For some of you out there, this might be of interest. I have very thin skin and bruise very easily because I take Blood Thinners, so I started to take a Collagen supplement. A capsule a day as written. After about a year, I realised that it wasn't making much of a difference. So I went on the net to check. What they put on the canister is rubbish. To have any effect, you need to take a minimum of 5000 mg per day or 6 times what I'm taking now. It also said that at this dose it would take anywhere between 8 and 12 weeks to start having an effect. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

41 minutes ago, roger101 said:

FTo have any effect, you need to take a minimum of 5000 mg per day or 6 times what I'm taking now. It also said that at this dose it would take anywhere between 8 and 12 weeks to start having an effect.

You are right about your collagen dosing; and to get this much Collagen into you, taking capsules will be a drudgery, powders would be the right and cost-effective way -- or eating foods rich in collagen, of which there are many (bone broth, chicken skin -- you can buy this by the kilo in Thailand, and it is very yummy, at least I think so, pot roast, short ribs, fish with skin, etc).

To make collagen work, add Vitamin C: Collagen synthesis requires Vitamin C to convert proline and lysine into stable collagen fibers. Without adequate Vitamin C, extra collagen powder is largely wasted. Sun exposure actively degrades dermal collagen, so suncreme is a must (at least on arms and hands where bruising is worst).

But even before that, you need to think about what you want to achieve.

Even if your skin becomes significantly thicker and healthier, collagen will not stop blood thinner bruising, as they are slowing down your body's clotting mechanism. When micro-capillaries in the skin break, blood pools under the skin, this is the bruising.

You are better advised to take -- additionally to your collagen? -- blood-thinner-safe supplements that support capillary wall strength. In many cremes or medication against venal weakness, for example, there are bioflavonoids like Hesperidin and Rutin, helping to stabilize the microscopic walls of the capillaries, then there are topical Vitamin K cremes, and cremes with Retinol. Maybe any such a creme would be helping best.

Blood thinners are a very dangerous thing -- I guess you are forced to use them -- so before taking any (!) supplement, research it well, because they will interact all too often (examples: Ginkgo, garlic, oral Vitamin K, Vitamin E, fish oil, the list goes on).

The main reason was to stop the skin from tearing because it then took days to stop bleeding. I grazed my arm a year ago which years ago probably wouldn't have even bled it took weeks before it healed.

On 7/30/2026 at 11:49 PM, jts-khorat said:

You are right about your collagen dosing; and to get this much Collagen into you, taking capsules will be a drudgery, powders would be the right and cost-effective way -- or eating foods rich in collagen, of which there are many (bone broth, chicken skin -- you can buy this by the kilo in Thailand, and it is very yummy, at least I think so, pot roast, short ribs, fish with skin, etc).

To make collagen work, add Vitamin C: Collagen synthesis requires Vitamin C to convert proline and lysine into stable collagen fibers. Without adequate Vitamin C, extra collagen powder is largely wasted. Sun exposure actively degrades dermal collagen, so suncreme is a must (at least on arms and hands where bruising is worst).

But even before that, you need to think about what you want to achieve.

Even if your skin becomes significantly thicker and healthier, collagen will not stop blood thinner bruising, as they are slowing down your body's clotting mechanism. When micro-capillaries in the skin break, blood pools under the skin, this is the bruising.

You are better advised to take -- additionally to your collagen? -- blood-thinner-safe supplements that support capillary wall strength. In many cremes or medication against venal weakness, for example, there are bioflavonoids like Hesperidin and Rutin, helping to stabilize the microscopic walls of the capillaries, then there are topical Vitamin K cremes, and cremes with Retinol. Maybe any such a creme would be helping best.

Blood thinners are a very dangerous thing -- I guess you are forced to use them -- so before taking any (!) supplement, research it well, because they will interact all too often (examples: Ginkgo, garlic, oral Vitamin K, Vitamin E, fish oil, the list goes on).

also, as we age and beyond about 60 the body doesn't produce any collagen - thus one needs to take a collagen supplement where that is broken down in the stomach and then the pieces are used by the body to produce collagen for your use. There are different collagen supplements for different body functions, plus some are from fish, some from animals and some from plants. Powders or pills can be used in varying doses but the smallest useful I have seen is 5 grams up to 20 per day, and some come with additional vitamin C which is necessary to get the required nutrients too. I have used collagen for 5 months (skin, hair, nails and notice a difference after about 4 months. Best of luck but if you are on any kind of medical treatment, then don't do anything without first checking with your health provider.

I've been taking Donutt collegen dipeptides with calcium in powdered form. 1 scoop is around 3800 mg of collegen I and II. Supposedly it's premium dipeptides (from fish), which are smaller and easier to digest so this is considered optimum. I pair it with 500 mg of vitamin c in addition to the 70 mg that comes with the dipeptides. I think I paid 139 baht for 120 grams at Watson's online.

AI was my medical advisor. I've been taking it for about a month and I can't say I've seen any difference yet. I'm also applying tretonoin to my arms, which is the most recommended topical skin repair product. I plan to phase in amlactin in the future.

3 hours ago, jaywalker2 said:

I've been taking Donutt collegen dipeptides with calcium in powdered form.

Please do further research on calcium supplementation and its association with heart attack. It might make sense for your application or it might be a wrong move.

It contains Calcium L-Threonate, which is a form readily absorbed, and only a modest dose, effectively about 130 mg, along with vitamin d3 to further aid absorbtion. The daily recommended dosasge is 1000 to 1200 mg, so this shouldn't be a problem. The product aims at not just skin repair but also helping to repair worn cartilege and the calcium helps to strengthen the bones and joints to aid in this process.

The link between calcium supplementation and heart attacks remains controversial but in any event you would have to take an excessive among to cause problems

Pills powders potions !!! great idea. Try food ! I'll make it easy for you ,, go to youTube and search for ,,, steak and butter gal collagen.

On 7/30/2026 at 11:49 PM, jts-khorat said:

You are right about your collagen dosing; and to get this much Collagen into you, taking capsules will be a drudgery, powders would be the right and cost-effective way -- or eating foods rich in collagen, of which there are many (bone broth, chicken skin -- you can buy this by the kilo in Thailand, and it is very yummy, at least I think so, pot roast, short ribs, fish with skin, etc).

To make collagen work, add Vitamin C: Collagen synthesis requires Vitamin C to convert proline and lysine into stable collagen fibers. Without adequate Vitamin C, extra collagen powder is largely wasted. Sun exposure actively degrades dermal collagen, so suncreme is a must (at least on arms and hands where bruising is worst).

But even before that, you need to think about what you want to achieve.

Even if your skin becomes significantly thicker and healthier, collagen will not stop blood thinner bruising, as they are slowing down your body's clotting mechanism. When micro-capillaries in the skin break, blood pools under the skin, this is the bruising.

You are better advised to take -- additionally to your collagen? -- blood-thinner-safe supplements that support capillary wall strength. In many cremes or medication against venal weakness, for example, there are bioflavonoids like Hesperidin and Rutin, helping to stabilize the microscopic walls of the capillaries, then there are topical Vitamin K cremes, and cremes with Retinol. Maybe any such a creme would be helping best.

Blood thinners are a very dangerous thing -- I guess you are forced to use them -- so before taking any (!) supplement, research it well, because they will interact all too often (examples: Ginkgo, garlic, oral Vitamin K, Vitamin E, fish oil, the list goes on).

I actually used red/near infrared light on my shins that bruised terribly due to steroid inhalers. After some 3 months of use, it’s incredibly better! The most minor bump would give me huge “blood blisters”, now hardly at all. I now use the PBM treatment (photobiomodulation) at about 2-3 times weekly.

On 8/1/2026 at 3:00 PM, jaywalker2 said:

I've been taking Donutt collegen dipeptides with calcium in powdered form. 1 scoop is around 3800 mg of collegen I and II. Supposedly it's premium dipeptides (from fish), which are smaller and easier to digest so this is considered optimum. I pair it with 500 mg of vitamin c in addition to the 70 mg that comes with the dipeptides. I think I paid 139 baht for 120 grams at Watson's online.

AI was my medical advisor. I've been taking it for about a month and I can't say I've seen any difference yet. I'm also applying tretonoin to my arms, which is the most recommended topical skin repair product. I plan to phase in amlactin in the future.

On 8/1/2026 at 3:00 PM, jaywalker2 said:

I've been taking Donutt collegen dipeptides with calcium in powdered form. 1 scoop is around 3800 mg of collegen I and II. Supposedly it's premium dipeptides (from fish), which are smaller and easier to digest so this is considered optimum. I pair it with 500 mg of vitamin c in addition to the 70 mg that comes with the dipeptides. I think I paid 139 baht for 120 grams at Watson's online.

AI was my medical advisor. I've been taking it for about a month and I can't say I've seen any difference yet. I'm also applying tretonoin to my arms, which is the most recommended topical skin repair product. I plan to phase in amlactin in the future.

i never really notice anything different until after several months. included was quicker growing nails, hair (especially nose and ears and eyebrows), when i got a haircut, just before beginning the collagen they cut a lot off that was white - then after 5 months of collagen I got another haircut and no white at all...collagen can't change the color but the hair follicles are healthier I guess and gray instead of dead and white. I am no expert by any means. I did Collagen for 6 months and if I notice anything suffering I may begin again. Best of luck to you. I did 5 grams of fish based for hair, skin and nails a day. easy to find various Collabens with or without vitamin C. I do like the powders better.