Learn about the effects of taking collagen within the body. Learn about the function of collagen in keeping your skin youthful, elastic and glowing.
Many people are talking about collagen capsules for a good cause. Their benefits are said to work on skin, help slow ageing, aid joint support and promote hair growth. But the real magic lies in understanding what happens after you ingest collagen. How does your body process it? What does it actually do with those peptides and amino acids?
This comprehensive guide explains the biological journey of collagen supplements from ingestion to results. Whether you're new to collagen or looking to optimise its effects, this is your one-stop breakdown of how collagen truly benefits skin health, elasticity, and overall vitality.
What does collagen do in the body?
Collagen is often referred to as the body’s ‘scaffolding’ – an important building block that pours strength into and consumes the shape, structure and strength of our connective tissues all over the body. The majority of this (nearly 24 billion protein molecules) is found in muscles, which account for about 30% of total protein in the human body and over 70% of the protein in your skin (Rd, 2025). However, collagen is more than skin-deep; it is vital to all aspects of the body.
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Here's a deeper look at how collagen contributes to your health:
Collagen helps the dermis layer of the skin stay elastic and firm and prevents sagging by holding it in place. Youthful skin is plump and firm because of its oils or fats. - Improves the strength of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles: Being a prime component of bone matrix and connective tissue, collagen supports joint strength and bone density and helps protect from injuries.
- Collagen helps keep arteries and blood vessels strong: When you consume collagen, it may lessen the risk of them getting stiff, which often leads to heart problems.
- It ensures healthy growth for both your nails and hair. The collagen in the column improves the strength of hair follicles and nails.
- Assists healthy digestion: Glutamine in amino acids assists in recovering the tissues in the gut disturbed by leaky gut syndrome.
At age 25, your body starts to produce collagen 1% less year after year. Due to ageing, people face wrinkles, dry skin, discomfort in their joints and a weaker capacity to heal wounds.
What happens to collagen after you ingest it?
Instead of working on the surface, which a topical cream does, collagen supplements are active from the inside. After taking collagen, it goes through various stages before it can be useful in your body.
1. The process includes digestion and disruption.
Everything begins in your stomach. Most high-quality collagen supplements are already processed to turn part of the collagen into peptides. This helps the body absorb nutrients much better.
Hydrolysed collagen digestion is not only quick but it also means your digestive enzymes have an easier time handling it.
They take the collagen a step further and split it into its component amino acids, mainly glycine, proline and hydroxyproline, which are good for skin rejuvenation.
It is essential for your body to break down collagen since it doesn’t absorb the whole substance on its own. It can capture small materials and use them where necessary.
2. Absorption into the bloodstream
Once the digestion process is done, collagen peptides and amino acids enter your blood through the intestinal wall.
- They remain in circulation for hours, interacting with cells in the body to turn on processes that help generate more collagen.
- Certain collagen pieces, including proline-hydroxyproline dipeptides, remain untouched by stomach acid and prompt the skin to fix itself.
At this stage, your skin and joint problems begin to improve in ways that can be noticed later.
3. Stimulation of collagen synthesis
After entering your blood, the peptides are carried to your skin, joints, muscles and ligaments.
- When your fibroblasts sense the amino acids in collagen peptides, they increase the production of new collagen fibres.
- It also works to boost levels of elastin and fibrillin in the skin which support the skin’s ability to stretch.
Consequently, supporting your body with supplements often results in smoother skin, more flexible joints and an increased pace of recovery.
4. Repair and regeneration
Once collagen is formed, your body sets out to heal damaged areas and strengthen things that are not as strong.
- Collagen works in the skin to keep the dermal area firm, relieve wrinkling, improve skin moisture and make the face appear fuller.
- Because of new collagen on the cartilage, joints are more flexible and less sore.
- Collagen in bones holds the calcium and minerals and prevents them from being weak and brittle.
Thanks to its ability to regenerate, collagen is vital for both improving our looks and maintaining our health.
How fast does collagen work on skin?
Results vary depending on age, lifestyle, and consistency of use—but collagen doesn't work overnight. Here’s what the timeline usually looks like for most users:
- Week 1–2: You may begin to notice improved skin hydration and a more supple feel. Skin might look slightly fresher due to better moisture retention.
- Weeks 3–5: Collagen production begins to ramp up internally, and users often report smoother skin texture, subtle firmness, and increased glow.
- Week 6–8: This is when real skin transformation becomes visible—fine lines soften, elasticity improves, and the skin feels more youthful and resilient.
Weeks 9–12 and beyond: Long-term collagen synthesis leads to measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, improved joint mobility, and even stronger hair and nails.
A clinical study reviewed by MindBodyGreen confirms these effects, noting that 6–8 weeks is the sweet spot for most people to begin seeing visible improvements in skin elasticity and hydration (mindbodygreen, 2024).
Does collagen improve skin elasticity and fight ageing?
Absolutely. One of collagen’s greatest benefits lies in its ability to restore the skin's bounce—which is directly tied to elasticity.
As collagen breaks down with age, your skin loses structure and the ability to "snap back" after stretching. This results in:
- Wrinkles in the cheeks and jowls
- Lines appearing on the skin around the eyes, forehead and mouth
- Easy bruising and tearing of the skin
Collagen supplements help counteract these effects by:
- Enhancing the production of collagen by fibroblasts causes the skin to become thicker and stronger
- Providing more moisture to your skin, making it look softer and smoother
- Helping the skin by ensuring nutrients are delivered and blood circulation is improved
Written in the review on Everyday Health, within two months after using collagen peptides daily, people notice their skin becoming 20% more elastic (Migala, 2025).
What’s the difference between natural collagen and collagen supplements?
Natural collagen is produced endogenously, but with age and external stressors, your body produces less of it. Supplements are designed to fill the gap and stimulate new production.
Natural collagen:
- Synthesized from amino acids obtained through protein-rich foods like chicken, fish, eggs, and legumes
- Requires nutrients like Vitamin C, zinc, and copper to form complete collagen chains
- Production declines significantly with age and is damaged by UV radiation, smoking, and pollution
- Difficult to rebuild once lost without support from targeted supplementation
Collagen supplements:
- Deliver hydrolyzed peptides that are easier for your body to absorb and use
- Often include synergistic ingredients like Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid
- Backed by research showing real improvements in skin, joints, and muscle repair
- Convenient and more efficient than trying to rely on diet alone for sufficient collagen-building materials
How to maximize the benefits of collagen supplements
To get the most out of your collagen regimen, follow these best practices:
Stay consistent: Collagen needs to be taken daily for at least 6–12 weeks to show full results. Sporadic use reduces efficacy.
Take with Vitamin C: This vitamin is a cofactor in collagen synthesis. Without it, your body struggles to build new collagen fibres.
Hydrate regularly: Regularly drink water, as it helps collagen to do its best job. To keep your skin moist, drink at least two to three litres of water daily.
Put sunscreen on every day, as UV rays can harm your collagen quickly. Wearing SPF on cloudy days still protects your skin.
Eating too much sugar results in collagen faults, as sugar attaches to collagen proteins, making them weak and stiff.
Get enough sleep: The most collagen is produced during the deepest sleep, so try to sleep for 7–8 hours every night in one time block.
Conclusion
After you take collagen supplements, your body does what exactly? It accumulates them and then makes specialised cells use them to support the main structure of your skin, bones and joints. Collagen contributes to clear skin and flexible joints and makes anti-ageing support easier, but it’s rarely recognised for its value.
Consistently eating good quality food and having Vitamin C and plenty of water will help you benefit from a healthy diet.
If you want to start using collagen, review our products or check the best-sellers to see which one fits you best.
FAQs
Can I take collagen with other products?
Collagen does work with Vitamin C, zinc, hyaluronic acid and biotin. These improve absorption into skin and rehydrate and strengthen the skin.
Does collagen have side effects?
Certain people may feel bloated or feel full after taking collagen generally well tolerated. Any side effects are reduced by choosing high-quality and clean-label brands.
Which form of collagen is the best, powder or capsule?
They are both good. While the most common way to take collagen is in powder form in drinks, it can also come in handy for those on the go in pill or capsule form, with higher doses.
Is collagen good for men?
Definitely. While these pills are marketed to women, they also lead to improvement of joint health, stronger skin, faster muscle recovery and better ageing resistance.
If I am in my 20s, do I need the collagen?
Starting early can help you continue to have natural collagen stores before the onset of the wrinkles and sagging. Better long-term skin and joint health is accomplished through preventative use.
References
- Migala, J. (2025, April 1). What is collagen? health benefits, food sources, supplements, types, and more. EverydayHealth.com. https://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-beauty/collagen-health-benefits-food-sources-supplements-types-more/
- mindbodygreen. (2024, November 25). This is how fast you should see results when taking a collagen supplement. Mindbodygreen. https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-long-does-it-take-for-collagen-to-work?srsltid=AfmBOorp-0BCUJ09u1Psng7TZojuvEz8U7YBNYIT4_CcgQUx7W-UeEVn
- Rd, J. K. M. (2025, April 7). What is collagen, and what is it good for? Healthline.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen