Do Collagen Supplements Work to Tighten Skin?
Some people are blessed with genetically good skin, but somewhere around forty, our skin begins to lose its elasticity, hydration, and firmness. You start to notice the wrinkles deepening and becoming more pronounced around your eyes. You start to notice the skin on your hands become thinner and even the skin in your neck starts to lose its elasticity.
If you’re looking for a supplement that directly targets skin aging, Uvora Beauty Collagen was formulated for exactly this.
Collagen, a vital protein in the body, plays a significant role in maintaining skin structure and health. The beauty industry has done well in bringing awareness to the need for collagen supplementation, and one of the most frequently asked questions is: do collagen supplements work to tighten skin?
Anecdotally, many people seem to swear by collagen, but we like to support our products and brand with some of the geeky stuff. Let’s take a look.
Collagen and Skin Hydration
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine (2021), collagen supplementation has shown promising results in improving various aspects of skin health, particularly skin hydration, elasticity, and wrinkle reduction. This study highlights that oral collagen supplements target the dermal layer of the skin, which is where collagen breakdown occurs over time. Skin hydration is a key factor in maintaining a youthful appearance, and dry skin often exacerbates the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Collagen and Skin Elasticity
Loss of elasticity is another hallmark of aging skin, leading to sagging and the formation of wrinkles. In the Journal of Clinical Medicine (2021) study, participants taking collagen supplements demonstrated an increase in skin elasticity, particularly in areas prone to sagging. From about the age of 30, the performance of fibroblasts, and thus collagen synthesis, starts to reduce. Therefore, supplementing with bioactive collagen peptides like Uvora's Beauty collagen stimulates these fibroblast cells responsible for collagen synthesis, leading to firmer, more resilient skin over time.
A study by Proksch et al. (2014), published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, provides compelling evidence for the effectiveness of collagen supplementation in improving skin elasticity. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved women aged 35-55 who took 2.5 grams of specific bioactive collagen peptides daily. Over the course of 8 weeks, the study demonstrated a significant improvement in skin elasticity compared to the placebo group. The increase in skin elasticity was more pronounced in women over the age of 50, highlighting collagen’s potential for addressing age-related skin changes.
This reinforces the idea that collagen supplementation can help restore the skin’s firmness and elasticity, making it appear more youthful.
Collagen and Wrinkle Reduction
The Proksch et al. (2014) study also measured other skin parameters, including wrinkle reduction and collagen density in the skin, which further supported the benefits of collagen supplementation. It concluded that specific bioactive collagen peptides not only improve skin elasticity but also help reduce wrinkle depth and enhance overall skin structure by stimulating the body's own collagen production. The study demonstrated a 32% reduction in wrinkle depth and a 23% reduction in wrinkle volume after only 8 weeks.
This highlights the potent anti-aging effects of collagen, particularly when targeting the delicate skin around the eyes and mouth.
A Comparison: Oral vs. Topical Collagen
Toward the latter half of the Journal of Clinical Medicine (2021) study, an interesting comparison is made between oral collagen supplements and topical collagen products. The study notes that topical collagen does not penetrate the skin as effectively as oral supplements, which are absorbed and distributed through the bloodstream to the deeper layers of the skin. This makes oral collagen more effective in stimulating collagen production in the dermis compared to topical collagen.
Furthermore, the study briefly mentions collagen’s role in post-facelift recovery. Participants who consumed collagen supplements after undergoing facelift surgery experienced more significant improvements in skin elasticity and tightness compared to those who did not. This suggests that oral collagen may have an added benefit in accelerating recovery and enhancing results when combined with aesthetic procedures.
Conclusion
Based on the findings in the Journal of Clinical Medicine (2021) study and studies on specific collagen peptides like the one conducted by Proksch et al. (2014), oral collagen supplements offer multiple benefits for skin health, particularly in tightening the skin. By improving skin hydration, elasticity, and reducing wrinkles, collagen supplements target some of the most common concerns associated with aging skin.
Explore our Beauty Collagen — formulated to support skin hydration, elasticity, and wrinkle reduction.
References:
- Journal of Clinical Medicine (2021), "Efficacy of Collagen Peptides in Improving Skin Health," https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8824545/
- Proksch et al. (2014), "Oral supplementation of specific bioactive collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology," Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4045283/
