eczema during winter months. A study conducted by Ennaas N. and colleagues indicates that collagen, in a hydrolyzed peptide form, has shown significant antibacterial action.

    When it comes to possible causes of eczema, a recent molecular study on atopic eczema brought some rather interesting and valuable evidence to the table. Research from Newcastle University found that a lack of skin protein, namely filaggrin present in the skin barrier, could make people more prone to eczema. Not only is all-natural Marine Collagen powder an extremely bioavailable source of collagen protein, but collagen and filaggrin have proven to be a combination of utmost importance in the skin hydration mechanism, a study on skin hydration and collagen synthesis states.

    So, why Marine Collagen Peptides?

    Fish collagen is widely known for its high bioavailability and maximum absorbance, due to the low molecular weight of the peptides when compared to other sources. It has been recognized as a preferable source of collagen due to its bioavailability, a study by Ramasamy Sripriya et al. suggests. In addition, collagen from a marine source is packed with amino acids - organic compounds that create the much-needed protein in the body when the protein we consume has been digested.

    Furthermore, marine collagen contains type I and III collagen, which represents the most abundant collagen types in the body, making up our bones, tendons, ligaments, vessel walls, as well as dermis and skin, a study on marine origin collagenstates.

    Finally, Marine Collagen from wild-caught cod is an eco-friendly, and sustainable source of collagen since it is made from parts of the fish (skin and scales) that normally go to waste. In particular, Amandean’s Wild-Caught Marine Collagen is sourced from the pristine waters of the North Atlantic and adheres to Icelandic fishing practices, which focus on maintaining a renewable industry. For those of you following a low-carb, high-protein diet, you’ll be pleased to know that Marine Collagen Peptides are also fat-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and highly soluble, so they’ll be easy to use in your smoothie or coffee without you even knowing they’re there.

    Furthermore, Amandean’s highly bioavailable formula is unflavored and has no taste or smell, which makes it extra convenient to mix into just about everything. Visit our online store for more natural, clean-sourced supplements.

    Article References:

    1. Eczema: Definition, Causes, Treatments, and Pictures. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/eczema#symptoms
    2. What is atopic dermatitis and how can I tell if I have it?. (2019). Retrieved from https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/types-of-eczema/atopic-dermatitis/
    3. Lodish H, Berk A, Zipursky SL, et al. Molecular Cell Biology. 4th edition. New York: W. H. Freeman; 2000. Section 22.3, Collagen: The Fibrous Proteins of the Matrix. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21582/
    4. Viguet-Carrin, S., Garnero, P., & Delmas, P. (2005). The role of collagen in bone strength. Osteoporosis International, 17(3), 319-336. doi: 10.1007/s00198-005-2035-9
    5. Gillies, A. R., & Lieber, R. L. (2011). Structure and function of the skeletal muscle extracellular matrix. Muscle & nerve, 44(3), 318-31.
    6. Top 6 Benefits of Taking Collagen Supplements. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-benefits#section6
    7. Proksch, E., Segger, D., Degwert, J., Schunck, M., Zague, V., & Oesser, S. (2014). Oral Supplementation of Specific Collagen Peptides Has Beneficial Effects on Human Skin Physiology: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Skin Pharmacology And Physiology, 27(1), 47-55. doi: 10.1159/000351376
    8. Asserin, J., Lati, E., Shioya, T., & Prawitt, J. (2015). The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network: evidence from anex vivomodel and randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Journal Of Cosmetic Dermatology, 14(4), 291-301. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12174
    9. A Review of Collagen and Collagen-based Wound Dressings. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.woundsresearch.com/content/a-review-collagen-and-collagen-based-wound-dressings
    10. Alexandria. (2019). Study Reveal Staphylococcal Bacteria May Cause Eczema. Retrieved from https://nationaleczema.org/study-reveals-eczema/
    11. Ennaas, N., Hammami, R., Gomaa, A., Bédard, F., Biron, É., & Subirade, M. et al. (2016). Collagencin, an antibacterial peptide from fish collagen: Activity, structure and interaction dynamics with membrane. Biochemical And Biophysical Research Communications, 473(2), 642-647. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.03.121
    12. Elias, M., Long, H., Newman, C., Wilson, P., West, A., & McGill, P. et al. (2017). Proteomic analysis of filaggrin deficiency identifies molecular signatures characteristic of atopic eczema. Journal Of Allergy And Clinical Immunology, 140(5), 1299-1309. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.01.039
    13. Cho, J. W., Jeong, Y. S., Han, J., Chun, Y. J., Kim, H. K., Kim, M. Y., Kim, B. J., Park, K. M., Kim, J. K., Kim, J. H., … Cho, S. M. (2011). Skin Hydration and Collagen Synthesis of AF-343 in HS68 Cell Line and NC/Nga Mice by Filaggrin Expression and Suppression of Matrix Metallopreteinase. Toxicological research, 27(4), 225-9.
    14. Silva, T. H., Moreira-Silva, J., Marques, A. L., Domingues, A., Bayon, Y., & Reis, R. L. (2014). Marine origin collagens and its potential applications. Marine drugs, 12(12), 5881-901. doi:10.3390/md12125881



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