on PinterestCollagen supplements may support skin health, but the anti-aging benefits may be overstated.
on PinterestCollagen supplements may support skin health, but the anti-aging benefits may be overstated. Anastasiia Krivenok/Getty Images
- A recent review of clinical research suggests that collagen supplements may offer modest improvements in skin elasticity, hydration, and dermal density.
- Experts say these changes tend to be subtle and gradual, typically appearing after several weeks of consistent use.
- There is little evidence to show that collagen supplements can prevent or significantly reverse wrinkles, despite common marketing claims.
- Skin experts say collagen supplements may support skin health, but work best alongside proven strategies such as sunscreen use, retinoids, and healthy lifestyle habits.
Collagen supplements have become a go-to for those seeking to delay aging and improve skin appearance.
However, a recent review of clinical research suggests that collagen supplements may offer only modest benefits for skin health, particularly in terms of elasticity and hydration.
The review, published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, analyzed studies examining oral collagen peptides and their impact on skin quality.
Across several trials, researchers found that consistent supplementation was associated with small improvements in skin elasticity, hydration, and dermal density, typically after several weeks of use.
So, just how effective are collagen supplements when it comes to improving skin health and slowing visible signs of aging?
Healthline spoke with experts to learn more about the purported benefits of collagen and whether common claims about supplements have any merit.
Collagen supplements: Not a ‘magic fix’
Marlee Bruno, a board certified physician associate, aesthetic medicine educator, and founder of Mind Body & Soul Medical, said the review aligns with what she sees in the treatment room.
“Collagen supplements may support improvements in skin elasticity and hydration over time, but they are not a magic fix for aging,” she told Healthline.
“In my practice, patients who approach them with realistic expectations tend to be the most satisfied. When someone expects dramatic wrinkle reversal from a supplement alone, they are often disappointed,” she said.
According to Bruno, the current science suggests collagen supplements can contribute to modest improvements in skin quality with consistent use, but the changes are typically gradual and subtle.
Proven benefits of collagen
If you’re taking collagen supplements consistently, Bruno said that proven benefits lie in the “three pillars of skin quality”: elasticity, hydration, and dermal density.
“Some medical trials show that taking between 2.5 to 5 grams of bioactive collagen peptides daily can lead to an increase in skin elasticity after 8 to 12 weeks,” she said.
Moustafa Mourad, MD, double board certified facial plastic and reconstructive head and neck surgeon and founder at Mourad NYC Facial Plastic & Reconstruction Surgery, said the most consistent benefits are improvements in skin hydration and small increases in elasticity.
“People who respond to collagen supplements may notice that their skin looks a little more hydrated or feels slightly firmer,” he told Healthline.
“These changes usually appear after several weeks of daily use. The key point is that these improvements are subtle and gradual. They do not produce the kind of visible lifting or tightening that people sometimes expect from cosmetic treatments,” he said.
Bruno agreed. “What
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