Collagen Supplements: Boosts Skin Elasticity and Hydration but Won't Stop Wrinkles, Study Finds
A major scientific review finds that collagen supplements can rejuvenate skin by improving elasticity and hydration, yet they will not stop wrinkles; the review also links long-term use with easing wear-and-tear joint pain. The findings matter because they separate measurable benefits of collagen pills or powders from overstated anti-ageing promises, clarifying where these products may help and where expectations should be tempered.
Collagen Supplements: what the review found
The review analysed evidence pooled from 16 reviews and 113 trials involving nearly 8, 000 people worldwide. It found that taking collagen supplements over a long period can improve skin elasticity and skin moisture, and can reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis such as joint pain and stiffness. However, the analysis found no significant effect on skin roughness and concluded the supplements are not a rapid anti-wrinkle solution.
How collagen changes with age and menopause
Collagen is a protein the body makes naturally that supports and strengthens skin, nails, bones and connective tissues including tendons and cartilage. Production declines from early adulthood, and existing collagen breaks down at a slightly faster rate as people age. Around the menopause, when women stop having periods, skin loses even more collagen—about a third—making post-menopausal skin a group that may particularly benefit from supportive measures.
Skin benefits and limits of collagen supplements
The review emphasises measurable improvements in skin tone, elasticity and hydration when collagen supplements are used consistently over time. Those changes are linked to a more youthful-looking appearance in some parameters, but the evidence does not show that collagen pills or powders halt the formation of wrinkles. The analysis found no clear benefit for reducing skin roughness, reinforcing the view that collagen is not a cosmetic quick fix for surface-level ageing.
Joint relief and a holistic positioning for the products
Beyond skin, the supplements showed potential to ease wear-and-tear and osteoarthritis symptoms, helping with joint pain and stiffness. The reviewers suggest collagen may be best positioned as part of a holistic, inside-out model of skin and connective-tissue maintenance—acting as agents of deeper tissue regeneration rather than superficial cosmetic aids. They note collagen may represent a legitimate additional anti-ageing support for women who have gone through the menopause and for patients with UV-damaged skin.
Types of collagen, study scale and funding context
There are several supplement types on the market, including marine, bovine and vegan collagen preparations. The review was unable to show whether any particular type works better than others. Methodologically, the pooled evidence drew on 16 reviews and 113 individual trials with almost 8, 000 participants, and the authors highlighted that many prior trials of collagen products have been funded by the supplement industry. The review itself did not have industry funding and was published in an aesthetic surgery journal.
Expert framing and remaining caveats
One of the lead investigators, a public health professor at the university that performed the analysis, framed the results by saying collagen is not a cure-all but does have credible benefits when used consistently—particularly for skin and osteoarthritis—and that the findings show clear gains in key areas of healthy ageing while dispelling some marketing myths. A nutrition scientist noted that diet remains important for skin health alongside any supplementation. Recent updates indicate these conclusions reflect the current review; details may evolve as further trials and longer-term data emerge.
