The Science of Collagen & Skin Health
Collagen is not a beauty trend — it is the fundamental structural protein that holds your skin together. Type I collagen, the most abundant form, forms densely packed fibres in the dermis that give skin its characteristic firmness and resistance to wrinkles. Type III collagen, which occurs alongside it, contributes to skin elasticity and is particularly abundant in young skin.
The Collagen Decline Timeline
Collagen synthesis peaks in our early to mid-20s. From approximately age 25, production begins its slow but relentless decline — approximately 1% per year. Women experience a more dramatic acceleration around menopause: in the first five years after menopause, skin collagen decreases by approximately 30%, then continues at a rate of 2% per year thereafter. This is why post-menopausal skin changes in texture and firmness so noticeably and why proactive collagen supplementation is particularly relevant for women over 35.
Why Lifestyle Outweighs Genetics
Research consistently shows that environmental and lifestyle factors account for the majority of visible skin ageing — up to 80% according to some studies. The key drivers of accelerated collagen degradation are: chronic UV exposure without protection, poor sleep (under 7 hours per night impairs growth hormone-mediated collagen synthesis), a high-glycaemic diet (sugar glycates collagen fibres, making them rigid), smoking, and chronic psychological stress. This is empowering news: most collagen-ageing factors are within our control to modify.
