How Long Does It Take for Collagen Supplements To Work?
The fountain of youth may be elusive, but collagen supplements are an increasingly popular solution for those seeking to boost their skin’s elasticity and hydration levels and turn back the clock. But exactly how long does it take to see results?
Let’s delve deeper into what collagen is, how it supports skin health, ways to supplement with collagen, and tips to maintain healthy, youthful-looking skin.
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is one of the most prominent, crucial proteins found within the body. Collagen is a structural molecule that provides strength and elasticity to many different types of tissue, including skin, bones and joints.
What Is Its Function in the Skin?
Collagen is one of the main structural components of the skin. The majority of collagen in your skin is found within the dermis layer.
Collagen in your dermis acts like scaffolding for your skin, giving it its bouncy and youthful appearance. As you age, this collagen scaffolding can diminish, leading to sagging skin, wrinkles and other visible signs of aging.
Collagen production tends to decline with age, but several environmental factors can speed up the breakdown of collagen in the skin. Some of the most common include excessive sun exposure, environmental extremes and smoking.
How Is Collagen Supported?
Collagen levels in the skin can be supported in several different ways. Some methods for supporting collagen involve directly ingesting collagen, while other strategies work by maintaining or increasing the body’s natural collagen production.
In the next section, we’ll look at some of the most effective strategies for supporting collagen production in the skin, helping you keep your complexion looking bright and radiant.
Collagen Supplements
If you’re looking for a direct way to boost your skin’s collagen levels and improve its appearance, supplementing with collagen is an excellent option. By providing your body with the building blocks it needs to produce more collagen, you’ll be supporting your skin’s natural beauty from within.
The best part? Taking a collagen supplement is a breeze and can easily fit into your daily routine!
Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C is a commonly supplemented vitamin, but many are unaware of its benefits when applied topically. Vitamin C serums like the Pro-Collagen Vitamin Serum from JSHealth Vitamins can help support collagen production while protecting the skin from oxidative damage, which can have a detrimental impact on overall skin health and appearance.
Retinol
Retinol is an ingredient that is commonly found in many skin care products. Retinol is actually a specific form of vitamin A, and it can help support the production of collagen in the skin. While this ingredient is common, many people negatively react to it as it can cause irritation, burning and tingling in individuals with sensitive skin.
Bakuchiol
Bakuchiol is a naturally derived alternative to retinol and also helps to support the production of collagen in the skin. Bakuchiol is fast becoming a popular option for a well-rounded skin care regimen as it is less likely to cause adverse reactions when compared to retinol.
What Is Marine Collagen?
There are three main options to choose from when it comes to collagen supplements: bovine-derived collagen, pig-derived collagen and marine-derived collagen. All of these sources contain collagen, but pure marine collagen is the top-line choice as it contains higher amounts of type 1 collagen, the main collagen type found in the skin.
The ocean is a treasure trove of hidden beauty secrets. Take marine collagen, for example – sustainably sourced from fish skin, bones and scales that would normally go to waste, this powerful ingredient has been found to have numerous benefits for skin health.
As an added bonus, marine collagen supports sustainable fishing practices and reduces waste in the fishing industry. Fish are generally less energy-intensive to raise in comparison to terrestrial livestock.
How Long Do Collagen Supplements Take To Work?
Collagen supplements work differently for everyone, so it’s hard to pinpoint an exact timeline for visible results. Some people may notice a difference within a few weeks, while others may take a few months to see any noticeable effect. Factors like age, the extent of collagen loss, and how well collage is absorbed by your body can all play a role.
But don’t worry, even if you don’t see immediate results, consistent collagen supplementation may still be doing good for your skin. It could potentially slow down the process of collagen decline and help prevent future wrinkles. Remember, collagen supplementation is a long-term investment in your skin’s health and appearance.
Things To Help Maintain Healthy Skin in the Meantime
Starting a collagen supplement can be worthwhile if you stick with it for the long run, but there are other strategies you can put in place in the meantime to help support your skin and get even more out of your efforts to improve your skin health.
Here are a few ideas:
Nail the Perfect Skincare Routine
Improving your skin health from the inside out through supplementation can help your skin, but it can take some time to start noticing results. Adding a solid skincare routine on top of supplementation allows you to have the support of your skin from the inside out and outside in.
Creating the best skincare routine for yourself is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It can take some time to tailor a routine suitable for your skin type and needs, but once you find one that works for you, you’ll start to notice significant improvements in your skin’s appearance.
A general framework for a good skincare routine includes cleansing the skin, using a hydrating product, and locking in that moisture with a moisturizer or cream.
Wear Sunscreen
Sun exposure is one of the primary causes of collagen breakdown, so wearing sunscreen every day can help protect your skin from damage. Sunscreen is typically applied after your skincare routine and can help to reduce the ultraviolet damage to the skin that the sun can inflict.
Live a Healthy Lifestyle
Taking collagen helps your skin from the inside out, but it isn’t the only approach that works this way. Living a generally healthy lifestyle can also have a large impact on your skin health.
Being conscious of implementing a well-rounded diet is a great place to start. The food you eat is directly correlated to the molecules that become available to cells within your body. Eating a well-rounded nutritious diet that includes your major essential vitamins ensures the your skin cells have all the tools they need to function optimally.
By making smart lifestyle choices, you can take control of your skin health and prevent premature aging. Quitting smoking and reducing stress levels are excellent ways to start. Smoking is one of the biggest culprits of early aging, while chronic stress can take a toll on your overall health.
Prioritizing sleep is also key, as it may help prevent under-eye bags and other noticeable changes to your skin that come with a poor night’s rest. “Getting your beauty sleep” is a saying with some truth and science behind it after all – it’s a great habit to start being more aware of in order to improve the quality of your overall health and skin appearance.
Taking care of yourself will not only improve your appearance, but also boost your overall wellbeing.
The Bottom Line
Collagen supplements have the potential to support healthy skin, but it's important to have realistic expectations about how long it takes to see results. The journey from collagen supplementation to noticeable skin benefits can last anywhere from a month to a couple of months.
While this can take some time, it's important not to feel discouraged, as the results are well worth the wait. In the meantime, while taking collagen supplements, you can do several other things to support your skin.
You can simultaneously support collagen through vitamin C and bakuchiol as well as overall skin health by consciously crafting the perfect skincare routine for your skin, wearing sunscreen to mitigate further damage and living a balanced, healthy lifestyle.
Sources
Age-Related Changes in the Fibroblastic Differon of the Dermis: Role in Skin Aging | NCBI.
Beauty Sleep: How Quality Rest Impacts Appearance | Sleep Foundation