Is Collagen Good For Acne?
Dealing with acne-prone skin can be extremely frustrating, especially when it’s one of many skin conditions that continues into your adult years. To make matters worse still, breakouts can happen at the most unexpected time, cause acne scars, and lead to dark spots—all of which might deliver a blow to someone’s self-esteem. Luckily, dermatological advances have come very far and there are plenty of effective treatments that can help manage acne and its effects. If you keep up with dermatology or skincare news, you may have asked yourself: Is collagen good for acne?
Again, there are a number of treatments that are successful in reducing acne. Accutane is a popular option, as Proactiv and spironolactone—the latter of which requires you to drink tons of water because it, in a sense, dehydrates you. It’s also common for folks to turn to taking vitamins for acne. While collagen may be good for some skin concerns, like anti-aging, it might not be the best way to treat acne.
Here, we talk about whether or not collagen is good for acne, what the protein is, the benefits of collagen, and provide a roundup of the best collagen brands for acne-prone skin. Read on to get the scoop on collagen.
Is Collagen Good For Acne?
Collagen is one of the most popular beauty treatments, especially for aging skin. People have also sworn by its positive effects on hair and nails. That said, it may not be for everyone. Let’s talk about how collagen works, which can help you determine whether it’ll be good a good fit for your skin type. When you’re introducing a new substance to your body, it’s generally a good course of action to learn what it is.
What Is Collagen?
Put simply, collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. The most common type of collagen is found in our connective tissues. Though It’s often found in beef bone broth, sardines, and berries. As we mentioned, collagen production is natural in our bodies. As such, it’s subject to being affected by aging. In fact, collagen levels in the body decrease as a person ages.
Benefits of Collagen
According to Cleveland Clinic, the benefits of collagen may be overhyped. For instance, there aren’t any studies showing that the protein helps acne in any way. That said, some beauty and well-being outlets have reported a handful of benefits of collagen as it pertains to having healthy skin. These include:
- May improve skin health
- May reduce joint pain
- May promote skin elasticity
- May help hair and nail growth and strength
- May prevent premature aging
- May aid in wound healing
Does Collagen Help With Acne?
According to Curology, a skincare company offering personalized formulas and routines, “collagen peptides may indirectly contribute to healthier-looking skin, potentially reducing the appearance of acne scars and improving overall skin texture. That said, there really isn’t any scientific evidence that collagen helps prevent acne from forming. There also isn’t anything supporting that collagen helps treat active breakouts.
That said, where acne-related skin concerns are involved, a treatment that works for one person may not work for another person. The reverse is also true. This means that though taking collagen supplements might not have worked for your friend, it may work for you.
We know how exasperating it is to put up with breakouts. And even though there’s no scientific proof of collagen working to address acne, if you think it’s worth a shot, who are we to stop you? Below, find a list of the best collagen for acne-prone skin.
Best Collagen For Acne-Prone Skin
Hum Collagen Love
With collagen peptides, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid, this dietary supplement claims to support skin elasticity and firmness. Because these pills don’t have any artificial colors, sweeteners, flavors, or preservatives, it would be good—in theory—for acne-prone skin. Additionally, hydration is helpful when it comes to dealing with acne. Since this pick has hyaluronic acid, it could prove helpful in that regard.
One thing to note here is that a lot of the reviewers lauded this product for its effect on boosting skin elasticity along with hair growth. There hasn’t been much by way of battling acne.
Available at Sephora ($40) | Also available at Amazon, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Free People
Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster
At The Daley Dose, we love Paula’s Choice. It’s a great skincare brand that has fragrance-free and cruelty-free products at a pretty fair price point. Yes, these products are more expensive than drugstore brands, but you’ll know where the extra money went when you use them. For instance, this pick is packed with ingredients that help firm and plump the skin. It also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This formula is good for all skin types.
Available on Sephora ($58) | Also available on Amazon and Paula’s Choice
Alo Advanced Collagen Shot
When it comes to comfortable yoga wear, I never look any further than Alo. Not too long ago, the brand launched a skincare line that I tested for a few weeks. It was pretty amazing. Part of that line is this collagen shot that supports your skin, hair, joints, and muscles. It contains biotin, resveratrol, amla, hyaluronic acid, and collagen-promoting peptides. It’s also formulated without parabens, phthalates, gluten, sulfates, mineral oils, artificial colors, synthetic fragrances, and polyethylene glycol.
My only concern with this is that it isn’t exactly the most sustainable packaging since each shot is individually packaged.
Available on Alo Yoga ($30)
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Advanced
This pick from Vital Proteins is another great option for collagen, especially because it contains amino acids. Because of that, this collagen powder serves as a building block for renewing tissue and supporting skin, bones, and joints. The advanced formula also features hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, which are both known to help improve the appearance of skin through hydration and fighting free radicals. Also, unlike the Alo collagen shot, this powder is unflavored.
Available on Amazon ($31)
Moon Juice Collagen Protect
In case you’ve heard the word “adaptogenic” without knowing its definition, let us help ya out. The term refers to herbs, roots, and plant-like substances that help our bodies manage stress and reach homeostasis (i.e., balance). Moon Juice is an adaptogenic beauty and well-being brand. As such, their collagen powder works to address gut health in addition to skin health. What’s more is that reviewers rave about this product saying that it’s “the best they’ve tried” or they’re “very impressed.
Available on Moon Juice ($32) | Also available on Free People and Nordstrom
Sports Research Multi Collagen
If you’re searching for high-quality hydrolyzed collagen, this is hands-down the best pick for you. In addition to the top-tier collagen, this formula contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and bone broth. That last one is key to note in case you were looking for a vegan option. (Read: this is not it.) That said, since bone broth is a major source of collagen, this product delivers a lot of the protein. Instead of a straight-up powder, this supplement comes in the form of capsules. A serving size, for reference, is three capsules. There are 30 servings, or 90 capsules, per container.
Available on Amazon ($25) | Also available on Target
For good measure, I’d love to repeat that collagen hasn’t been proven to address acne concerns. Ethically, we can’t say that these products will “fix” your acne. What we can say, though, is that they may help your skin get a bright glow from the inside out. And isn’t that worth a shot?
