Collagen Banking, Perimenopause & Skin Longevity with Dr. Mary Alice Mina

Your skin starts losing collagen in your 20s — and at menopause, up to 30% can drop in 5 years. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down how to bank collagen before you need it, what perimenopause does to your skin, and why some peptide injections at med spas are landing patients with permanent scars. Dr. Mina shares insights on skin health, aging, and the evolving role of social media in medicine. Dr. Mary Alice Mina is a board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon based in Atlanta. She runs a direct-pay practice, teaches residents and medical students, and hosts The Skin Reel podcast, where she covers evidence-based skin health for real life. Keywords: skin health, aging, skincare, prevention, social media, dermatology, collagen, lasers, supplements, hormone therapy Key Topics: – What collagen banking is and when to start (hint: your 30s) – Why perimenopause causes up to 30% collagen loss and what drives skin changes in midlife – How retinoids build collagen 300% — and why they outperform supplements – What biostimulants like Sculptra and Radiesse actually do under the skin – The difference between CO2, Erbium, and microneedling lasers for collagen stimulation – Why AGEs from sugar accelerate skin aging and how to reduce them through diet – The new US-approved sunscreen ingredient (Bemotrizinol/BEMT) and what it means for UVA protection – Why peptide injections at med spas are causing mycobacterial infections and permanent scarring – How stress and the skin's own HPA axis directly affect skin health Chapters: [00:00] – Introduction: Dr. Mina's path from dancer to dermatologist-entrepreneur [01:00] – Why doctors need to be public-facing — the void filled by influencers [07:27] – Skin as an organ: more than aesthetics [09:09] – Intrinsic vs. extrinsic aging: what you can and can't control [13:32] – Collagen banking: how to start and what actually works [17:48] – Lasers for collagen: CO2, Erbium, and microneedling explained [18:43] – Biostimulants: Sculptra and Radiesse — how they build collagen precisely [23:01] – Sunscreen basics: SPF 30+, UVA/UVB, and the new BEMT ingredient [28:07] – Perimenopause and skin: estrogen, fat redistribution, and collagen loss [32:17] – Stress and the skin's HPA axis [34:32] – Diet, sugar, AGEs, and collagen degradation [37:47] – The peptide injection warning: what's going wrong at med spas [44:16] – Men's skincare basics [45:55] – Serum shelf life and vitamin C oxidation [51:46] – Dr. Mina's morning routine and sleep habits Connect with Dr. Mary Alice Mina Podcast: The Skin Reel (available wherever you listen to podcasts and on YouTube) Instagram: search @Dr. Mary Alice Mina Connect with Dive Into Health MD https://koalendar.com/e/meet-with-aks... Email: mailto:hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube:    / @diveintohealthmd   Instagram: instagram.com/diveintohealthmd LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diveintohealthmd This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. #collagenbanking #perimenopauseskin #skinlongevity #dermatologist #skinaging #retinol #lifestylemedicine #sunscreen #diveintohealthmd #theskinreel