Loss of skin elasticity is a natural part of the aging process. You may have noticed it for the first time when you were putting on makeup or rubbed your eyes. You moved your eyelid slightly to the side, and your skin didn’t bounce back the way it used to.
Skin elasticity is skin’s ability to stretch and snap back to its original shape. Loss of skin elasticity is known as elastosis. Elastosis causes skin to look saggy, crinkled, or leathery.
Areas of the skin exposed to the sun can get solar elastosis. These parts of the body may look more weathered than those protected from sun exposure. Solar elastosis is also referred to as actinic elastosis.
Why does skin elasticity change?
Skin is the body’s largest organ. It’s also your shield against the elements. As people age, their skin naturally starts to show the effects of time.
In addition to losing collagen, skin also starts to lose elastin, a protein which provides skin with the ability to stretch and snap back. Elastin is found in the connective tissue of the skin’s dermis layer.
Environmental and lifestyle causes can worsen and accelerate elastosis. They include:
- sun exposure
- air pollution
- poor nutrition
- smoking
Rapid, extensive weight loss can also cause elastosis.
Tips for preventing loss of skin elasticity
Lifestyle changes are your best bet for limiting elastosis.
Limit sun exposure
Overexposure to UV rays reduces skin’s elasticity and causes premature aging of the skin. .
Add antioxidants to your diet
A diet high in antioxidants, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, and lycopene may help maintain skin’s elasticity and overall health.
Quit smoking
People who smoke have less skin elasticity than those who don’t. Smoking narrows blood vessels, decreasing blood flow and limiting the ability of nutrients and oxygen to reach the skin.
Conclusion
Skin naturally loses some of its ability to stretch and bounce back with aging. Sun exposure and habits, such as smoking, can accelerate this process.
There are many successful treatments for improving skin elasticity. Lifestyle changes, such as wearing sunscreen, can help slow it down and minimize its effects.
