Collagen Types I, II, III: Which to Take?

Collagen Types I, II, and III — Collagen comes in 28 types, but Types I, II, and III account for 80–90% of body collagen. Type I and III are typically combined in marine and bovine collagen powders for skin, hair, nail, and bone support. Type II collagen is sourced from chicken cartilage and used specifically for joint and cartilage health.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Type I & III Collagen	Type II Collagen
Best For	Skin, hair, nails, bones	Cartilage and joint health
When to Use	Skin aging, hair thinning, nail brittleness, post-workout recovery. Take with vitamin C for synthesis.	Joint discomfort, osteoarthritis, athletes with joint stress, post-injury recovery.

Type I & III Collagen

• Most abundant in skin, tendons, bones, and connective tissue
• Best for skin elasticity, hair growth, nail strength
• Sourced from bovine, marine, or eggshell membrane
• Hydrolyzed peptides (5–15g daily) for skin/hair/nail support

Type II Collagen

• Primary structural protein in cartilage
• Specifically supports joint comfort and mobility
• Sourced from chicken sternum cartilage
• Undenatured (UC-II) at 40mg or hydrolyzed at 1500mg+ daily

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Type I & III Collagen if: Skin aging, hair thinning, nail brittleness, post-workout recovery. Take with vitamin C for synthesis.

Choose Type II Collagen if: Joint discomfort, osteoarthritis, athletes with joint stress, post-injury recovery.

The Bottom Line

Collagen comes in 28 types, but Types I, II, and III account for 80–90% of body collagen. Type I and III are typically combined in marine and bovine collagen powders for skin, hair, nail, and bone support. Type II collagen is sourced from chicken cartilage and used specifically for joint and cartilage health. Both forms are well-tolerated and effective for their intended use. Many practitioners recommend rotating or combining based on your changing needs.

Every product on Apotheca is scored across 50+ quality signals — manufacturing standards, lab testing, ingredient sourcing transparency. No paid placements.