# How to Stop Skin Aging: the Four Levers That Studies Say Actually Count

You cannot stop skin aging entirely, but you can slow the part that matters most: about 80% of visible facial aging in fair skin comes from the sun, not genes (Flament 2013). Of the four levers studies actually support, daily broad-spectrum sunscreen and prescription retinoids (tretinoin) have the hardest evidence, while collagen powder and cutting sugar have the weakest. Sunscreen slowed photoaging by 24% over 4.5 years (Hughes 2013).

About 80% of visible facial aging in fair skin comes from the sun, not from your genes. Sunscreen and retinoids have the hardest evidence, collagen powder and cutting sugar the weakest. Here is the honest state of play, sorted by what counts.

## On this page

- Does Sugar Age Your Skin? Glycation and AGEs Explained Simply
- Does Collagen Help Against Wrinkles, or Is It Just Marketing?
- How Much of Your Skin Aging Really Comes From the Sun?
- Why Does Skin Age So Fast During Menopause?
- How Old Does Your Skin Really Look?

## FAQ

- Can I really stop skin aging or only slow it down?
- Does cutting sugar actually help against wrinkles?
- Does drinking collagen or taking collagen powder help against wrinkles?
- What helps more, retinol or sunscreen?
- Which sunscreen is best against skin aging?
- Why does my skin age so fast during menopause?
- Does hormone therapy help against menopausal skin aging?
- How can I measure how old my skin looks?

## Sources

- Wang Y, et al.. (2024). The effects of advanced glycation end-products on skin and potential anti-glycation strategies. Experimental Dermatology. https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.15065
- Chen J, et al.. (2022). Advanced Glycation End Products in the Skin: Molecular Mechanisms, Methods of Measurement, and Inhibitory Pathways. Frontiers in Medicine. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.837222
- Verzijl N, DeGroot J, Thorpe SR, et al.. (2000). Effect of collagen turnover on the accumulation of advanced glycation end products. Journal of Biological Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M006700200
- Chen J, Waqas K, Tan RC, Voortman T, Ikram MA, Nijsten TEC, de Groot LCPGM, Uitterlinden AG, Zillikens MC. (2020). The association between dietary and skin advanced glycation end products: the Rotterdam Study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqaa117
- Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert J, Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S. (2014). Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1159/000351376
- Proksch E, Schunck M, Zague V, Segger D, Degwert J, Oesser S. (2014). Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1159/000355523
- de Miranda RB, Weimer P, Rossi RC. (2021). Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Dermatology. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.15518
- Kim D-U, Chung H-C, Choi J, Sakai Y, Lee B-Y. (2018). Oral Intake of Low-Molecular-Weight Collagen Peptide Improves Hydration, Elasticity, and Wrinkling in Human Skin: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10070826
- Sitohang IBS, Makes WI, Sandora N, Suryanegara J. (2022). Topical tretinoin for treating photoaging: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. International Journal of Women's Dermatology. https://doi.org/10.1097/JW9.0000000000000003
- Boo YC. (2022). Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) as a Cosmeceutical to Increase Dermal Collagen for Skin Antiaging Purposes: Emerging Combination Therapies. Antioxidants (Basel). https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11091663
- Flament F, Bazin R, Laquieze S, Rubert V, Simonpietri E, Piot B. (2013). Effect of the sun on visible clinical signs of aging in Caucasian skin. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S44686
- Fisher GJ, Kang S, Varani J, Bata-Csorgo Z, Wan Y, Datta S, Voorhees JJ. (1997). Pathophysiology of premature skin aging induced by ultraviolet light. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199711133372003
- Salminen A, Kaarniranta K, Kauppinen A. (2022). Photoaging: UV radiation-induced inflammation and immunosuppression accelerate the aging process in the skin. Inflammation Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-022-01598-8
- Hughes MCB, Williams GM, Baker P, Green AC. (2013). Sunscreen and Prevention of Skin Aging: A Randomized Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-158-11-201306040-00002
- American Academy of Dermatology. (2026). Sunscreen FAQs / How to select a sunscreen. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/sunscreen/sunscreen-faqs
- Brincat M, Versi E, Moniz CF, Magos A, de Trafford J, Studd JW. (1987). Skin collagen changes in postmenopausal women receiving different regimens of estrogen therapy. Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Thornton MJ. (2013). Estrogens and aging skin. Dermato-Endocrinology. https://doi.org/10.4161/derm.23872
- Troxel J, Ferrer LC, Iwamoto A, Van Voorhis BJ, Powers JG. (2026). Topical estrogen therapy for aging skin: Current evidence and clinical considerations. JAAD Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdrv.2025.12.003
- IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. (1992). Solar and ultraviolet radiation. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Volume 55. https://publications.iarc.who.int/74

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_Canonical: https://longevity-germany.com/en/guide/hautalterung-stoppen · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-14_