Written by Jessie, Product Manager · Updated 19 October 2026

Eczema and dry skin both come down to a skin barrier that struggles to hold on to water. Collagen supports your skin from the inside, and clinical trials show it helps skin stay hydrated. Here's what the research shows, what's new for eczema, and how collagen fits alongside the care your doctor recommends.

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What happens to your skin barrier with eczema and dry skin?

With eczema and dry skin, the skin's protective outer layer holds water less well, so moisture escapes and skin turns dry, tight and itchy.

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a long-term skin condition. Changes in the skin's protective layer can make it lose moisture, which leaves skin dry and leads to damage and inflammation. Inflammation then triggers itch, and scratching irritates the skin further.^[1]

It's common here. Atopic dermatitis affects about 13% of people in Singapore, and about 21% of children and adolescents.^[2]

Dry skin without eczema has the same basic problem: water leaves the skin faster than it's replaced. This is called transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and it's one of the main things the studies below measure.

How does collagen help dry skin?

Collagen peptides taken every day help skin hold more water. Clinical trials show better hydration and elasticity, more collagen in the dermis (the deeper layer of skin) and less water loss through the skin.

• A 2019 review of 11 randomised controlled trials, with 805 people, found that oral collagen increased skin elasticity, hydration and dermal collagen density. Most trials used hydrolysed collagen at 2.5 to 10 g a day, including trials in people with dry skin (xerosis).^[3]
• A 2021 meta-analysis of 19 trials, with 1,125 people aged 20 to 70, found better skin hydration and elasticity and fewer wrinkles after about 90 days of hydrolysed collagen.^[4]
• In a 12-week trial in 99 women aged 35 to 50, collagen peptides (1 g or 5 g a day) increased the water content of the skin's outer layers and reduced water loss through the skin. They also raised natural moisturising factor (NMF), the skin's own water-holding molecules.^[5]
• In a 12-week trial with 100 adults with sun-aged, dry skin, low-molecular-weight collagen peptides improved hydration and elasticity and reduced water loss through the skin, compared with placebo.^[6]
• In placebo-controlled trials, collagen density in the dermis rose after 4 weeks of collagen peptides, and skin hydration improved after 8 weeks.^[7]

Why the dipeptide form matters. When you drink collagen, your body breaks it into very small pieces, including two dipeptides (pairs of amino acids) called Pro-Hyp and Hyp-Gly, which reach the blood.^{[8] [9]} In a lab study on human skin cells, Pro-Hyp increased production of hyaluronic acid, a molecule that holds water in the skin, 3.8-fold.^[8] In a placebo-controlled trial, a collagen with more Pro-Hyp and Hyp-Gly improved skin moisture and elasticity more than a collagen with less.^[9]

Is collagen good for eczema?

Collagen supports two things eczema-prone skin depends on: hydration and a strong barrier. Research on collagen and eczema itself is newer, with promising animal studies and a first small human trial.

• Animal study, collagen dipeptides: in mice fed a diet that causes dry, barrier-damaged skin, the collagen dipeptides Pro-Hyp and Hyp-Gly, given for 35 days, reduced water loss through the skin and increased the water content of its outer layer.^[10]
• Animal study, fish collagen: in mice with eczema-like skin triggered by house dust mites, fish collagen lowered dermatitis scores and water loss through the skin, and restored filaggrin, a protein the skin barrier relies on. The effects were seen whether the collagen was given by mouth, applied to the skin, or both.^[11]
• Small human trial: in a 2026 pilot trial, 30 adults with moderate eczema took 5 g of specific bovine collagen peptides or a placebo every day for 12 weeks, with a steroid cream allowed as rescue treatment. The collagen group used less of the steroid cream (0.94 g vs 5.60 g on average), saw their itch scores improve earlier, from week 4, and kept their skin pH in the healthy range.^[12]

Collagen works on overall skin hydration and the skin barrier, so it pairs best with the eczema plan your doctor gives you, alongside it rather than in place of it.

Does collagen make eczema worse?

Collagen peptides were well tolerated in skin trials. The main thing to check is the source: if you're allergic to fish, avoid marine collagen.

A review of 11 collagen trials reported no adverse events,^[3] and the 2026 eczema trial found no treatment-related side effects.^[12]

Eczema often runs alongside hay fever, asthma and food allergies.^[13] So before you start:

• If you have a fish allergy, skip marine collagen.
• If you have other food allergies, read the full ingredient list, not just the collagen.
• Add one new product at a time, so you can tell what suits your skin.
• If you're unsure, check with your doctor first.

What else helps dry, eczema-prone skin?

A daily moisturiser is the base of eczema care, and prescribed anti-inflammatory creams are the first-line treatment for flares.^{[14] [2]} Collagen, ceramides and probiotics add support from within.

Moisturiser, triggers and prescribed treatment: NHS and the evidence framework for Singapore's ACE Clinical Guideline on eczema.^{[14] [2]} Collagen, ceramides and probiotics: clinical studies.^{[3] [5] [15] [16]}

Probiotics work through the gut-skin axis: gut bacteria can influence the skin's own microbes, the skin barrier and the immune response, and an imbalance in gut bacteria is linked to eczema.^[17]

How does Singapore's climate affect eczema and dry skin?

Heat, sweat and long hours in air-conditioning all test the skin barrier, so a steady routine matters even more here.

Hot, humid days mean more sweat, and sweat and climate are both common eczema triggers.^[2] So are heat and changes in temperature,^[18] like stepping from a hot street into a cold office or MRT train. Air-conditioning dries the air too: a Singapore General Hospital dermatologist advises people with dry skin to spend less time in dry, air-conditioned rooms, and to consider a humidifier if they spend many hours in one.^[19]

• Shower in lukewarm or cool water, and keep showers to 5 to 10 minutes.^[19]
• Moisturise while your skin is still damp after a shower. Creams and ointments add more moisture than lotions.^[20]
• Wash with an emollient instead of soap.^[14]
• Choose fragrance-free skin products and loose cotton clothing.^[20]

For more on how heat, sweat and air-conditioning wear on your skin, read how Singapore's climate affects your skin barrier.

How do you add collagen to an eczema care routine?

Keep your doctor's plan as the base, then add collagen as a daily habit and give it 8 to 12 weeks.

1. Moisturise at least twice a day, and keep going even when your skin improves.^[14]
2. Use prescribed treatment for flares as your doctor advises.^[2]
3. Learn your triggers and cut down on them where you can.^[2]
4. Take collagen every day. Trials measured skin changes after 4 to 12 weeks, so consistency matters more than timing.^{[5] [7]}

Collagen Glow Berries gives you 6,000 mg of Wellnex marine collagen dipeptide in every sachet: Types I and III collagen from tilapia, broken down by enzymatic hydrolysis into small dipeptides, with a glycine, proline and hydroxyproline ratio of 3:1:1. Each sachet adds 250 mg of vitamin C, which supports the skin's own collagen production,^[21] and 100 mg of bilberry extract. It's ready to drink, with no water needed: take 1 sachet a day, in the morning or before bed. It contains fish, so skip it if you have a fish allergy.

If you'd like probiotics and ceramides for your skin too, Skin Glow Pre+Probiotic Melts combines 5 billion CFU of two probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium lactis and Bacillus coagulans) with 6 mg of rice extract (10% ceramide), 12.5 mg of salmon extract (20% proteoglycan) and vitamin C. It melts on your tongue with no water needed: take 1 to 2 sachets a day, in the morning or evening. It contains milk and fish.

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Related reading: Ceramides or collagen for dry skin: what each one does · Eczema creams and the part most people miss · 7 eczema triggers to avoid

Frequently asked questions

What is the best collagen for eczema-prone skin?
Hydrolysed collagen peptides are the form used in most skin trials, at about 2.5 to 10 g a day. Look for a clear collagen dose on the pack, ideally with vitamin C, which supports the skin's own collagen production. Most importantly, choose a source you aren't allergic to.

Is marine collagen good for eczema-prone skin?
Marine collagen comes from fish, and in an animal study, fish collagen improved eczema-like skin and helped restore the skin barrier protein filaggrin in mice. It's a good option for dry, eczema-prone skin if you have no fish allergy. If you do, choose a different source and check with your doctor.

Is collagen cream good for eczema?
Collagen creams act as moisturisers on the skin's surface, while collagen drinks support skin from within. For eczema-prone skin, dermatologists recommend fragrance-free creams or ointments, which add more moisture than lotions. Apply them while your skin is still damp after a shower.

How long does collagen take to work on dry skin?
In trials, collagen density in the skin rose after 4 weeks of daily collagen peptides, hydration improved after 8 weeks, and water loss through the skin fell over 12 weeks. Give it 8 to 12 weeks of daily use before you judge the results.

Can I take collagen if I use eczema creams or medication?
Collagen is a food supplement you take by mouth, so it sits alongside your skin care rather than replacing it. Keep using your prescribed creams as your doctor directs, and let your doctor know about any supplements you take, including collagen.

References
[1] National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIH). Atopic dermatitis. Last reviewed November 2022.
[2] Liow CJ et al. Evidence-to-Recommendation Framework for 2026 ACE Clinical Guideline on mild and moderate atopic dermatitis (eczema): a journey from flare to care. Singapore Med J. 2026.
[3] Choi FD et al. Oral collagen supplementation: a systematic review of dermatological applications. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019.
[4] de Miranda RB et al. Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol. 2021.
[5] Miyanaga M et al. Oral 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 trial. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2021.
[6] Kim J et al. Oral supplementation of low-molecular-weight collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and improves biophysical properties of skin: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. J Med Food. 2022.
[7] Asserin J et al. The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2015.
[8] Ohara H et al. Collagen-derived dipeptide, proline-hydroxyproline, stimulates cell proliferation and hyaluronic acid synthesis in cultured human dermal fibroblasts. J Dermatol. 2010.
[9] Inoue N et al. Ingestion of bioactive collagen hydrolysates enhance facial skin moisture and elasticity and reduce facial ageing signs in a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study. J Sci Food Agric. 2016.
[10] Shimizu J et al. Oral collagen-derived dipeptides, prolyl-hydroxyproline and hydroxyprolyl-glycine, ameliorate skin barrier dysfunction and alter gene expression profiles in the skin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015.
[11] Kim HM et al. Anti-atopic dermatitis effect of fish collagen on house dust mite-induced mice and HaCaT keratinocytes. Sci Rep. 2023.
[12] Proksch E et al. Oral administration of specific bioactive collagen peptides in the treatment of moderate forms of atopic dermatitis: a new approach. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2026.
[13] DermNet. Atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema). Updated May 2023.
[14] NHS. Atopic eczema: treatment. Last reviewed 6 September 2024.
[15] Leo TK et al. Effect of rice (Oryza sativa L.) ceramides supplementation on improving skin barrier functions and depigmentation: an open-label prospective study. Nutrients. 2022.
[16] Yingying C et al. Probiotics for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Indian J Dermatol. 2025.
[17] Wrześniewska M et al. The role of the microbiota in the pathogenesis and treatment of atopic dermatitis: a literature review. Int J Mol Sci. 2024.
[18] NHS. Atopic eczema: causes. Last reviewed 6 September 2024.
[19] HealthXchange (SingHealth). Dry skin: how to manage. With Assoc Prof Lee Haur Yueh, Department of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital.
[20] American Academy of Dermatology. Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin. Updated 2 January 2026.
[21] Pullar JM et al. The roles of vitamin C in skin health. Nutrients. 2017.

These statements have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary. Consult a healthcare provider before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or on prescribed medication.