Loss of skin elasticity is a natural part of the aging process. It occurs when the structural protein in your skin that makes up collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans starts to drop. The amount of new skin collagen your skin produces starts to decline as you age, influencing the skin’s elasticity.
As your skin loses elasticity, it may start to sag and lose its shape, vitality, and health. You may eventually notice fine lines and wrinkles appearing on your face, neck, or arms. Although skin elasticity loss is often associated with aesthetic concerns, it’s crucial to note how the loss of structure and function affects the quality of life as it influences skin integrity and physiological function. It’s essential to learn about the impact of skin elasticity when you want to slow down elasticity loss and keep your skin looking vibrant and youthful.
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What is Skin Elasticity?
Skin elasticity is your skin’s ability to stretch and bounce back into place. Skin elasticity relies significantly on elastin, an extracellular matrix protein in many organs and tissues in the human body. Elastin is essential to the function of elastic issues, and it’s important to take care of the protein to enhance your skin.
The Importance of Skin Elasticity
One of the first questions that come to mind when learning about elasticity is, what is skin elasticity, and why is it important? Without skin elasticity, you might notice your skin looks dull, wrinkled, or unhealthy. Understanding the importance of skin elasticity is the first to improving the condition or preventing it from occurring.
Your skin’s elasticity is what gives you healthy-looking and plump skin. Loss of skin elasticity is referred to as elastosis, a condition that results in the thickening and degeneration of elastic fibres in connective tissue, primarily the skin. When elastosis occurs due to prolonged sun exposure, it is called solar elastosis and is characterized by yellowed, thickened skin with deep wrinkles.
Causes & Remedies for Skin Elasticity Loss
Once you’ve figured out skin elasticity, it’s important to understand the causes if you want an effective solution to improve your skin.
1. Aging
One common concern when taking measures to treat or slow down skin aging is when the skin loses elasticity. Skin elasticity typically reduces as you age, noticeable in your 30s or 40s but can occur as early as your mid-20s.
There are two types of skin aging, known as intrinsic and extrinsic skin aging. Intrinsic mainly occurs due to the action of reactive oxygen, whereas extrinsic occurs due to external factors, such as exposure to chemicals and specific diets. Both types of aging result in loss of skin elasticity.
Observing your skin is the best way to identify if skin elasticity has been affected. If you notice wrinkles, fine lines, or saggy skin, your skin is most likely losing its elasticity. Once you’ve figured out the root cause, you can target each problem for an effective solution.
One of the most helpful treatments for wrinkles caused by aging is clinical skincare used by dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and medical spas.
You can use SkinCeuticals Advanced Skincare products, one of the U.S & Canada’s leading skincare brands. Authorized retailers like Body Clinic Skincare offer SkinCeuticals in Mississauga to help clients improve their skin health. The line is carefully formulated to correct signs of aging, protect healthy skin, and prevent future damage.
2. Sun Exposure
The sun’s UV rays are usually the biggest culprit of aging skin. Elastosis results in changes in the connective tissue, which reduces the skin’s strength and elasticity.
The elasticity of your skin gets compromised when you spend a lot of time under the sun without protection. You may also notice that loss of skin elasticity is more noticeable in areas that are more exposed to the sun than areas covered under sunlight.
Using broad-spectrum sunscreen when you expose your skin to the sun is essential. You could also use a wide-brimmed hat in addition to sunscreen to prevent the sun from directly contacting your skin.
3. Air Pollution
Many air pollutants, such as dust, smoke, smog, and vehicle exhaust, significantly affect the skin, such as decreased elasticity, rashes, and wrinkles. An article on Raconteur refers to the Skin Cancer Foundation’s estimate that 90 percent of premature aging can be attributed to environmental damage, including ultraviolet (UV) rays.
The article cites a cosmetic dermatologist who states that when the pollution created by emissions of toxic gases blends with UV rays from sunlight, the combination “creates a highly reactive molecule that causes damage to proteins, collagen and lipids in the skin.”
Start an effective skincare routine with medical-grade ingredients if you have noticed your skin becoming dull and wrinkled. This will allow you to slow down the aging process and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
You can also consider aesthetic treatments such as Botox and fillers, as long as a licensed medical provider offers them. Before selecting a procedure, do proper research to learn about different treatments and their side effects.
4. Lifestyle Habits
Although environmental factors contribute most to the loss of skin elasticity, some of your lifestyle habits may also contribute to the condition. Other factors that may affect skin elasticity are sleep deprivation, smoking, and genes.
Understanding the cause of elasticity loss will help you determine how to increase skin elasticity. If you’re noticing your skin losing its elasticity, it can be helpful to reflect on your lifestyle habits. Switching up some lifestyle habits may slow down the aging process.
5. Lack of Skincare Routine
Fibroblasts become less active, and collagen production declines by about 1-1.5 percent a year from early adulthood, which certain lifestyle choices can aggravate.
A consistent skincare routine is vital to improve skin elasticity and boost skin cell turnover, as it can improve skin elasticity and hydration over time. You can consume collagen peptides, which will travel throughout the body, including sites where fibroblasts are present.
To find an effective solution and develop a skincare routine, find your skin type and consult a dermatologist or aesthetician to find the right products.
It can be challenging for you to slow down skin elasticity loss without proper knowledge. Use this guide to learn about factors contributing to elasticity loss and find practical solutions to keep your skin healthy!
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