Aging is an inevitable part of life and a privilege. With age comes wisdom, confidence, and knowledge. It also brings changes to our bodies that no one is immune to. Years of having fun in the sun, carrying the miracle of life in your body, weight fluctuations, environmental factors, all have an effect on our skin and its elasticity. While these things are part of life here on this earth, there are some things we can do to improve and help prevent further sagging skin.
Why does skin lose elasticity?
Each person’s DNA and lifestyle will determine how our skin ages. Collagen and elastin are amazingly strong fibers that make up our skin matrix. These fibers work like a rubber band, allowing our skin to stretch and bounce back. Elastosis is the loss of skin elasticity and is caused by several factors, some avoidable, some unavoidable.
Factors leading to elastosis are:
- Sun exposure
- Aging
- Pollution
- Unhealthy diet
- Smoking
- Sleep deprivation
Aside from these factors, after the age of 20, we produce about 1 percent less collagen each year. After menopause, the amount produced is even less than this.
How to improve elasticity
Its not all bad news, there are some things that we can do to improve skin elasticity and even boost collagen production.
Retinol & Retinoids
Retinol products encourage skin cell turnover, which produces more collagen and elastin. Retinol has the ability to go to the deeper layers of the skin to neutralize free radicals and work its collagen and elastin magic.
Hyaluronic Acid
HA is a hydrophilic (water loving) substance found naturally in our skin. Applying HA products to the skin can help retain water and keep skin hydrated and supple. There are a few options when it comes to getting more HA. There are topical hyaluronic acid serums, oral HA supplements, and even injectable HA fillers.
Sunscreen
This one may not really improve skin elasticity, but it will prevent further degradation of collagen and elastin fibers. One of the most important things you can do to prevent further elastosis is wear sunscreen such as. The damage done by UV ray accounts for 80% of skin aging. We may even be damaging our skin without realizing it. Driving in our cars or sitting by a window in our homes can cause undetected UVA damage. Just to be safe, wear sunscreen every day, even if you don’t plan on being outside.
Microneedling
Microneedling might seem a bit scary if you’ve seen pictures of people having it done with blood all over their faces. However, it has become an increasingly popular treatment in recent years, and for good reason. The tiny, tiny needles puncture the skin creating micro wounds. The body’s response is to trigger wound healing, promoting collagen and elastin production. Studies have shown this treatment to improve the appearance of scars, acne, photodamage, and melasma.
Laser resurfacing
During laser resurfacing. An intense beam of light energy is directed at the skin, destroying the outer layer. Simultaneously, the laser is heating up the deeper layers of the skin, which stimulates collagen production. As the new collagen cells develop, they plump and smooth the skin, improving elasticity.
As we age, we can embrace the wisdom and confidence that comes with it while also looking our best and maintaining healthy beautiful skin. The natural aging process, exposure to sun, and other stressors lead to a decline in skin elasticity, but the good news is that it is possible to improve skin elasticity and boost the production of collagen and elastin fibers. If you would like to learn more about the ways that New Leaf Spa and Laser can help you restore and maintain a youthful appearance, please visit our website and call us to schedule your appointment!
