Crepey skin has a specific look: thin, wrinkled, papery texture that resembles crepe paper, especially noticeable on the arms, neck, chest, and under the eyes. It's different from wrinkles, which follow expression lines and fold patterns. Crepey skin is a diffuse loss of structural integrity that makes the skin look fragile and translucent across broad areas. If you're researching supplements for crepey skin, you're looking for something that addresses the underlying structural deficit, not just the surface appearance. The clinical evidence points to a few specific ingredients that can help, and a lot of marketed products that probably can't.
What Causes Crepey Skin (It's Not Just Aging)
Crepey skin results from the simultaneous decline of three structural components in the dermis, combined with thinning of the epidermis.
Collagen loss reduces the structural scaffolding that keeps skin firm. Collagen production drops by roughly 1% to 1.5% per year starting in the mid-twenties, but the visible effect accelerates over time as the cumulative deficit grows. A University of Michigan study documented that aged dermal fibroblasts produce significantly less collagen, driven by both cellular aging and loss of mechanical stimulation from a fragmenting extracellular matrix.[1]
Elastin degradation removes the snap-back resilience that keeps skin from sagging. Unlike collagen, elastin is primarily produced early in life and minimally replaced in adulthood. When elastin fibers break down (through aging, UV exposure, or mechanical stress), the skin loses its ability to bounce back, leading to the loose, papery quality that characterizes crepey texture.
Hyaluronic acid depletion removes the hydrated cushion between structural fibers. HA holds up to 6 liters of water per gram, maintaining the plump, resilient quality of the dermis. As HA levels drop, the skin loses internal volume and becomes more prone to the thin, crinkled appearance of crepey texture.
UV damage accelerates all three processes. UVA radiation penetrates deep into the dermis and directly activates the enzymes (matrix metalloproteinases) that break down collagen and elastin. This is why crepey skin appears earliest on sun-exposed areas: arms, neck, chest, and face.
Which Supplements Have Clinical Evidence for Crepey Skin
Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides: Strongest Evidence
Hydrolyzed collagen peptides are the most evidence-backed supplement for addressing the structural changes that cause crepey skin. These small collagen fragments (2,000 to 5,000 daltons) are absorbed through the intestinal wall, enter the bloodstream, and reach dermal fibroblasts directly. There, they serve as both raw materials for new collagen synthesis and biological signals that stimulate fibroblasts to increase their structural output.
A 2014 double-blind trial by Proksch and colleagues documented a 65% increase in procollagen type I, an 18% increase in elastin, and a 20% reduction in wrinkle volume after 8 weeks of 2.5 grams daily.[2] The elastin increase is particularly relevant for crepey skin, since elastin loss is a primary driver of the papery texture.
A 2015 study by Asserin and colleagues used high-resolution ultrasound to show that oral collagen peptides increased collagen density in the dermis within 4 weeks and decreased collagen fragmentation, with both improvements persisting through 12 weeks. Skin hydration also improved significantly.[3]
A 2019 trial documented improvements across four parameters directly relevant to crepey skin: hydration, elasticity, roughness, and density, all statistically significant after 12 weeks of 2.5 grams daily.[4]
Two meta-analyses confirm these findings at scale. A 2023 analysis of 26 RCTs with 1,721 participants and a 2021 analysis of 19 RCTs with 1,125 participants both found consistent improvements in hydration, elasticity, and wrinkle reduction.[5][6]
Oral Hyaluronic Acid: Strong Complementary Evidence
Oral hyaluronic acid directly addresses the dehydration component of crepey skin. When ingested, HA fragments are absorbed and distributed to the dermis, where they stimulate fibroblasts to increase their own HA production. This supports the hydrated matrix that collagen and elastin depend on.
A 2025 clinical trial in 150 adults found that 120 mg/day of sodium hyaluronate for 12 weeks significantly improved skin hydration, elasticity, dermal density, epidermal thickness, and wrinkle depth. The dermal density improvement is especially relevant for crepey skin, which is defined partly by that thin, depleted quality.[7]
Vitamin C: Required Cofactor
Vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis (it's a required cofactor for the enzymes that stabilize collagen's triple-helix structure), but it's not a standalone treatment for crepey skin. Its role is ensuring your body can actually use the collagen building blocks you're providing. Most people get adequate vitamin C from diet, but if you're supplementing with collagen peptides, ensuring adequate C intake is important for maximizing the benefit.
