Skinelasticity refers to your skins ability to stretch and bounce back into place.
Our skins elasticity is what gives us plump, healthy-looking skin.
As skin loses its elasticity, it starts to sag and wrinkle.
Gravity Images / Getty Images
Our skin elasticity is highest when were young and slowly decreases as we age.
Gravity Images / Getty Images
What Is Skin Elasticity?
Our skin is made up of three layers, and this makeup affects elasticity.
Theepidermisis the outermost layer, thedermisis the middle layer, and the subcutis is the deepest layer.
In the dermis, the middle layer, our skin contains two kinds of proteins calledcollagenand elastin.
These proteins are found in the skins connective tissues and are responsible for its elasticity.
Collagen is an important building block for our skin, hair, and nails.
What Causes Loss of Elasticity?
Loss of skin elasticity, also known as elastosis, is a natural part of the aging process.
Environmental factors and harmful products can speed up the process.
Our faces also lose fat deposits in the aging process.
Our skin also loses protein and hyaluronic acid with age.
As our skin loses collagen with age, the bond between the epidermis and dermis weakens.
This separation of the layers of the skin causes the skin to sag and appear wrinkled.
Because collagen and elastin are located in the dermis, they are affected by the environment.
These abnormal fibers further damage the collagen fibers, leading to damaged skin that wrinkles and sags prematurely.
Like UV rays, smoking and pollution are harmful to the skin and can expedite aging.
Cigarette smoke is toxic to all of the body’s cells.
It causesthinning of the skin, which leads to sagging and wrinkles.
This leads to breakouts and a buildup of oil.
Its best to wash your face once or twice daily, depending on how oily your skin is.
Pressing or tugging on the delicate skin around your eyes can result in loss of elasticity as well.
Making lifestyle changes like using sun protection and quitting smoking can help your skin preserve its natural elasticity longer.
Diet
To improve skin elasticity naturally, start with your dinner plate.
Our bodies need a wide array of nutrients to be able to function at their best.
A poor diet can speed up the loss of collagen, leading to premature skin aging and sagging.
To make collagen, your body needs amino acids.
In addition to protein and vitamin C, our bodies need zinc and copper to produce collagen.
These minerals can be obtained from meat, nuts, beans, and whole grains.
In addition to providing building blocks for collagen production, our diets can also help to reduce collagen loss.
Free radicals contribute to skin aging by breaking down skin cells and collagen.
Another food to start incorporating into your diet for skin health is bone broth.
It is made by extracting the collagen from beef or poultry bones and is meant to be consumed warm.
High-quality dark chocolate contains cocoa flavanols, naturally occurring nutrients in cacao beans that may improve skin elasticity.
Cocoa flavanols may also improve signs of photodamage from the sun like age spots.
Acollagen supplementmay help to preserve your skins elasticity and prevent wrinkles.
A 2019 study found that taking a daily collagen supplement significantly improved skin hydration and elasticity.
Exercise
Exercise benefits every system in the body, especially the skin.
After three months, their skin samples looked significantly different and more youthful.
When our bodies are sleep-deprived, they release the stress hormone cortisol.
Cortisol leads toinflammationin the body, including the skin.
This inflammation can lead to redness, irritation, and wrinkles.
Collagen and elastin cannot function properly when the skin is inflamed.
During sleep, your body releases a human growth hormone.
Hydration
Staying hydrated can lead to brighter skin with more elasticity.
Our skin cells, like every cell in the body, are made up of water.
When the skin is dehydrated, it cant function properly and appears dry and flaky.
Dry skin tends to be less resilient and starts to show fine lines and wrinkles sooner.
To keep skin hydrated, start with your diet.
Drink plenty of water each day, aiming for at least eight glasses.
Use a gentle moisturizer each day, especially after showering or washing your face.
Sunscreen
The most effective anti-aging skincare product will always be sunscreen.
UVB rays affect the top layer of the skin and cause sunburns.
Dermatologists believe that retinol and retinoid creams are more effective than collagen-containing ones.
This gives your skin firm plumpness and makes it more resilient and less likely to wrinkle.
It can be taken as a supplement or in soybean products.
Talk with your primary doctor before starting a genistein supplement.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazelis a plant that can be found in many over-the-counter and natural skin products.
Talk with your dermatologist if you have questions about starting to use topical witch hazel.
Medical procedures performed by a cosmetic dermatologist can improve skin elasticity by stimulating new collagen growth.
Medical treatments may help you preserve skin elasticity more effectively than other options.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatments can be used to treat chronic skin conditions likepsoriasisandeczema.
They may also improve signs of skin aging.
Laser treatment is usually considered less invasive and low-risk compared with other medical treatments for skin aging.
After laser treatment, its normal to experience redness and swelling.
Possible risks are rare and include infection and scarring.
Microneedling with Radiofrequency
This is a minimally invasive procedure that helps build collagen in the skin.
Improvement is seen three to six months after the procedure.
Most people get two to three treatments.
It works by generating a thermal effect under the skin, which jumpstarts the body’s collagen production.
People who undergo ultherapy usually see results in two to three months.
Chemical peels improve signs of aging like age spots and wrinkles as well.
During a chemical peel, your practitioner will apply a chemical solution to your face.
This solution works as an exfoliant and removes the top layers of the skin.
There are different degrees of chemical peels.
To improve elasticity, your healthcare provider will most likely recommend a light or medium peel.
Deep chemical peels penetrate deep into the skin and are usually used to treat scars or precancerous growths.
As with any medical procedure, chemical peels come with risks.
After a peel, its normal to experience skin redness, inflammation, and peeling.
This inflammation process is what triggers new skin cells and collagen growth.
Scarring and infection are rare but possible.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is another exfoliation technique performed by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
During dermabrasion, your healthcare provider will use a tool to sand your skin and remove the outer layers.
Dermabrasion can improve the look of wrinkles and skin sagging.
It is also used for acne, scarring, age spots, and precancerous growths.
Studies have found that dermabrasion is more effective at stimulating new collagen growth than chemical peels.
Dermabrasion comes with risks as well; infection is possible.
People with darker skin tones are more likely to experience scarring and permanent pigment changes.
The treatment involves drawing blood from you, then separating out the platelets and growth factors.
Platelet cells clot your blood when your skin is cut, but they have other benefits as well.
Platelets contain proteins and growth factors that can heal skin and promote collagen production.
Fillers
Certain fillers like Sculptra and Radiesse stimulate the body to make collagen.
Sculptra contains poly-L lactic acid that can stimulate collagen production and tighten skin.
The solution fills in hollow areas and deep folds of skin.
During these procedures, a plastic surgeon makes an incision in the skin.
The surgeon then lifts the skin and underlying muscle tissue.
Fat may be redistributed as well.
Excess skin is then trimmed away, and the incisions are closed with sutures.
These surgeries provide a lifted and tighter look for the affected skin.
Cosmetic surgery carries all the risks of any surgery, like infection and scarring.
It requires general anesthesia, which also involves serious risks.
Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and potential benefits to make the right decision for you.
As we age, our hormone levels naturally decline, and this leads to changes in the skin.
Hormone replacement therapy is still being studied, and there are serious side effects to be aware of.
A Word From Verywell
Skin elasticity gives our skin its youthful look and feel.
For more dramatic results, you could try skincare products and medical treatments.
Talk with your dermatologist about your skin elasticity questions to make a plan that is right for you.
There are a lot of factors that can determine skin elasticity.
No, there aren’t foods that tighten skin.
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