You're Losing 30% of Your Collagen — Here's When It Starts And What To Do About It

In the first half of a two-part episode on midlife skin, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down the biology behind one of the most alarming stats in dermatology: women can lose up to 30% of their skin's collagen in the first five years after menopause. She explains why collagen decline actually starts as early as your 20s (about 1% a year), why estrogen loss accelerates that process dramatically at menopause, and why "collagen banking" earlier in life matters so much.

Rather than jumping straight to products and procedures, Dr. Mina makes the case that skincare is whole-body care — walking through the inside-out factors that most directly affect collagen: protein intake (including how much you actually need and why vegetarian/vegan diets make it harder), sugar and glycation (AGEs), anti-inflammatory fats, antioxidants, hydration, and whether collagen supplements are actually worth taking.

Part 2 will cover the topical and in-office side of the equation, so be sure to follow/subscribe!

In this episode:

00:00 — The 30% Collagen Loss Stat 00:47 — Welcome to The Skin Real 01:35 — Disclaimer & Finding a Board-Certified Dermatologist 02:15 — Kicking Off the Two-Part Perimenopause Series 03:15 — Who This Episode Is For 04:15 — The Real Collagen Timeline: Loss Starts in Your 20s 05:45 — Collagen Banking & the Post-Menopause 30% Drop 07:30 — What Collagen Actually Is (and What Breaks It Down) 09:00 — Signs Your Skin Is Losing Collagen 10:30 — Why Skincare Isn't One-Size-Fits-All by Decade 11:15 — The Inside-Out Philosophy 12:30 — Protein: The Raw Material for Collagen 14:00 — Sarcopenia & Why Protein Needs Change in Midlife 15:45 — How Much Protein You Actually Need 17:15 — Sugar, Glycation & AGEs 18:45 — Sugar, Inflammation & Hidden Sugar Everywhere 20:00 — Anti-Inflammatory Fats, Antioxidants & Hydration 21:30 — Collagen Supplements: Do They Actually Work? 22:15 — Recap & What's Coming in Part 2

Want a deeper look? Watch the full episode on YouTube for a more visual experience of today’s discussion. This episode is best enjoyed on video—don’t miss out!

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Dr. Mina is a board-certified dermatologist on a mission to cut through the noise and help women feel amazing in their skin again. After decades in clinic, she has taken her expertise online to offer trusted, no-fluff education and skin strategies that actually work. No filters. No fear tactics. Just science, simplicity, and a little fun!

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Thanks for tuning in. And remember, real skin care is real simple when you know who to trust.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.