Collagen and Menopause: What to Know

Collagen naturally falls with age, and around menopause that fall speeds up. As oestrogen drops, so does the collagen in your skin. Research suggests women can lose a large share of their skin's collagen in the first few years after menopause. That's why so many women start thinking about collagen in their 40s and 50s. Here's the honest picture of what's happening and what can help.

This is one of the most searched, and most oversold, topics in the collagen world. So we'll stick to what's actually known, and be clear about what isn't.

Why does collagen drop during menopause?

Collagen is the protein that gives skin its firmness and bounce. From your mid-20s, your body slowly makes less of it. Menopause adds a sharper drop on top of that gradual decline.

The reason is oestrogen. This hormone helps support collagen, and as oestrogen falls during perimenopause and menopause, collagen production falls with it. Studies in dermatology suggest women can lose a meaningful share of their skin's collagen in the first five years after menopause, before the rate settles into a slower, steady decline.

So if your skin feels different in your late 40s or 50s, you're not imagining it. There's real biology behind it.

What does this mean for your skin, hair and nails?

Because collagen is a building block of skin, less of it is linked to the changes many women notice around this time: skin that feels less firm or more dry, and nails or hair that feel more fragile. These are common, normal parts of the transition.

It's worth saying plainly: no supplement can undo menopause or stop your body's collagen decline. What people are really asking is whether topping up collagen daily is worth doing during this stage. Here's how to think about that.

Can taking collagen help during menopause?

Here's the honest answer. Collagen supplements are studied mostly for skin in general, not specifically for menopause, so nobody can promise a menopause "fix". What we can say is more measured:

• Your body uses collagen constantly, and it's making less during this stage, so a daily top-up is a sensible idea for many women.
• Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation (an officially approved statement), so getting enough Vitamin C genuinely supports your body's own collagen-making.
• Collagen is a slow, daily habit, not an overnight change. Most studies run for 8 to 12 weeks.

Naturally Collagen was designed with exactly this stage of life in mind: 8,000mg of clinically studied marine collagen plus 180mg of Vitamin C in one daily sachet.

What else supports skin during menopause?

Collagen is one piece. The bigger picture matters more:

• A balanced diet with enough protein and colourful fruit and veg.
• Sun protection every day, since UV is the biggest driver of skin ageing.
• Sleep, movement and managing stress, which affect your whole body.
• For menopause symptoms themselves (hot flushes, mood, sleep), speak to your GP about your options, including HRT. A collagen drink is a skincare-from-within habit, not a treatment for menopause.

How to start

If you'd like to try collagen during this stage, keep it simple: one sachet a day, every day, for a full 8 to 12 weeks before you judge it. Because it's a daily habit, consistency matters far more than any single day. You can read how much collagen you should take a day and our guide to the best collagen for women over 50 for more.

This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. If you have concerns about menopause or your health, please speak to your GP. Food supplements shouldn't be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.