Hi, Collagen is a protein that is found throughout the body, including in the skin. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure and elasticity of the skin. One of the reasons seb derm occurs is an impaired skin barrier. And when you get a flare, the inflammation damages your skin barrier further. One of the ways to repair your skin barrier is to use topical creams with compounds that act as the building blocks for repair. Collagen creams are popular, but the collagen molecule is thought to be too large to penetrate your skin. I’m not convinced that collagen creams help very much, if at all (you can read more here). Ingesting collagen, however, can be beneficial for skin barrier repair, preventing wrinkles, and even relieving achy joints. If you have the time, drinking a collagen broth that you make at home is preferable. If you’re time-poor like me, taking a daily collagen supplement instead is a great second choice. My go-to is Bulletproof Collagen Peptides. It comes in unflavored, chocolate or vanilla and is great value-for-money. Use my code MADAMEWELL20 for an extra 20% off. |
Reader Question: Can I continue using skincare products that contain oils that feed Malassezia if it doesn’t look like it affects me? YES. Skincare products are made up of a long list of ingredients. There is a pretty good chance your product will contain one of the plant oils that can feed Malassezia. Unless you’re using a particularly oily cream, chances are these oils are only present in miniscule amounts, not enough to irritate your skin. The best way to decide if you can continue using a product is to see how your skin is responding to it. If you feel that the cream may be a seb derm trigger, stop using it for a few weeks and you’ll have your answer. * If you have any questions, hit reply to this email and ask away. If you haven’t already, subscribe to my Youtube Channel and to my Pinterest account! Stay healthy, happy, safe and rash-free! Until next week, Sharon G. |