Utilizing collagen as a nutritional supplement is recommended for elderly people because they particularly suffer from the problems associated with collagen deficit such as loss of muscle (sarcopenia), decreased bone density and joint problems in addition to skin issues and overall nutritional deficit.

In Japan; bed sore healing is one of the prime most applications. The Japanese Society of Pressure Ulcers has officially endorsed the use of collagen peptide as cure for bed sores (Japanese Journal of Pressure Ulcers, Vol. 17th, No. 4, 2015)

Collagen ingestion also helps healing various skin wounds and other damages caused by exposure to heat, dry environment, UV rays, etc.

A study was carried out to compare Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) scores at eight weeks in long-term-care residents with pressure ulcers who were given standard care plus a concentrated, fortified, collagen protein hydrolysate supplement vs. residents who were given standard care plus placebo. After eight weeks of treatment; residents who received standard care plus the fortified, concentrated, collagen peptide had significantly better PUSH tool scores compared with those who received standard care plus placebo.
Collagen products are used in medicine for many purposes, including wound dressings (topical application) and as matrices for tissue growth. Collagen has many unique biological characteristics for which no synthetic substitute exists. There are many physical, chemical, and biological properties of collagen that favor the use of collagen as a biomaterial. These include: high tensile strength, orientation of fibers, semi-permeability of membranes, and low-antigenicity.
Collagen plays a crucial and positive role in healing of wounds of skin and other tissues. There is general agreement that synthesis of collagen is required for restoration of physical strength of wounds. Collagen biosynthesis includes unique biochemical processes, such as hydroxylation of proline to hydroxyproline. Activity of these separate biosynthetic steps, likewise, must be evaluated for a thorough understanding of the function of collagen in wound healing.

Collagen based bio-dressings are hence used in burn-healing patches and wound dressings sheets.