Key Takeaways
- The skin produces less collagen as we get older, and the collagen we already have starts to break down.
- If you’ve been wondering, “When does collagen production slow down?”, collagen production naturally starts to slow in the mid-to-late 20s, and that’s when subtle changes in firmness, elasticity, and hydration can begin to show up.
- While collagen loss is inevitable, the right care can still help support healthy-looking skin at any age.
Collagen Doesn’t Stay at Its Peak Forever
Collagen, the body’s most abundant protein, does a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to your skin’s resilience and youthfulness. It’s what helps maintain that smooth, plump, and radiant look we all want to hold onto for as long as possible.
Collagen production, however, doesn’t stay the same forever. At some point, the body begins to make less of it, which naturally raises the question: when does collagen production slow down?
Understanding collagen production by age can help you better protect your glow, now and at every stage of life.
What Happens to Collagen as We Age?
Naturally, collagen is made up of fibers that form a strong, organized network, giving your skin its structure, firmness, and elasticity.
With age, the cells responsible for producing collagen, called fibroblasts, become fewer and less efficient. At the same time, existing collagen fibers break down faster and become more fragmented and disorganized.
This means both the quantity and quality of collagen gradually drop over time. And it happens in both men and women, though it’s often faster and more noticeable in women due to hormonal changes over the years.
When Does Collagen Production Slow Down?
Collagen production begins to slow in your 20s, typically around age 25. From there, dermatological studies suggest that the decline continues at approximately 1-1.5% per year.
While this slowdown happens gradually, it adds up, and as the years pass by, the cumulative effects show up as signs of aging.
Collagen Production by Age
If you’ve been asking, when does collagen production slow down?, it usually starts in your 20s. While everyone’s skin ages differently, collagen decline tends to follow a predictable pattern. We break down what happens to collagen as we age below.
In Your 20s
Collagen production begins to slow in the mid-to-late 20s, but the effects are minimal. Since collagen loss is just getting started, most people don’t even see much of a difference yet. At this stage, the slowdown is subtle and easy to miss.
What you may notice:
- Skin still looks firm and plump
- Few, if any, visible signs of aging
In Your 30s
If you’ve been asking, when does collagen production slow down?, this is usually where it becomes more noticeable. After the initial shift in your 20s, loss continues at about 1%-1.5% per year. In your 30s, the changes are still slow, but they’re easier to spot compared to your 20s.
What you may notice:
- Early fine lines around the eyes or mouth
- Slight loss of plumpness
- Skin feeling drier or less smooth
In Your 40s
Collagen decline becomes more pronounced. By this stage, levels may have decreased by up to 30% compared to early adulthood.
What you may notice:
- More visible wrinkles
- Reduced firmness and elasticity
- Thinner-looking skin
- Sagging in certain areas
Menopause
Now…when does collagen production slow down significantly? During the first few years after menopause. Women may lose up to 30% of their skin’s collagen during this time alone. Why? Because of the sharp drop in estrogen levels.
After this period, collagen loss continues, but at a steady pace, around 1.5% per year.
In Your 50s and Beyond
Collagen loss continues steadily. By the time many people reach their 60s, total collagen levels may be up to 50% lower than in young adulthood. As the decades pass by, the skin gradually loses much of its collagen.
Note: Collagen decline timeline varies based on genetics, lifestyle, sun exposure, overall health, and skincare habits.
What Causes Collagen Production to Slow Down?
As we’ve already established, aging is the primary driver of collagen loss, but it’s far from the only factor that causes a drop in collagen production by age.
Now that we’ve answered what happens to collagen as we age and when does collagen production slow down, it’s just as important to understand what else affects how quickly collagen declines, so you can manage some of these factors throughout your life and help keep collagen levels healthy.
Lifestyle and Environmental Factors
- Sun Exposure: UV radiation accelerates collagen breakdown and impairs new collagen formation, triggering photoaging.
- Smoking: Increases oxidative stress, damaging collagen fibers and inhibiting production.
- High Sugar Intake: Leads to glycation, where sugar molecules bind to collagen fibers and weaken them.
- Poor Sleep: Limits skin repair and regeneration.
- Chronic Stress: Elevates cortisol levels, which can impair collagen synthesis.
- Pollutants: Contribute to oxidative damage that affects collagen.
Debunking Common Collagen Myths
Now let’s address a few common skincare myths tied to what happens to collagen as we age, and when does collagen production slow down?
Myth #1: Collagen production stops entirely at a certain age.
- The Truth: Collagen production never fully stops. It simply slows down progressively over time.
Myth# 2: Supporting collagen is pointless after a certain age.
- The Truth: Collagen support can be beneficial at any age. While early intervention delivers great results, skin can still respond positively well into the 50s and 60s.
Supporting Collagen Production by Age
Many people who ask, "When does collagen production slow down?”, also wonder whether it’s possible to restore collagen. The good news is, while you can’t turn back time, you can help stimulate collagen production naturally through lifestyle changes, nutrients, treatments, and skincare.
In Your 20s
Skincare in your 20s should focus on:
- Gentle, preventive habits like cleansing, moisturizing, and daily broad-spectrum sunscreen.
- Actives, like vitamin C
This is a good time to introduce basics like Lea Black Beauty® Skin Revitalizing Daily Face Wash, Lea Black Beauty® CBD Daily Face Moisturizer to hydrate, nourish, and protect.
In Your 30s
Skincare in your 30s should focus on:
- Hydration
- Actives like retinoids and peptides
- Barrier-supporting ingredients
- Ongoing antioxidant protection
Consider adding targeted formulas like Lea Black Beauty® Brighten & Balance 200mg CBD Skin Toner and Lea Black Beauty® Anti-Aging Face Serum with 250mg CBD to support balance and early signs of aging.
In Your 40s
Skincare in your 40s should focus on:
- Deeper hydration
- Being consistent with actives like retinoids
- Skin-repair support with soothing and nourishing ingredients
- Supporting firmness and elasticity
This is also a good time to add more targeted care, like Lea Black Beauty® Hyaluronic Hydra-Gel Eye Patches and Lea Black Beauty® Premium Hemp Soothing Eye Cream for the delicate eye areas.
In Your 50s and Beyond
Skincare in your 50s and beyond should focus on:
- Keeping up with skincare and nutrition
- Advanced non-surgical treatments, if desired
- Prioritizing skin recovery
Adding targeted treatments like Lea Black Beauty® Hyaluronic Hydrogel Treasure Chest Pads can help hydrate and nourish the often-neglected chest area.
Boosting Collagen with Natural Skincare
Collagen production by age determines how your skin looks and feels over time. If you’ve been wondering, when does collagen production slow down? It naturally slows in the mid-20s. This is when you should start supporting your skin with the right skincare products to keep it healthy, radiant, and resilient.
Lea Black Beauty® natural retinol and vitamin C skincare are a great place to start if youre looking to support collagen and maintain a youthful glow. Made with the finest, clean raw ingredients and rooted in science, our gentle formulas support your skin’s overall health.
