Do Collagen Supplements Work for Skin?
Do collagen supplements improve skin?
Modest benefit for hydration and elasticity in pooled trials, with caveats
Partly. Two meta-analyses of randomised trials found that oral hydrolysed collagen improved skin hydration and elasticity compared with placebo, and one also found fewer wrinkles. The authors noted biases in the included studies and called for larger trials.
What the meta-analyses found
A 2021 meta-analysis pooled 19 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials with 1,125 participants aged 20 to 70, about 95 per cent of them women. It found improved skin hydration, elasticity and wrinkles with hydrolysed collagen, and concluded that taking it for 90 days was effective. A 2023 meta-analysis of 26 randomised trials with 1,721 participants found improved hydration and elasticity, with the hydration effect varying by collagen source and duration.
The caveats
The 2023 authors identified several biases among the included trials and called for larger randomised trials. The outcomes were signs of ageing, so these results say nothing about acne, scars or dark spots.
Where that leaves you
The pooled evidence suggests a modest effect on hydration and elasticity, not a substitute for sun protection, which has the strongest trial evidence on ageing. If you are considering supplements, speak to a doctor or pharmacist first.
What trials found about supplements
This reports study results only. It does not suggest taking anything or an amount, because the right choice depends on you. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you are pregnant or take other medicines.
Hydrolysed collagen
Some evidenceImproved skin hydration and elasticity against placebo in two meta-analyses of randomised trials, and wrinkles in one, with biases noted and larger trials needed.
Questions people ask
The 2021 meta-analysis concluded that taking hydrolysed collagen for 90 days was effective. The 2023 one found that the hydration effect varied with duration.
Research
Selected studies and reviews on do collagen supplements work for skin?. Each link opens the abstract on PubMed. This is background reading, not a substitute for advice from a dermatologist.
- Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis.de Miranda RB, Weimer P, Rossi RC Int J Dermatol, 2021 · PMID 33742704Note: Meta-analysis of 19 randomised trials.
- Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Pu SY et al. Nutrients, 2023 · PMID 37432180Note: Meta-analysis of 26 randomised trials.
General information, not dietary or medical advice. These guides describe what studies found and how strong the evidence is. Talk to a doctor or dietitian if you have a condition, are pregnant or are changing your diet or supplements.