What Are The Dangers Of Collagen Protein?

Collagen protein is a building block of the human body found mostly in your skin and body tissues. This protein helps to make you look healthy and young, and collagen supplements in the form of injections, pills and creams have restorative effects. For example, doctors commonly use collagen protein as a wrinkle filler. However, use of this protein as a supplement involves some safety risks and dangers. Speak to a medical professional before using any type of collagen supplement.

Supplement Effects

Collagen protein supplements help reverse natural loss. For example, collagen creams can aid in preventing wrinkles. In addition, doctors use collagen protein injections to make your skin look fuller and younger. However, clinical research has not confirmed the actual benefits of using collagen supplements. In fact, a collagen protein cream may moisturize your skin, but it cannot provide your body with extra collagen because your skin cannot absorb collagen molecules because these molecules are too large.

Allergic Reactions

Your body might have an allergic reaction to collagen supplements, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Doctors will normally conduct two skin tests before applying the collagen supplement or injection. In rare cases you could still experience an allergic reaction to collagen protein even if the tests produced negative results. Symptoms of allergic reactions to collagen include hives, chest pain, itching, shortness of breath and redness at the site of application.

Skin Problems

After collagen protein applications, you may also experience uneven skin texture if the collagen protein was placed incorrectly into the tissue, states the Food and Drug Administration. Improper application can also produce redness and swelling. With collagen protein injections, the protein can move after the injection, and this can result in hard spots on your skin. Typically, these skin problems will naturally dissipate after a couple of days.

Necrosis

The Food and Drug Administration also states that in some cases, collagen protein injections can cause skin necrosis -- a medical condition that causes your skin to die. Skin necrosis results from collagen injections that block blood vessels, preventing blood from reaching your skin tissue. Doctors cannot reverse skin necrosis, so collagen injections can potentially cause permanent damage to your skin.