When it comes to the ageing process, we are all too familiar with collagen and why it’s an such important protein, but what about its best friend and ally elastin?  

Here, we take a deep dive into this most asked about topic.

What is the Role of Collagen?

Collagen gives your skin strength, resilience and keeps it supple and taut.  It’s made up of chains of amino acids (proteins) which are like building blocks. Collagen fibres makeup approximately 90% of your skin.

What is Elastin?

Eastin on the other hand makes up about 10% of your skin. Elastin is stretchy, and actually about 1000 times more than its friend collagen. Elastin’s ‘stretchiness’ provides flexibility, allowing tissues to stretch and bounce back.

Whilst we lose approximately 1% of collagen per year from our 20’s onwards, elastin which is formed in foetal development actually stops in late puberty, and as we lose elastin over time, there’s no going back.

How Can We Help Keep Our Collagen and Elastin in Great Working Order?

To understand how to help, we need to look at what causes ageing, and they are twofold; natural (genetic) ageing and external (or extrinsic) ageing. But did you know that external ageing accounts for increased ageing and or ageing concerns?

What are Some of the Causes of External Ageing?

Firstly the biggest trigger is overexposure to the damaging rays of the sun. Skin enzymes can become activated by UV exposure which start to break down collagen and elastin in our skin.

Secondly, excessive free radical activity causes oxidative stress which can be a contributor of accelerated ageing and inflammation.  Internal inflammation from medication, immunity, gut and general health can also have an effect on accelerated ageing.  Whilst external inflammation from skin reactions, infection and continued use of incorrect harsh products that cause irritation can also play a part and affect the way we age.

Then there’s glycation. Simply explained, glycation is a chemical reaction between too much sugar in our body attaching to fats and amino proteins which causes AGEs – Advanced Glycation End Products, in a nutshell, ageing! Collagen and Elastin are particularly vulnerable because sugars really like these important proteins and when they attach can cause cross linking, stiffness and malformation in collagen and a decrease in connective tissue elasticity.

How Can We Help Boost Collagen and Maintain Elastin?

Because elastin and collagen are closely linked, boosting collagen activity ultimately has an overlap with elastin to keep the skin flexible and supported. Fibroblasts are the cells that make collagen, and it takes specific necessary elements like  amino acids, vitamin c, zinc and copper for fibroblasts to get working to produce collagen fibres. Choosing skincare formulas that contain all components is key. 

Protecting the skin against free radical damage is paramount for both proteins, so including topical antioxidant rich skincare is vital. Examples are polyphenols, vitamin A, C and E.

A daily SPF is a non-negotiable, whilst incorporating healthy lifestyle habits like non-smoking, increasing H2o and including a nutritional healthy daily diet, add up in helping to slow down collagen and elastin depletion to keep your skin supple and supported.