Can Drinking Collagen Really Help Restore Skin Tone?

Collagen, the body’s most abundant protein, is crucial for maintaining skin tone and texture. It provides the structure and elasticity necessary to keep your skin looking young, firm, and smooth. Natural collagen production decreases as we age, leading to visible signs of ageing, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin.

Though collagen supplements have been around for a while, their most recent iteration involves liquid collagen, sometimes called drinking collagen. This form of collagen is said to be better absorbed by the body than traditional collagen pills – but is that really the case?
Here’s what you need to know:

Types of Collagen Supplements and Their Effectiveness

Liquid Collagen

Liquid collagen, often marketed as drinking collagen or collagen drinks, typically contains collagen in a hydrolysed form. This breaks down its protein structure, making it easier for the body to absorb. Some users also prefer this method for convenience and taste, especially as many collagen drinks come with additional flavouring. While certain studies suggest some positive effect of liquid collagen on skin hydration, there is no definitive scientific proof that this is the case. Additionally, many more studies actually show that they do not effectively work in restoring skin hydration, or use a small sample size in the course of their testing.

Collagen Pills

Collagen pills are a convenient way to supplement collagen, but their effectiveness depends largely on the body’s ability to thoroughly break down and absorb the peptides. However, not all pills may use a hydrolysed form of collagen, making the efficacy of any potential side effects hard to determine. Similar to drinking collagen, more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions about its effectiveness as a skincare supplement.

Collagen Powder

Collagen powder, which is typically mixed into beverages or food, offers a versatile way to supplement collagen into your regular diet. Some studies suggest it may be beneficial for skin health, but as with other forms of collagen supplementation, the scientific consensus is still evolving.

Topical Collagen Creams or Ointments

Unlike the supplements mentioned above, topical collagen is not ingested into the body and bloodstream but is merely applied to the top level of the skin. However, collagen molecules are too large to penetrate into the lower layers of the skin where your body’s natural collagen proteins reside. As such, there are no substantial scientific studies showing the effectiveness of topical collagen in improving skin tone, although some users enjoy the hydrating and soothing effects of such products.

What about Aesthetic Procedures for Collagen Production?

To sum it up, many of the collagen supplements on the market today (whether liquid, powder, or topical) only have a limited effectiveness when it comes to helping with skin hydration. While collagen supplements can potentially support skin health, tone, and texture, there are other more effective ways you can tackle visible signs of ageing.

Shiro Aesthetic Clinic offers several procedures at our Singapore clinics that directly aim to encourage the body’s natural collagen production. These include:

• HIFU Toning and HIFU Trinity: High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) uses ultrasound waves that penetrate deep into the skin layers, causing thermal coagulation to occur in the SMAS (Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System), fascia, deep dermis and subcutaneous fibrous tissues. This triggers the body’s wound-healing process, which stimulates collagen production and regeneration, skin tightening, and reduction of double chin and jowl fat. HIFU treatments like HIFU Trinity are also popularly used for visible signs of ageing like wrinkles and saggy skin, resulting in skin lifting and tightening effects.

• Polylactic fillers: Polylactic fillers such as Aesthefill, Sculptra, and Ellansé Dermal Filler are bio-stimulators which promote new collagen stimulation in skin cells. Beyond just smoothing over fine lines and wrinkles, these fillers promote natural collagen growth resulting in longer-lasting rejuvenating effects on your skin.

• Thermage™ FLX Skin Tightening Treatment: Thermage FLX uses patented Mono-polar Capacitive Radiofrequency (RF) technology to heat the lower layers of the skin, triggering a repair process that encourages new collagen formation. It can also be used to tackle stretch marks, loose skin, and fine lines.

While the effectiveness of each method varies per individual, all techniques listed above aim to enhance the natural beauty of your skin and restore your confidence. To explore these non-invasive methods to boost your collagen production, consider booking a consultation with us today. Our aesthetic doctors will sit down to fully understand your skincare concerns before recommending any course of treatment.