How Does the Menopause Effect Collagen?
Ageing is an inevitable factor in life and unfortunately in women this process is accelerated when they enter the peri-menopause.
When it comes to menopause and skin changes, menopausal and perimenopausal women often experience a decline in collagen production in the skin, which can present as dry skin, increased wrinkles, sagging, thinning skin, or further contribute to the development of crepey skin.
So why does this decline in collagen occur? The decline of collagen production during menopause is a direct result of a drop in oestrogen levels. Fibroblasts are skin cells that are responsible for stimulating collagen production and are activated when exposed to oestrogen. It is believed that there is a steep decline in oestrogen levels within the first five years of menopause and around 30% of skin collagen will be lost during that period, with another 2% per year being lost in following years.
Drops in oestrogen during the menopause cause the skin to become thinner, resulting in blemishes and sun damage becoming more noticeable, and age spots appearing. Hormonal changes can also stimulate sebaceous glands, resulting in excessive sebum and breakouts in some women.
In this article:
- The Benefits of Adding Collagen to Your Skincare During Menopause
- How to Introduce Collagen Into Your Skincare Routine During Menopause
- When Should You Start Using Collagen?
- Collagen Products to Support Skin During Menopause
The Benefits of Adding Collagen to Your Skincare During Menopause
One of the biggest challenges skin faces during menopause is the decline in collagen production as skin becomes dry, dull and begins to sag. Luckily there have been many advances in the skincare and wellness industry over the years allowing you to give your skin a helping hand, whether that be through skincare or supplements. Let’s take a look below at some of the key benefits of adding collagen into your skincare routine:
Helps improve skin elasticity
Menopause causes the skin’s natural cellular turnover process to begin to slow down, which then leads to dead cells accumulating on the surface, making the skin appear dull. Products which contain collagen can help keep your skin plump and hydrated reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Plant based collagen builders such as vegan collagen have the added benefit of plant antioxidants that can help protect your existing collagen from degradation.
Increases Skin Hydration
Decreased levels of collagen during menopause reduce natural skin hydration which can result in dehydration lines appearing across the skin. Collagen has been shown to increase skin hydration, so by adding products containing collagen into your skincare routine will help skin to look more plumped, hydrated and wrinkle depth can look smoother.
Other benefits of taking collagen, perhaps as a supplement, include improved hair growth, support for bone density and can help to smooth cellulite.
How to Introduce Collagen Into Your Skincare Routine During Menopause
Some ingredients which are a great way to introduce increased collagen production into your skincare routine are by using Vitamin A derived products such as retinol and retinoids as these help to counteract collagen production whilst simultaneously protect against collagen degradation. This directly helps to minimise the appearance of wrinkles and loss of skin firmness and elasticity.
Another important ingredient to encourage collagen production is Vitamin C, which stimulates collagen production. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that speeds up cell turnover to diminish pigmentation and age spots, while boosting collagen production to leave skin plumper with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles reduced. It can also ‘supercharge’ any SPF product you layer on top of it, helping to repair and protect skin from free radical damage caused by UV rays.
Hyaluronic Acid is another great ingredient to help menopausal skin as it helps to hydrate the skins barrier, plump fine lines and wrinkles counteracting the visible effects of collagen loss.
When Should You Start Using Collagen?
Collagen has been targeted at younger audiences in latter years, women as young as 20 are now including collagen boosting ingredients and supplements in their daily routines.
The short answer is you can start including collagen at any age, the benefits of collagen are incredible for skin, hair, joints and so much more. From birth to the age of approximately 20, our collagen levels gradually increase, and from 20-25 an optimum level of collagen is maintained. This is when our natural collagen levels peak. In our late twenties, collagen levels start to decline gradually and as mentioned above take a sharp decline as we enter peri-menopause.
The signs of low collagen production are normally spotted first around the eyes and mouth. The delicate skin around our eyes is particularly susceptible to signs of aging, so you may notice fine lines and creases beginning to form. And around the mouth, you may see lines from the edge of your nose to the corners of your mouth starting to deepen, and your jawline might start to subtly lose definition or sag.
Plus, you might notice skin isn’t as soft and dewy as it once was; it may feel rough to the touch, or become slightly discoloured. If you notice all or some of these changes, this may be a sign that you should think about supplementing your collagen levels.
Collagen Products to Support Skin During Menopause
At SKINICIAN we want you to feel your best at all times, and we want you to feel confident in your skin. Take a look at our suggested products to include in your routine if you feel you need to start boosting collagen production.
Overnight Retinol Powerbalm
An award-winning retinol serum with 0.1% pure retinol and peptides that diminishes fine lines, brightens and reduces pigmentation. Designed to renew your skin while you sleep (in sync with the skin’s own natural healing processes), for resurfacing and replenishing the skin and the formula is also infused with Dermapep™ (a potent peptide), Tripeptide 1 and Tetrapeptide 3, which work in conjunction with the retinol to stimulate collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, refine skin texture and promoting a healthy glow.
Firming Serum
A high-performance peptide serum that fights skin sagging, dramatically firms and smooths wrinkles for both instant and long-term results.
Firming Serum works to tackle issues such as a loss of firmness, together with reducing the appearance of fine lines, to leave the complexion plumped and renewed. It contains two advanced complexes that have been proven to increase skin firmness and smooth wrinkles, delivering visible results in just one hour.
It contains Acetyl Dipeptide - 1, a supercharged peptide which stimulates the production of elastin and fibrillin – two key components for skin firmness – together with a special Advanced Lifting Complex to reduce wrinkle depth, with visible results in just 15 minutes.
It also features vegetable collagen to strengthen the skin’s outer layers, giving an intense boost of hydration. And if you’re looking for a serum for crow’s feet, this is gentle enough to apply near the eye area, to diminish their appearance for plumper, smoother skin.
Vitamin C Elixir
If your skin is looking a little dull and lacklustre, this multi-tasking Vitamin C Elixir will infuse it with a new lease of life. Delivered via a non-greasy oil that immediately sinks into the skin, it stars brightening Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that speeds up cell turnover to diminish pigmentation and age spots, while boosting collagen production to leave skin plumper with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles reduced.
Peptide Eye Complex
If you’re looking for a peptide eye cream supercharged with skin-plumping ingredients, our Peptide Eye Complex is one of our most advanced skincare solutions yet. Working to firm and brighten the eye area it’s an ideal eye cream to reduce dark circles, crow’s feet and fine lines.
This hardworking, hydrating eye cream contains a special kind of peptide called Dermapep™, which mimics retinoic acid and has been clinically proven to boost collagen and elastin (the ‘building blocks of the skin’) to reduce wrinkle depth by up to a third. While Hyaluronic Spherical Technology works to increase skin hydration, soaking up moisture like a sponge to diminish the appearance of fine lines and crow’s feet for a plump and smooth appearance. And no eye cream for dark circles is complete without encapsulated Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that works to brighten and renew the skin. Lastly, broad spectrum UV filters shield the skin from damaging sunlight and pollution, to help prevent future fine lines and pigmentation.
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