Skin Elasticity

Skin elasticity is the ability of the skin to stretch and return to its original shape. It is a measure of the skin’s resilience and firmness. Good skin elasticity is important if you want to have youthful and healthy looking complexion. In a way skin elasticity can help you look younger than your age. But as we age the skin becomes less resilient and develops wrinkles and fine lines.

This can be prevented by taking steps to improve skin elasticity. But before finding solutions to this problem it is important to know what will happen if your skin loses elasticity.

Effects of loss of elasticity on the skin

The first problem that you will encounter when your skin starts to lose elasticity is that it will become saggy. This will be more visible in areas like the jawline, neck and under-eye area.

Now since your skin has become loose and saggy there is a good chance that it will develop wrinkles and fine lines. This will happen in the areas which are susceptible to repetitive movements like eyes or mouth.

Loss of elasticity also means that you will get age spots as your skin will lose the ability to regenerate and repair itself. With the loss in elasticity the skin will be more and more susceptible to damages such as cuts and bruises. Loss of elasticity can also make the skin dull in complexion.

Now since we know the effects that losing skin elasticity can have on your skin, let us look at the possible reasons behind the loss. This will help us to design a plan to reduce the loss of elasticity.

Reasons behind loss in skin elasticity

As we age our skin loses its elasticity, resilience and ability to regenerate. This results in saggy skin. Exposure to the suns UV rays can also cause skin damage. This will lead to loss of elasticity and premature aging. Smoking also is to be blamed for loss in skin elasticity.

Stress is another reason behind most signs of aging. When we stress a hormone called cortisol is secreted. This can cause the skin to breakdown and become less elastic. A diet that is lacking in vitamins and nutrients can contribute to skin damage and loss of elasticity.

Dehydrated skin can also become less elastic and more susceptible to wrinkles and fine lines. Genetics also plays its role in loss of skin elasticity. Some people are genetically predisposed to skin that is less elastic.

The above are the reasons behind loss in skin elasticity. Now since we know the reasons behind skin losing elasticity, we can come up with effective solutions to deal with it.

How to maintain skin elasticity?

The first step that you can take to improve skin elasticity is to use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF of at least 30. Use it whenever you move out of your house. Re apply it after every two hours of staying out. Also avoid going out in the sun during the afternoons as the suns UV rays are very intense during this time of the day.

Quitting smoking is another step that can help you to improve skin elasticity.

Another step that you can take to maintain skin elasticity is to keep your body and skin hydrated. When the skin is dehydrated skin becomes dry and less elastic. Drinking more than 8 glasses of water eating foods that have high water content like cucumber and watermelon can improve the water content in your skin. This will improve skin elasticity.

Additionally using a moisturizer once a day will also trap water in the skin and maintain its hydration levels. Try to find a moisturizer that suits your skin type. Apply moisturizer after cleansing your face with a facial cleanser.

The final step to take to improve skin elasticity is to eat fruits that will improve skin elasticity. We have a list of foods for you and why they can help to make your skin flexible.

First thing to add to your diet are citrus fruits. These are rich in vitamin C and will help boost production of collagen and elastin. Examples of such fruits are oranges and lemons. Dark leafy vegetables like spinach and kale are rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals. This can protect your skin from the damage done by the suns UV rays.

Fatty fish which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids can keep the skin hydrated and improve skin elasticity. A good example of fatty fish is salmon. Nuts and seeds like almonds, chia seeds and flaxseeds are rich in healthy fats and vitamins that can improve skin health.

Avocados are known to keep the skin hydrated. So consuming them will improve skin elasticity. Berries are rich in anti-oxidants that can help to protect the skin from damage and improve skin health.

You can improve skin elasticity by consuming the above foods.

In conclusion

Skin elasticity is important if you want to look younger than your age. You can improve it by using sunscreen, improving hydration levels of your skin, quitting smoking and eating proper diet.