Dry skin

Overview

Dry skin has two reviewed supplements. Collagen peptides have the strongest evidence (WA 76, seven studies, high effect, evidence, and trust): daily doses from 372 mg to 12 g over 4–12 weeks improved hydration and elasticity in healthy adults, with fish collagen showing the largest effects on hydration and elasticity.

Coconut Oil (WA 44; low effect size, low evidence, medium trust) applied topically may improve hydration similarly to mineral oil and helped hand moisture in people who frequently use hand sanitizer, but overall evidence is low trust. The heatmap and evidence reviews below summarize both supplements.

Effect graph

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Relevant supplements

Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.


Collagen	★★★★★	High
Coconut Oil	★★★★★	Low

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Studies

Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.

2 supplements for and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.

CollagenView supplement →

Consider purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeHighEvidenceHighTrustMedium

Evidence Review

A review of many studies shows that taking collagen peptides every day (at doses from 372 mg up to 12 grams for 4–12 weeks) can help improve skin hydration and make skin feel more elastic in healthy adults.
Some studies found that collagen can also reduce skin roughness, stop peeling, and help the skin hold more water, but it doesn’t always make skin look shinier or more elastic.
Fish collagen seems to work best for skin hydration and elasticity, while chicken collagen has a smaller benefit and bovine collagen doesn’t seem to help with these changes.

Browse 7 studies1 meta-analysis

RCTInfluence of collagen peptide supplementation on visible signs of skin and nail health and -aging in an East Asian population: A double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial2024n=85

In 85 East Asian women aged 43–65, 5 g/day collagen peptides for 84 days improved dermis density and skin moisture versus placebo, with earlier gains in elasticity and wrinkle visibility.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 84 days
Dose: 5 g/day
Population: Women
Participants: 85
Ages: 43–65

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RCTLow-molecular-weight collagen peptides supplement promotes a healthy skin: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study2024n=100

In 100 adults aged 35–60, 12 weeks of low-molecular-weight collagen peptides improved wrinkle roughness, elasticity, hydration, and whitening parameters versus placebo without adverse events.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 12 weeks
Population: Healthy adults
Participants: 100
Ages: 35–60

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MetaEffects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis2023n=1,721

A meta-analysis of 26 collagen RCTs in 1721 participants found hydrolyzed collagen significantly improved skin hydration; effects on elasticity were inconsistent across trials.

Effect: Benefit
Population: Healthy adults
Participants: 1,721
Ages: 18+

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RCTOral intake of collagen peptide NS improves hydration, elasticity, desquamation, and wrinkling in human skin: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study2023n=100

In 100 women aged 30–60, 1650 mg/day collagen peptide NS for 12 weeks improved skin hydration, desquamation, wrinkling, and elasticity versus placebo.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 12 weeks
Dose: 1650 mg/day
Population: Women
Participants: 100
Ages: 30–60

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RCTOral Supplementation of Low-Molecular-Weight Collagen Peptides Reduces Skin Wrinkles and Improves Biophysical Properties of Skin: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study2022n=100

In 84 adults, 12 weeks of low-molecular-weight collagen peptides improved crow's feet wrinkle score, wrinkle volume, skin roughness, elasticity, hydration, and TEWL versus placebo.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 12 weeks
Population: Adults
Participants: 100

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RCTOral Intake of Enzymatically Decomposed AP Collagen Peptides Improves Skin Moisture and Ceramide and Natural Moisturizing Factor Contents in the Stratum Corneum2021n=50

In 50 adults aged 35–60, 1000 mg/day AP collagen peptides for 12 weeks improved skin moisture by 7.3% and increased stratum corneum ceramide and NMF content versus placebo.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 12 weeks
Dose: 1000 mg
Population: Adults
Participants: 50
Ages: 35–60

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RCTOral Supplementation of Collagen Peptides Improves Skin Hydration by Increasing the Natural Moisturizing Factor Content in the Stratum Corneum: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial2021n=33

In 99 Japanese women aged 35–50, 1 or 5 g/day collagen peptides for 12 weeks increased stratum corneum water content and NMF and reduced TEWL versus placebo.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 12 weeks
Dose: 1–5 g/day
Population: Women
Participants: 33
Ages: 35–50

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Coconut OilView supplement →

Reconsider purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeLowEvidenceLowTrustMedium

Evidence Review

It is not clear if using coconut oil on dry skin is helpful.
Some research shows that applying coconut oil twice daily can improve skin hydration and natural oils in the skin.
These effects are similar to those seen with mineral oil, a common skin moisturizer.
Another study found that putting a few drops of coconut oil on hands before bed helped keep the skin more moisturized in people who often use hand sanitizer.
Coconut oil's natural fats help protect and repair the skin and keep moisture from escaping.

Browse 2 studies

Virgin coconut oil as prophylactic therapy against alcohol damage on skin in COVID times2021n=60

In 60 volunteers using alcohol hand sanitizer 6 times daily for 15 days, overnight virgin coconut oil improved perceived hand moisture by 25% and helped protect skin barrier from repeated alcohol exposure.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 15 days
Participants: 60
Ages: 25–60

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RCTA randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis2004n=34

A double-blind RCT in 34 patients with mild-to-moderate xerosis found virgin coconut oil applied twice daily for 2 weeks was as effective and safe as mineral oil for improving skin hydration.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 2 weeks
Population: Patients with xerosis
Participants: 34

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Evidence visualised

Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.

Purchase-guidance distribution

How many supplements fall in each purchase band

Effect-size distribution

How large the reported benefits tend to be

Study distribution across 2 supplements for dry skin (9 studies total).
Supplement	DEX	Studies	Meta-analyses	Share
Collagen	★★★★★76%	7	1	78%
Coconut Oil	★★★★★44%	2	0	22%

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Overview

Effect graph

Relevant supplements

Studies

Evidence visualised

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