This article has been updated since its initial publish date.
The allure of taking a pill — or a drink — and having these magical elixirs make our beauty goals a reality can not be understated. For one thing, who wouldn’t welcome a quick and affordable fix in a world where it feels like everything is a drain on your time and wallet? Whether you’re investing in a skincare product re-haul that includes retinol (which is gold-standard effective, but takes time and patience to see results), or are considering in-office procedures like botox, fillers, or lasers — and no one has to remind you that those cost major money — your skin is an investment that can feel like SO much work at times.
Which brings us to collagen supplements. Whether you’ve come across them in supplement pill form, liquid, or a flavorless or flavored powder that you can mix with water, coffee, or fruit drinks, there’s no denying that collagen is big business. And the claims behind collagen supplements are quite lofty — that they can prevent wrinkles and minimize the ones you have, as well as help firm up sagging skin.
So, how realistic are these claims about collagen? Popular Dermatologist and Skincare Enthusiast Dr. Dray went into detail about collagen supplements in this honest video:
Here’s the breakdown of how they work — and if they actually work.
Why Is Collagen Important?
The entire reason why collagen supplements are so popular is because collagen is an important protein that our bodies produce that, along with elastin, is responsible for keeping skin healthy, firm, and radiant. As you can guess, your collagen and elastin production declines with age, as well as with constant UV exposure and exposure to environmental factors like pollution. What’s more, with age our body doesn’t regenerate collagen as quickly as it once did. All of this adds up to more fine lines, dryer skin, and looser skin.
How Can Collagen Supplements Help?
The collagen supplements that we purchase are actually hydrolyzed collagen that is obtained from animal sources like chicken, fish, or pork, according to Dr. Dray. Once you digest them, some studies show that they can stimulate cells to create more collagen. This, in turn, can help lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and make skin firmer. But Dr. Dray notes that the pros of additional collagen go beyond the aesthetic: more collagen can help skin repair faster from things like injuries, a factor that becomes even more important as we age.
Dr. Dray created this video as an update to a previous video about hydrolyzed collagen because a number of studies have recently come up about their effectiveness. Unfortunately, it’s still difficult to get a grasp on just how effective these supplements are because the participants of each trial are given different amounts of collagen in different forms and with different additives included in their formulas. With all of that said, Dr. Dray points out that a number of participants still showed an increase in skin elasticity after taking collagen and a reduction in facial wrinkles.
How Long Does Collagen Take To Work?
According to these studies, Dr. Dray says the effects of collagen take anywhere from 60 to 90 days and the beneficial effects of collagen last up to 30 days after stopping supplementation.
What Are The Limitations Of Supplemental Collagen?
The good news first: the potential adverse effects of supplemental collagen are pretty low, meaning you can feel pretty good about taking it and not experiencing any side effects (digestion issues and headaches, though rare, have been reported. And if you are allergic to something like fish it’s very important that you get your collagen supplement from an animal that you aren’t allergic to). Also keep in mind there are no studies done on pregnant or breastfeeding women, Dr. Dray notes.
But how well can they work? Well, that depends on how you interpret the studies. Many studies test participants using collagen supplements that are infused with additional ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamins. The question then becomes: are any positive outcomes attributed solely to the collagen are these other ingredients involved?
Dr. Dray also points out that not many of these studies take skin biopsies, which makes it nearly impossible to determine whether the collagen itself is contributing to meaningful dermatological changes. Smoother-looking skin could be an improvement in skin hydration, for example.
Could you be improving your skin texture simply by taking in more water every day as a result of taking these supplements?
Adding even more confusion to this puzzle is the fact that the supplement industry is not closely regulated the way pharmaceuticals are regulated. The amount of collagen you are getting in one supplement can be vastly different from the amount you get in another, making it even more difficult to determine which supplement is worth your time and money.
If you do choose to try a collagen supplement, you may be pleasantly surprised — but science isn’t completely on the side of collagen pills, powders, and liquids replacing every other tool in your skincare arsenal — yet.
