How can I increase collagen production?

I read somewhere that your skin stops naturally producing collagen when you are 25.  Is that true?  Is there any way to get your skin to continue producing collagen or increase collagen production as you age?

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8 answers to “How can I increase collagen production?”

A: Collagen and anti-aging treatments

D.J. Verret, MD

While I think the reviews of the other physicians is excellent, there is one additional article to reference. The August 19, 2008 issue of the New York Times has an article referencing a review in The Archives of Dermatology. The articles states: "A recent review in The Archives of Dermatology concludes... more

A: Increasing collagen production

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD

Hopefully, I will not be the only dermatologist to answer this question. First, although you did not ask this directly, you must first try to prevent your collagen's degradation. It is a redundancy, but redundancies are true: wear a good sun screen. Put a sunscreen next to your toothbrush. The youthfulness of... more

A: Good skin care and Retin-A

Armando Soto, MD

I agree with my colleagues below- Retin-A as part of a good, prescription level skin care program supervised by your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or Dermatologist is a great start. Avoiding sun-worship and eating healthy/drinking lots of water are requisite to good skin health as well. Once you've followed... more

A: Don't Get Caught Up In This

John P. Di Saia, MD

Hello, While we know that the skin decreases collagen production as we age, we are not sure how items solely increasing collagen production or soft tissue fillers will fare over time. As another doctor mentioned, there are multiple types of collagen present in different tissues. This is not a simple... more

A: When you ask for collagen, you are truly asking to maintain skin thickness.

Robert M. Freund, MD

As you age the following things take place in your skin: The amount of collagen produced is diminished and the type of collagen changes from a more youthful type of collagen to an older type of collagen. The production of collagen never ends. The Elastin in your skin decreases in content as well as production... more

A: Quality skin care is extremely important

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD

I agree with Dr. Williams' statement that your body will continue to produce collagen all your life, but as you get older, the amount of collagen produce will decrease. It is true that the older you get, the thinner your skin becomes. No one can really say definitively that collagen production slows at age... more

A: Collagen production

Steven H. Williams, MD

Collagen is a structural protein and is a principal component in skin, cartilage and connective tissue.  There are several subtypes of collagen and each part of your body can have a different mixture of these collagen subtypes. Your body will continue to produce collagen throughout your life. ... more

A: Retin-A

David Shafer, MD

KTLamb, I feel one of the easiest and least expensive ways to stimulate collagen synthesis in your skin is Retin-A. Retin-A is a form of Vitamin A which comes in creams and gels. Continued daily treatment leads to maintenance of collagen and stimulates new collagen and elastin in your dermis. In combination... more

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