{"id":910783,"date":"2026-11-09T02:20:31","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T02:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/910783\/"},"modified":"2026-11-09T02:20:31","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T02:20:31","slug":"spending-money-on-collagen-pills-harley-street-expert-shares-what-your-skin-really-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/910783\/","title":{"rendered":"Spending money on collagen pills? Harley Street expert shares what your skin really needs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Around 5.3 million people across the UK regularly purchase collagen supplements in the hope of achieving firmer skin and healthier joints. However, leading medical and consumer experts have warned that scientific backing for these popular products remains exceptionally thin.<\/p>\n<p>Appearing on Which?&#8217;s Healthy Living Podcast, consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto and nutritionist Shefalee Loth examined whether these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inyourarea.co.uk\/news\/is-collagen-worth-the-hype-what-the-experts-say-about-the-viral-supplement\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">trending items<\/a> deliver on their bold marketing claims. Their findings suggest that shoppers may simply be pouring hard-earned money into an unproven <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inyourarea.co.uk\/news\/tag\/health\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">wellness habit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Harvard Health explains that collagen is a &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/blog\/considering-collagen-drinks-and-supplements-202304122911\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">major structural protein<\/a>. It&#8217;s found in skin, hair, nails, tendons, cartilage, and bones. Working with other substances, it maintains skin elasticity, volume, and moisture. It also helps make up proteins such as keratin that form skin, hair, and nails.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>MORE NUTRITION<\/p>\n<p>Sales of the supplement have boomed nationwide, with <a href=\"https:\/\/yougov.com\/en-gb\/articles\/52549-collagen-ashwagandha-mushroom-powders-whats-driving-supplement-use-in-the-uk\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">YouGov research<\/a> finding that 10% of adults have turned to collagen products to combat the effects of natural ageing. Despite heavy promotion on social media, clinical evidence supporting benefits for deep wrinkles, hair growth, or nail strength remains weak.<\/p>\n<p>Addressing listeners who take oral products, Dr Mahto shared a clear assessment of where medical research stands. She said: &#8220;Now, what I&#8217;m going to say is currently where the data stands, there is no good evidence that taking an oral collagen supplement for your skin is going to reverse the ageing process or slow down the ageing process or thicken up the collagen in the skin.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Harley Street specialist explained that the majority of existing clinical trials in favour of collagen are funded directly by the beauty industry. Furthermore, the human digestive system breaks down swallowed collagen into basic amino acids rather than dispatching it straight to the face, writes Charlotte Smith for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/health\/doctors-collagen-no-good-evidence-37841051\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the Mirror<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Unless an individual is genuinely protein deficient, these products generally provide nothing more than an expensive source of everyday dietary protein. Dr Mahto advises that preparing balanced, protein-rich meals at home is a substantially better and more affordable approach for bodily health.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than buying costly powders, the specialists urge people to invest their time in three reliable daily steps: morning cleansing, sun protection, and evening vitamin A. They stressed that expensive products never guarantee superior results compared to simple, consistent skincare habits.<\/p>\n<p>Daily <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inyourarea.co.uk\/news\/how-long-spf-cream-can-protect-your-skin-from-uv-rays\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">broad-spectrum sunscreen<\/a> rated at 30-50 SPF remains the single most vital anti-ageing product for preventing long-term collagen breakdown. Ultraviolet light causes the vast majority of premature skin damage, making morning sun defence far more effective than swallowing supplements. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inyourarea.co.uk\/news\/join-our-new-whatsapp-group-for-a-daily-dose-of-health-?utm_source=inyourarea.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=widget&amp;utm_keyword=wellness&amp;utm_content=article-widget-to-ww-article\/\" style=\"border:none\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"app\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/1794190831_783_wellnesswatch-whatsapppromoapp.png\" alt=\"Obsessed with health? Join our WhatsApp Communit\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Topical retinoids, derived from vitamin A, can also stimulate skin cell turnover when introduced carefully once or twice each week. UK cosmetic regulations restrict over-the-counter retinol concentrations to 0.3%, helping consumers avoid unnecessary redness and irritation.<\/p>\n<p>For women experiencing hormonal shifts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inyourarea.co.uk\/news\/the-extra-vitamins-you-need-in-menopause-here\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">during menopause<\/a>, declining oestrogen levels often lead to heightened dryness, increased sensitivity, and unexpected adult blemishes. The experts advise switching to gentle hydrators containing ceramides and hyaluronic acid, while noting that trending LED face masks still lack long-term clinical research.<\/p>\n<p>Before introducing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inyourarea.co.uk\/news\/how-you-might-be-overdosing-on-vitamins-without-even-realising\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">any new supplemen<\/a>t to your daily routine or altering current prescriptions, always speak directly with your GP or a qualified pharmacist. They can assess your personal medical history to ensure any over-the-counter product is entirely safe for you to use.<\/p>\n<p>READ NEXT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Around 5.3 million people across the UK regularly purchase collagen supplements in the hope of achieving firmer skin&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":910784,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[222820,130856,130857,97,222819,983,176603,6377,269,130858,130859,176604],"class_list":["post-910783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-community-platform","tag-gutenbot","tag-gutenbot_v2","tag-health","tag-inyourarea","tag-local-news","tag-money_and_lifestyle","tag-national","tag-nutrition","tag-prospero","tag-reach_rips","tag-under_35s_content_hub"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/910783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=910783"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/910783\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/910784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=910783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=910783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=910783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}