25 Sep Collagen, creams, and why microneedling really works

If I had a pound for every “miracle” collagen cream a client has asked me about, I could probably retire. I understand the appeal completely, and I don’t blame anyone for hoping. But I’d rather tell you how collagen actually works, so you can spend your money where it makes a real difference.

Why creams can’t replace collagen

Collagen is the scaffolding of your skin, the thing that keeps it firm and springy. From around the age of 25 we lose roughly 1 percent of it a year, and after menopause that can reach 30 percent within just five years. The trouble with collagen creams is straightforward: the collagen molecule is far too large to pass through the surface of your skin, so it never reaches where it’s needed. What good skincare can do is prompt your own skin to make more, and ingredients like vitamin C and beta-glucan are proven to nudge your fibroblasts into action.

Why microneedling is different

Microneedling, or collagen induction therapy, works from the inside out. Fine medical-grade needles create tiny channels in the skin, which triggers your body’s natural repair response and wakes up those collagen-making cells. The evidence is impressive: after a course of four sessions, one study reported an average 400 percent increase in collagen and elastin six months later.

Get the most from it

Treatments and skincare work best together. Antioxidants, hydrating serums and daily SPF all protect and extend your microneedling results, so the two support each other rather than competing.

If you’d like to build real collagen rather than chase it in a jar, explore microneedling or book online.