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Building on the foundation of collagen-supportive nutrition and supplements, the next phase of collagen support focuses on treatments designed to directly boost collagen production. If you missed it, we cover the basics in Collagen Basics for Midlife Women.
The options for collagen-boosting treatments have expanded significantly, giving midlife women more choices than ever before. Understanding what each treatment can and can’t do is the first step toward making the right decisions for your skin and your goals.
Collagen boosting treatments work gradually by triggering the skin’s natural repair response and encouraging new collagen growth over time. Treatments focus on skin texture, brightness, firmness, elasticity, discoloration, fine lines, or some combination of these concerns. The right choice often depends on individual goals, budget, recovery time, skin tone, age, and how aggressive a treatment plan you and your doctor decide makes sense.
Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Microneedling
Microneedling, sometimes referred to as collagen induction therapy, uses tiny needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, triggering the body’s healing response and encouraging collagen production. The end goal for a microneedling treatment is a refreshed, smoother look.
The different types of microneedling and add-ons address various goals, from fine lines and texture changes to mild acne scarring, enlarged pores, and overall skin dullness. Radiofrequency microneedling, including popular treatments like Morpheus8, adds heat delivery through the needles. The heat helps target deeper layers of tissue and is often used for deeper wrinkles, acne scarring, and firmness. Recovery can be more noticeable than standard microneedling, with several days of redness, swelling, and sensitivity after treatment.
Microneedling Add-Ons
A popular add-on is platelet rich plasma, often called PRP. Since PRP uses components of a patient’s own blood applied during or after treatment, it became known in its early days as the “vampire facial.” Now commonly referred to as PRP microneedling, its purpose is to support the skin’s healing and recovery process. Some providers also offer a newer variation, platelet rich fibrin, known as PRF. Using a slower processing method, PRF is marketed as providing longer lasting support for healing and collagen rebuilding.
Some women use at home dermarollers or microneedling devices between professional treatments. Professional microneedling reaches deeper layers of the skin and involves different levels of precision, sterility, numbing, and recovery time, while at home devices are designed for more superficial use.
It goes without saying, but working with a professional who follows all sterility and safety standards significantly decreases the risks involved with any procedure or recommendation.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels work by exfoliating the outer layers of skin and encouraging faster cell turnover. Depending on the strength and style of the selected peel, a treatment might target discoloration, uneven texture, acne scarring, fine lines, dullness, and/or sun damage. The goal of a peel might be skin maintenance, brightness or better texture.
Peels achieve targeted results by using different acids for different goals. Commonly, glycolic acid and lactic acid are for brightness and texture, while salicylic acid is applied for acne and congestion. Jessner and TCA peels work at deeper levels of the skin and are used for more noticeable resurfacing. For clarity, “light” peels typically involve minimal visible peeling and very little downtime, while “deeper” peels can require more recovery time and aftercare.
LED Light Therapy
LED light therapy has become increasingly common. Different wavelengths of light are used for different concerns, with red light therapy associated with collagen support and lowering inflammation. Blue light therapy is commonly used for acne.
Unlike more aggressive treatments, LED therapy usually involves little to no downtime and results tend to build gradually with consistency over time. We explored red light therapy in depth in The Science of Red Light Therapy for Skin earlier this year.
Medical Grade Skincare
Medical grade skincare is its own category of collagen support, with ingredients specifically formulated to encourage collagen production and skin renewal.
Collagen sheet masks, hydrogel masks, overnight masks, and other collagen focused topical treatments have become very popular. Products like the Biodance Bio Collagen Real Deep Mask, and Augustinus Bader’s Hydrogel Face Mask show up repeatedly across skincare conversations and social media. While these products can’t replace lost collagen, many women use them for hydration, temporary plumping, and overall skin glow. They’re also commonly used as part of self-care routines before events, after travel, during drier weather, or simply as a midweek skin refresher.
Retinoids remain one of the most commonly recommended topical ingredients for collagen support. Derived from vitamin A, they work by increasing cell turnover and stimulating collagen production. Over the counter retinols and retinal products are often introduced gradually, while prescription retinoid favorites like tretinoin are considered a strong addition to a skincare routine.
“Retinoids are one of the only molecules proven to increase collagen production.” – Dr. Freya Meyer, MD, FAAD, PHDermatology.
Beyond Retinoids
Vitamin C plays a direct role in the body’s natural collagen synthesis, making it one of the most valuable supporting ingredients in a collagen-focused skincare routine. It also provides antioxidant protection against environmental stressors that contribute to collagen breakdown over time.
Daily SPF also plays a major role in protecting collagen over time. UV exposure accelerates collagen breakdown and contributes to fine lines, uneven texture, discoloration, and loss of elasticity, making sun protection one of the most important players in the long-term collagen support list.
Peptides are chains of amino acids that signal the skin to support collagen rebuilding and repair. They show up in serums and moisturizers aimed at firmness and skin support, and work well alongside retinoids and vitamin C.
Exfoliating acids are used to encourage cell turnover, support overall skin renewal, and help other collagen-supporting ingredients penetrate the skin more effectively. Some women tolerate regular exfoliation well, while others need a slower, more limited approach, particularly during menopause when skin can become drier and more reactive.
Medical grade skincare stands on its own as a collagen strategy. Products can be introduced gradually, adjusted based on budget and sensitivity, and tailored to what your skin responds to best.
Finding the Right Mix
For many women in mavenhood, collagen boosting treatments become part of maintaining skin quality, confidence, and liking what you see in the mirror. The right mix of nutrition, supplements, treatments, and at home maintenance looks different for everyone.
There are also frequent technological advances in this area. In addition to all we’ve looked at here, there are sophisticated in-office procedures that can work as part of a long term skincare strategy. We look at more options in Advanced Collagen Boosters for Midlife.
This series is intended for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Treatments, supplements, skincare products, and procedures affect everyone differently. Consult a qualified healthcare provider or dermatologist before making changes to your healthcare, skincare, or wellness routine.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
If there are not so subliminal messages circulating within the aging well movement, they might be: “Protein. Strength training. Fiber. Hyaluronic acid. Collagen.”
Women in midlife and mavenhood looking for ways to feel healthier, stronger, and more like themselves would need to live under a rock to avoid the messaging. Pushback is met with an endless stream of doctors on TikTok, Instagram posts, Substacks, wellness podcasts, and clips breaking down the latest studies.
One piece of good news that may be easy to miss: women over 40 are finally part of the health conversation. Perimenopause, menopause, hormone replacement therapies, and updated nutritional guidelines are all entering the chat, offering information previous generations didn’t have access to.
What’s missing, or at least less prevalent, is the why behind all of it. We’re looking at each of the buzzwords: protein, strength training, fiber, hyaluronic acid and collagen individually, so if you missed the posts on protein and fiber earlier this year, they’re worth a look.
Focusing on Collagen
Why do we need collagen, what types do we need, and most importantly, how do we get it?
Collagen is a protein that acts as structural support for skin, bones, tendons, muscles, blood vessels, cartilage, and connective tissue. Natural collagen production starts slowing down with age, and the decline becomes more noticeable in menopause. Part of the shift is tied to declining estrogen levels, since estrogen plays a role in supporting collagen production, elasticity, and moisture retention. Skin loses elasticity, recovery after workouts slows down, joints become less forgiving, hair texture changes, nails become brittle, and muscle tone becomes harder to hold onto.
“In the first 5 years of menopause, 30% loss of collagen, and then you continue to lose it 2% per year thereafter. Collagen is the main support structure that keeps your skin plump.” – Dr. Corinne Menn, DO, board-certified OB/GYN, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and prescribing physician at Alloy Women’s Health, What Menopause Does to Your Skin & How to Fix It, Alloy Women’s Health YouTube channel, February 2025.
The effects of collagen loss are wide ranging, and for women who want to feel good for the long haul, that’s reason enough to pay attention.
Hair, Skin + Nails
Type I collagen is the one most commonly associated with skin, hair, nails, bones, and connective tissue. When women talk about wanting firmer skin, stronger nails, or hair that feels healthier and fuller, this is usually the type of collagen they mean. Along with Type I, Type V also supports hair and cellular structure.
Collagen supplement bases for Type I and III are bovine, sourced from cows. Bovine sources are the type most commonly found in powders and wellness supplements. The bases for Type I and V are typically marine, sourced from fish. When shopping for marine collagen, look for products sourced from the skin, bone, fin and scales of freshwater and marine fish, rather than jellyfish or shellfish, which are less than ideal.
“One easy way to boost your own collagen is to incorporate the right ingredients into your regular diet. Eating foods rich in vitamins A and C is an easy way to boost your body’s collagen. Vitamin A plays a role in helping to restore and regenerate damaged collagen. And you can’t even make collagen without vitamin C.” – Dr. Whitney Bowe, MD, board-certified dermatologist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. (Dr. Bowe is a brand ambassador for Further Food, a collagen supplement brand.)
Foods directly associated with Type I include bone broth, slow cooked meats, chicken skin, and gelatin. Egg whites are associated with Type V collagen, and are worth adding to the mix.
Getting enough daily protein and nutrients like vitamin C also support natural production. Citrus fruits, berries, eggs, leafy greens, salmon, Greek yogurt, beans, nuts, and seeds round out the list of collagen-friendly nutrition staples.
Joints + Mobility
Both Type II and Type X are associated with cartilage and mobility. Type II focuses on joints and Type X on bone formation. This is the collagen conversation many women begin paying attention to when knees become less forgiving during workouts, hips feel tighter after long flights, or recovery takes longer after strength training, hiking, tennis, pickleball, or long walks.
When it comes to supplements, Type II and X collagen are typically chicken-sourced and aimed at joint comfort and mobility.
The most common food associated with Type II collagen is chicken, especially in bone broth and slow cooked dishes that include bones, joints, and connective tissue. Other foods that work in tandem with chicken to support joint and cartilage health are turmeric, omega-3 rich foods like salmon and sardines, garlic, onions, leafy greens, and citrus.
For women in mavenhood, Type II and X deserve as much attention as the beauty-focused types that get more airtime.
Skin Elasticity + Recovery
Type III collagen works in tandem with Type I to support skin, muscles, blood vessels, and connective tissue throughout the body. It plays a role in elasticity and structure, particularly in softer tissue.
Most bovine collagen supplements contain both Types I and III, covering both skin structure and elasticity in one.
Type III is often found in the foods associated with Type I collagen, including slow cooked meats, bone broth, and protein-rich animal foods that contain connective tissue. For Type III specifically, berries and bell peppers are strong nutritional additions, both linked to elasticity and softer tissue support.
Why Collagen Matters
Collagen keeps coming up because it’s an integral part of an updated approach to aging well, and it’s also only one piece of the puzzle. Women respond differently to supplements and supportive routines. Consistency, overall nutrition, protein intake, age, hormones, sleep, exercise, and general health all influence results.
Adjusting to include collagen-rich foods, along with increased protein intake, strength training, sleep, hydration, and movement, support the body’s ability to maintain muscle, connective tissue, and recover over time. Which combination of supplements, supportive foods, and healthy habits to add or adjust is a personal decision worth discussing with your doctor and/or nutrition specialist.
In our next post, Collagen Boosters for Midlife Women, we explore strategies beyond nutrition and supplementation.
For women in mavenhood, the goal is to feel strong in your body, stay active, recover well, maintain confidence, and continue to live the big, beautiful life you’ve built. Collagen counts.
This series is intended for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Treatments, supplements, skincare products, and procedures affect everyone differently. Consult a qualified healthcare provider or dermatologist before making changes to your healthcare, skincare, or wellness routine.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
