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How to Protect Against and Reverse Collagen Loss

How to Protect Against and Reverse Collagen Loss
Those fine lines and wrinkles you’re noticing more of on your face and neck? They’re in large part due to a drop in collagen productionβ€”something that happens at an astounding rate of 1-1.5% per year starting in your 20s. (1) But what causes this decline, and how can you effectively combat it? Keep reading to discover the answers and the best strategies for maintaining healthy skin.
01

3 Reasons Collagen Levels Decline

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, providing structure, support, and strength to skin, muscles, bones, tendons, and other connective tissues. (2) Among other things, it’s responsible for keeping your skin healthy, plump, and hydrated. Here are 3 reasons your collagen levels might be decreasing:

1. Sun Exposure

Did you know that long-term sun damage is responsible for 20% of skin’s collagen depletion? (3) UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis, creating free radicals (ROS) which can damage collagen fibers. (4) These rays can also cause skin cells to enter a state of senescence, leading to inflammation and the release of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). These enzymes degrade collagen fibers further, leading to premature lines, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity. (5) While the skin has a natural turnover process that removes and replaces damaged collagen, repeated sun exposure impedes this repair mechanism, resulting in a weakened skin barrier, reduced skin hydration, and a heightened risk for skin cancer. (6)

2. Age

As you might expect, certain cellular processes slow down with age. When collagen matrices accumulate more damage, they disrupt fibroblastsβ€”these are the cells in charge of repairing and creating collagen. This disruption causes collagen production to collapse, which leads to an increase in the visible signs of skin aging. (7)Β 

3. Hormone Levels

Hormones play a big role in your skin's health. You might notice more breakouts or changes to your skin texture during different parts of your menstrual cycle, but those hormonal shifts also impact collagen production.The link between estrogen and collagen in the skin is especially prominent. As estrogen decreases during menopause, so does collagen production. Women lose about 30% of their skin’s collagen in the first 5 years after entering menopause. After that, collagen levels continue to decline by 2% per year. (8) This dramatic loss is a key factor in the visible skin aging that often occurs around this time.
02

Protect the Collagen You Have

Keeping your skin protected from UV rays is the best way to prevent collagen breakdown. Applying a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every morning, regardless of weather conditions, can shield your skin from collagen-damaging UV rays. Two of our favorites? OS-01 FACE SPF (formerly OS-01 SHIELD) and OS-01 BODY SPF. You can find these sun protection products and more all in one place with our collection of skin products for summer, including these two customer favorites on their own or in our sunscreen bundle. In the following lab study, OneSkin scientists proved that OS-01 BODY SPF effectively protected the skin from UV-induced collagen degradation, restoring collagen levels above what was measured before skin was exposed to UV. (9)
Ex vivo human skin samples that were treated with nothing (No Treatment) or OS-01 BODY SPF were exposed to 1J/cm2 UVB radiation and collagen density was analyzed after 24 hours using Masson’s Trichrome staining.
Additionally, the OS-01 peptide itself has been shown to reduce UVB-induced collagen degradation. When tested in the lab on human skin exposed to UVB rays, OS-01 decreased the levels of a key enzyme (MMP3) that breaks down collagen. (9,10)Β 
In vitro human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) isolated from 30 yo donors were exposed to UVB radiation (0.1J/cm^2) then immediately treated with the OS-01 peptide (12.5uM) and analyzed for expression levels of MMP3. (Zonari, et al., npj Aging, 2023)
03

Rebuild the Collagen You’ve Lost

While protecting your skin from more UV-induced damage helps, most sunscreens do little to repair existing collagen loss. That’s where scientifically-backed skincare like OneSkin’s topical supplements paired with groundbreaking products such as at-home treatments from NIRA Lasers come in.

OneSkin’s Topical Supplements

As shown below, our OS-01 peptide has been proven to increase levels of a key biomarker associated with collagen biosynthesis (COLA1A1) and another key biomarker associated with cell proliferation (MKI67). (9,10)
Expression analysis for COL1A1 and MKI67 of ex vivo human skin samples (35, 55, and 79 yr) exposed to the OS-01 peptide (12.5uM) over 5 days. (Zonari, et al., npj Aging, 2023)

In subsequent lab studies on ex vivo skin samples, OS-01 FACE increased collagen levels by 40%. And skin treated with OS-01 EYE had a 230% collagen increase. (9) To address the visible signs of aging below the neck, OS-01 BODY has been scientifically proven to strengthen the skin’s barrier by 40% (9) which helps keep moisture in and irritation out.

NIRA Lasers

Typically laser therapy treatments for wrinkles and collagen loss have a long recovery time making them unsuitable for daily use. Dermatologist-approved NIRA Lasers have innovated this technology by fine-tuning the power output to stimulate natural collagen repair. These non-fractional lasers are clinically proven to stimulate collagen without damaging the surrounding tissue, improving skin texture, reducing wrinkles, and tightening the skin. (11) The best part is, unlike other laser technologies, the NIRA Pro Laser and NIRA Precision Laser can be used consistently, twice a day. They also have varying 5 power levels allowing you to adjust the laser’s strength to match your skin type and sensitivity.Pair your NIRA Lasers treatment with our OS-01 powered moisturizers for the best collagen-boosting results.
Key Takeaways:
  • The production of collagen, the protein that provides strength and stability to your skin, begins to decline in your twenties but can accelerate with environmental factors.
  • UV radiation, particularly UVA rays, causes significant collagen damage by creating free radicals and triggering the release of enzymes that degrade collagen.
  • Hormonal fluctuations, especially the decrease in estrogen during menopause, dramatically reduce collagen levels, causing the rapid onset of visible skin aging.
  • Using broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 daily can prevent UV-induced collagen damage. Mineral sunscreens are recommended for their broad-spectrum protection and safer ingredients.
  • NIRA Lasers stimulate natural collagen repair without damaging surrounding tissue, improving skin texture, reducing wrinkles, and tightening the skin. These lasers can be used consistently, twice a day, for maximum effectiveness.
  • Combining NIRA Laser treatments with our topical supplements can help rebuild collagen, even out skin texture, and reverse wrinkles, providing a comprehensive approach to maintaining youthful skin.

Last Updated April 23, 2025

Reviewed by

Alessandra Zonari

Alessandra Zonari

PhD, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Co-Founder of OneSkin

Alessandra earned her Master’s degree in stem cell biology, and her PhD in skin regeneration and tissue engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil in collaboration with the 3B’s Research Group in Portugal. Alessandra did a second post-doctoral at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. She is a co-inventor of three patents and has published 20 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals.