MENOPAUSE AND COLLAGEN PRODUCTION

Responsible for skin firmness and skin elasticity, collagen is the protein that holds our complexion in high regard. But in menopause, skin quickly loses collagen¹. As estrogen drops, so too does skin’s collagen production².

COLLAGEN AND THE SKIN

Collagen and elastin are the scaffolding in skin³ that keeps it youthful, taut and voluminous. While collagen does decrease gradually with age, the rate is more dramatic in the first five years of menopause⁴. Continuing to decline for the next 20 years, skin begins to lose its firmness, sag, with wrinkles and jowls more prominent².

MENOPAUSE AND THE SKIN

Skin collagen is directly influenced by estrogen loss with approximately 30% of skin collagen lost in the first 5 years after menopause⁵. As a result of these hormonal changes, skin loses strength and elasticity¹. Changes may be seen in the under-eye area; skin may feel thinner and pores may largen.

HOW TO INCREASE COLLAGEN NATURALLY

As water is a large percentage of collagen’s weight³, it’s important to stay well hydrated⁶. Eating a diet rich in a variety of proteins and vitamin C, an essential co-factor in collagen production, may support your body’s own collagen production^{7, 8}. And using a daily SPF can also protect the breakdown of existing collagen in your skin⁹.

FACIAL MASSAGE TO BOOST COLLAGEN

A nightly facial massage ritual at home.

• Begin with a neck and shoulder massage to relieve sore muscles.
• Warm 1-2 pumps of your favourite serum or oil between fingertips, then gently press and smooth evenly onto face, neck and décolletage.
• Use a warm rose quartz crystal massage roller to help restore firmness to your skin.
• Follow with a cool jade massage roller to relieve hot flushes and leave skin in a state of calm.

Explore our professional salon treatments now, or visit our blog for more skin care and body care tips.

REFERENCES

1. Raine-Fenning, N, Brincat, MP, Muscat-Baron, Y 2003, ‘Skin Aging and Menopause: Implications for Treatment’, American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, vol. 6 no. 3, pp. 371-378.

2. Reus, TL, Brohem, CA, Schuck, DC, Lorencini, M 2020, ‘Revisiting the effects of menopause on the skin: Functional changes, clinical studies, in vitro models and therapeutic alternative’, Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, vol. 185, no. 111193, DOI:10.1016/j.mad.2019.111193

3. Lodish, H, Ber, A, Zipursky, SL, et al. 2000, Molecular Cell Biology, 4th edn, section 22.3, W.H. Freeman, New York.

4. Stevenson, S, Thornton, J 2007, ‘Effects of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs’, Clinical Interventions in Aging, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 283-297.

5. Brincat, M, Moniz, CF, Studd, JWW, Darby, AJ, Magos, A, Cooper, D 1983, ‘Sex hormones and skin collagen content in postmenopausal women’, British Medical Journal, vol. 287, pp. 1337-1338.

6. Asserin, J, Lati, E, Shioya, T, Prawitt, J 2015, ‘The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network: evidence from an ex vivo model and randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials’, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, vol. 14, pp. 291-301

7. Pullar, JM, Carr, AC, Vissers, MCM 2017, ‘The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health’, Nutrients, vol. 9, no. 866, DOI:10.3390/nu9080866.

8. Schagen, SK, Zampeli, VA, Makrantonaki, E, Zouboulis, CC 2012, ‘Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging’, Dermato-Endocrinology, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 298-307

9. Ganceviciene, R, Liakou, AI, Theodoridis, A, Makrantonaki, E, Zouboulis, CC 2012, ‘Skin anti-aging strategies’, Dermato-Endocrinology, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 308-319.