Collagen powders, shakes, drinks, and other supplements are all the rage on Instagram right now, but can they really help your skin to look younger and healthier? The truth is that most collagen supplements don’t ever reach your skin, so you could be paying a lot of money for no benefit.

But the good news is that there are much easier and cheaper ways to help your skin boost its collagen content!

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is a protein that your body makes on its own and uses for a variety of functions throughout your body, including providing the structural building blocks for your skin, hair, and muscles. But as we age, our bodies begin to produce less collagen, which eventually leads to wrinkles, sagging skin, and other age-related concerns.

Enter collagen supplements. There are lots of claims out there that taking collagen supplements help to prevent these signs of aging by restoring your body’s reserve of this important protein. But there’s one main problem with this.

Why Collagen Supplements Don’t Help Your Skin

When ingested orally, collagen is broken down in your stomach before it is able to reach your skin. So while some pieces of your collagen supplement might eventually reach your skin, the whole collagen molecule won’t be intact, rendering it ineffective.

But there is a supplement you can take to help increase your skin’s collagen production: vitamin C. Your body naturally uses vitamin C to manufacture its own collagen, so ensuring that you have enough of this vital vitamin is key to boosting collagen and getting healthier, younger-looking skin.

There are also some things you can easily do to help slow the process of collagen breakdown within your skin:

• Wear sunscreen. The sun’s UV rays break down collagen, causing premature lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. Wear daily sunscreen to prevent this.
• Eat a healthy diet. Foods rich in vitamin C can help your body to make replacement collagen. It is also important to eat antioxidant-rich foods to protect your skin from free radical damage. Sugary foods, on the other hand, can contribute to skin aging by breaking down collagen proteins in a process called glycation.
• Use topical antioxidants. Antioxidants are also great topical skincare products, as they help to protect against free radical damage. But make sure you find the right antioxidant products and serums for your skin type and needs. Some formulations of topical vitamin C may cause stinging or burning in those with sensitive skin, for example.

Bottom Line

Collagen supplements for your skin are pricey and not necessary. You likely won’t see any noticeable effect on your skin. But you can take a much more affordable vitamin C supplement and adopt healthy lifestyle habits to help your skin maintain healthy levels of collagen for smooth, beautiful skin on its own.

To learn more about the right anti-aging skincare products and treatments for your specific skin type and needs, contact us online or call our Boca Raton & Fort Lauderdale office at 561-486-9339 to set up a consultation today!