3 Popular Collagen Supplements That Actually Do Nothing, According To Derms

Everywhere you go, everyone who is into beauty is talking about collagen. Of course, there’s a good reason for this obsession. Natural collagen and elastin are the building blocks of youthful-looking skin that maintains its firm radiance. But with age, we lose collagen. And the natural next step for someone who loves skincare might be to include collagen back into your routine via a supplement. Sounds logical, right?

No one here is about to bash collagen, but with so many brands coming out with their own version of a collagen supplement, it has become increasingly difficult to figure out which work and which are a waste of time and money. Dr. Yoram Harth, Board Certified Dermatologist and Medical Director of MDhair, spoke to SHEFinds.com about collagen — specifically, which collagen supplements do very little and how to use this ingredient to your advantage.

First off: is collagen even worth all the hype? Yes, Harth says, but there’s a bit more to it than just grabbing any collagen supplement you find on a pharmacy shelf.

“Taking the right collagen supplements can be very beneficial,” Harth says. “It was proven to be very helpful with hair regrowth, skin rejuvenation, and some joints disorders. This aim efficacy is dependent on the type of collagen and the amounts taken every day.”

And this is where things get a little more specific.

There are three types of collagen you’ll notice your supplement can contain: Type I, II, and II. “People looking to improve their skin or hair should look for marine collagen that includes more Type I Collagen – the type that is essential for the skin and hair,” Harth says. “People looking to improve their joint health can take bovine collagen that contains collagen I and III.”

Even if the FDA isn’t carefully doling out recommended dosages of collagen, it’s important to remember that how much or how little you take matters. “The minimal daily amount recommended for people taking collagen peptides is 5gr, which amounts to one scoop of collagen powder,” Harth says. “Collagen capsules are small and can contain only tiny amounts of collagen. The vital proteins capsules contain 0.56 gr per capsule. To get 3.3 gr of collagen per day (=one serving), one needed to take six capsules per day. Nutrafol does not reveal the amount of collagen in its capsules, but it seems that one needs to take at least four capsules totake the minimal amount of collagen. The Viviscal tablets include 0.45gr per tablet. To take 5gr per day, one would need to ingest ten tablets.”