German Study Suggests Drinking Collagen for Younger Skin

Collagen injections are standard practices for patients looking to take years off their complexion, but according to a new study in Germany, drinking it may have the same effect.

According to the study, ingesting powdered collagen can also lead to more youthful looking skin. In the study, the production of pro-collagen (which is a precursor to collagen) jumped 65% with powdered collagen use.

The customer reviews are largely positive, with many fans claiming visibly younger skin in only a few weeks. According to Reservage science adviser Dr. Heather Hausenblas, “Women who took it for eight weeks saw a 20% reduction in the depth of the wrinkles around the eyes, which is one of those danger spots for women,” but added that the discovery of the pro-collagen increase is even more interesting and “helps the skin look so much younger…almost like a natural facelift.”

Ingested collagen is sold in the form of both pills and powders. Powders are tasteless and can be dissolved in any drink, from coffee to tea to water.

Prevention Magazine executive editor Olessa Pindak said the findings in the study were impressive, especially ad a price tag of only about 50 cents a day. “This type of a study is really unusual,” said Pindak. “And to see these kinds of results and to see this kind of double-blind, placebo-controlled gold-standard study being done on supplementation for the skin was really exciting.”

She added that people have reduced collagen in their diets over time, cutting out sources like heavier chicken noodle soup and other products in favor of lean, boneless and skinless meats.

However, the practice isn’t without his skeptics. Many doctors are pressing for more research and questioning the science behind the new treatment. “The science behind it doesn’t make sense,” Dr. Gary Goldenberg of Mount Sinai Hospital told News 7. “The way collagen is produced in our skin is by cells called fiber blasts. Not by ingesting it and then bringing it into the skin.”

“This is an interesting study, though I personally think it would be best to wait for further research on this topic,” says Chelsie Stettnichs, Customer Service and Esthetician at Hylunia. “There are a lot of great ways to promote collagen synthesis naturally, such as Vitamin C serums.”

Only time and more study will be able to confirm or deny the effectiveness of powdered collagen treatments.