Loss of collagen is something we all dread as we age.
Collagen is the protein that keeps the skin firm, elastic, and youthful. As we get older, we naturally produce less of it, which is part of the reason we suffer from sagging skin, fine lines, and wrinkles.
For years, skincare professionals have discussed using collagen-boosting ingredients like vitamin C, peptides, and retinol in our routines. Now, recent research suggests that there’s one more thing we need to consider when it comes to collagen production—the skin’s microbiome.
We’re talking about the community of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms living on our skin. Some of these are harmful, but many of them are “friendly,” meaning they can help preserve the skin’s health. Scientists now think they may also play a critical role in collagen preservation.
So what can we do with this new information? Read on to find out!
The Study: How Certain Bacteria May Impact the Loss of Collagen
The study was published in the scientific journal Life. Researchers looked into a possible connection between specific bacteria in the skin microbiome and collagen degradation. They found that an imbalance in certain bacteria may contribute to skin aging.
This concept is similar to one you may have heard of—between gut health and overall wellness. Just as an imbalance in gut bacteria can lead to digestive issues, inflammation, and weakened immunity, an imbalance in the skin microbiome may accelerate collagen breakdown and contribute to premature aging.
When harmful bacteria outnumber beneficial bacteria, whether in the gut or on the skin, the body’s natural processes—like nutrient absorption or collagen maintenance—may be disrupted. For that reason, it’s important to maintain a balanced microbiome for both skin and overall health.
What Happens with Bacteria to Encourage the Loss of Collagen?
Researchers identified specific strains of bacteria that seemed to be connected to increased collagen breakdown. These bacteria released enzymes capable of degrading collagen fibers in the skin, potentially accelerating the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
Beneficial bacteria, on the other hand, helped maintain a more balanced skin environment, reducing inflammation and supporting collagen integrity.
These findings suggest that our skin microbiome isn’t just about preventing acne or irritation—it may be directly involved in how our skin ages. If the microbiome becomes unbalanced due to excessive cleansing, harsh skincare products, antibiotic use, or environmental stressors, the skin may lose its ability to maintain healthy collagen levels—leading to those unwanted wrinkles and sagging areas.
How the Loss of Collagen Affects the Skin
The skin microbiome serves as a protective barrier for the skin, supporting hydration, regulating inflammation, and potentially—according to this study—helping to preserve collagen.
An imbalanced skin microbiome can cause several skin problems, including sensitivity, dryness, and premature aging. When the beneficial bacteria that usually support skin health are disrupted or decreased, harmful bacteria can thrive, leading to more inflammation and collagen degradation.
How can you tell if this is happening? There’s no direct way, but you can watch for these signs:
- Increased fine lines and wrinkles
- Loss of skin elasticity and firmness
- Persistent dryness or dehydration
- Heightened sensitivity and irritation
The researchers in this study noted that more studies are needed to further understand this connection between the microbiome and collagen. They also stated that aging is a “multi-factorial and multi-dimensional process,” meaning that many things are involved in how the skin ages.
However, they concluded that the skin’s microbiome plays a significant role in skin aging and health and that preserving the health of the microbiome could help protect, prevent, and delay skin aging.
That means that while using collagen-boosting ingredients can help, taking care of our skin microbiome may be just as important.
How to Support Your Skin Microbiome and Slow the Loss of Collagen
So, how do you maintain a healthy skin microbiome? We have some tips for you.
1. Use Microbiome-Friendly Skincare Products
Harsh cleansers and antibacterial ingredients can disrupt the delicate balance of your skin’s microbiome. Instead, seek gentle cleansers that remove impurities without stripping away essential bacteria.
These formulas typically avoid harsh sulfates, alcohols, and antibacterial ingredients and use more hydrating ingredients – like those found in CV Skinlabs products, such as aloe vera, glycerin, and oat extract. Choose products labeled as “pH-balanced” or “suitable for sensitive skin.”
2. Protect the Skin Barrier
A compromised skin barrier is more likely to allow harmful bacteria to take over, potentially increasing collagen degradation. You can support your skin’s natural defenses by using barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides, squalane, and fatty acids. Ingredients such as bisabolol, turmeric, and reishi mushroom extract—all found in CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture—can also help soothe inflammation and strengthen the skin barrier.
3. Avoid Over-Exfoliation
While exfoliation is important for skin renewal, overdoing it can disrupt the microbiome and weaken the skin barrier. Excessive exfoliation strips away the skin’s natural oils and beneficial bacteria, increasing dryness, sensitivity, and inflammation. Instead, choose gentle exfoliators like lactic acid or fruit enzymes and limit exfoliation to 1-3 times a week. Follow with barrier strengthening and protecting Calming Moisture to calm, balance, and replenish skin.
4. Eat a Skin-Friendly Diet
Your skin microbiome is influenced by your overall health, including your gut health. In fact, the researchers in the study above noted that changes in the gut microbiome that occur with age can influence the rate of overall aging and age-associated inflammation. “Bad” bacteria from the gut can enter the bloodstream and travel to distant organs, including the skin.
“Although it is difficult to ascertain a causal relationship between the gut microbiome and skin conditions,” the researchers wrote, “multiple studies indicate a link between them with several dermatological diseases being associated with gastrointestinal disorders and vice versa.”
They went on to note that previous studies have also associated increased “leakage” of harmful bacteria from the gut into the bloodstream to an accumulation of bacterial metabolites in the skin, impairing the barrier’s integrity.
Consuming probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables can help maintain a balanced gut microbiome, which in turn will benefit the skin. Similarly, avoid processed foods high in sugar, artificial sweeteners, and unhealthy fats, which disrupt gut bacteria and impact both gut and skin health.
5. Reduce Stress and Get Quality Sleep
Chronic stress and poor sleep can negatively impact your microbiome and collagen production. Try to do something every day that helps you reduce stress. Exercise is a good option, as is yoga, tai chi, deep breathing, journaling, and meditation.
Final Thoughts About the Loss of Collagen
This discovery of a connection between the microbiome and collagen loss opens new doors in skincare research. That means we can now take additional steps to slow collagen degradation and further delay skin aging. In addition to applying collagen-boosting ingredients to your skin, try to adopt a daily routine that keeps the skin barrier strong and healthy and, at the same time, keeps your gut healthy too!
Did you know this about the loss of collagen?
Featured image by SHVETS production via Pexels.
