Everybody wants to keep their skin healthy, smooth, and radiant. Unfortunately, we all inevitably lose skin elasticity over time for a variety of reasons.
Whether it is age-related, influenced by the environment, or caused by harsh skincare products – you can still reverse some of the damage and keep your skin firm, supple, and glowing.
This article explains why skin loses its elasticity over time and provides practical advice on how to restore it.
Reasons for Loss of Skin Elasticity
Here are the 15 main reasons for the loss of skin elasticity.
1. Aging
Aging is a natural process we cannot avoid. Over time we start losing collagen and elastin, the two proteins responsible for skin elasticity. Luckily, there are ways to prevent premature skin aging and preserve some of skin’s firmness and glow.
Note: Read our post Collagen vs. Elastin: What Are the Differences? to find out why these two proteins are so important and what makes them different.
Specially formulated products can help reverse some age-related damage, rejuvenate the skin, and remove age spots. Additionally, you can try out popular anti-aging treatments, such as PDO threading, to lift sagging skin and rebuild lost collagen.
Note: Read this article if you want to know when to start using anti-aging products.
2. Sun Exposure and Tanning
The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are a leading cause of premature skin aging and also a contributing factor to serious medical conditions, such as skin cancer. Ultraviolet radiation, be it from the sun or tanning beds, damages the DNA in skin cells, breaking down collagen and elastin fibers. As a result, skin becomes crepey, with fine lines, wrinkles, and a rough texture. To prevent further damage and keep your skin healthy and safe, apply sunscreen products on a daily basis.
Note: Find out how to choose a sunscreen to protect your skin.
3. Smoking
Nicotine constricts blood vessels, preventing oxygen and nutrients from nourishing skin cells close to the surface. Tobacco also inhibits the activity of fibroblasts, the cells responsible for collagen production.
Smokers are more prone to developing early fine lines and wrinkles because their skin gets dry and crinkly due to collagen deficiency. Taking supplements, such as Elevate, can significantly improve skin health and stimulate collagen production but the best solution is to quit smoking entirely.
Note: Learn about the benefits of collagen for the skin and how to maintain adequate levels of the skin’s primary building block.
4. Insufficient Sleep
Chronic sleep deprivation disrupts the production of collagen and inhibits the skin’s ability to repair itself, affecting its structure and elasticity. Poor sleep habits slowly break down the outer barrier, resulting in skin that is thin, pale, and lackluster.
Improving your sleep is not only essential for beauty but also has a beneficial effect on your overall physical and mental wellbeing.
5. Dehydration
Water is an essential component for maintaining healthy, resilient skin. Inadequate fluid intake, excessive sweating and urination, too much alcohol or caffeine can cause serious dehydration, leading to dull, dry, and flaky skin. Drinking water flushes out toxins, increases the blood flow, promoting better oxygenation and delivery of nutrients, keeping you healthy within and without.
Note: Rehydration is one of the benefits that IV therapy offers.
6. Poor Diet
A balanced diet packed with essential micronutrients supports healthy-looking skin from inside out. Lack of vitamins and minerals can produce a dull complexion, saggy skin, and a rough texture.
Moreover, a diet rich in refined carbohydrates triggers spikes in sugar leading to glycation, a process in which excess glucose in skin fibers attaches itself to collagen and elastin proteins. Glycation causes collagen to become rigid and the skin to lose elasticity. Additionally, glycation can kickstart inflammation, worsening acne, eczema and psoriasis.
Note: One of the benefits of chia seeds for the skin include increased collagen production.
7. Hormonal Shifts
Hormonal fluctuations impact skin quality, causing hormonal imbalance acne, dry skin or loss of elasticity. Hormonal imbalances are caused by multiple factors, including lifestyle choices, medical conditions, and life phases.
During menopause and right after childbirth estrogen levels decrease, damaging elastin fibers that keep the skin firm, supple and taut. As a result, the skin loses its smoothness and natural oils, causing an increase in fine lines and wrinkles.
Note: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can reverse aging signs caused by hormonal fluctuations. Read more about anti-aging hormone therapy.
8. Medical Conditions
Autoimmune disorders and chronic medical conditions increase inflammation in the body, affecting the structure and function of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid in the dermis. This can cause so-called inflammageing (inflammation-triggered premature aging) that results in wrinkly, dry, or saggy skin.
Note: Learn about the ways to reduce inflammation to improve your health and restore the skin’s natural elasticity and firmness.
9. Inappropriate Skincare Products
Applying skincare products with harsh, irritating ingredients, as well as overusing exfoliants (scrubs or chemical peels), retinoids and cleansers, can seriously damage the skin.
Everyone’s skin is different and reacts differently to the ingredients in skincare products. That is why it is important to read the labels and use products that are free from harsh ingredients that place stress on the skin. Before using a new product, it is a good idea to perform a patch test, to remove the risk of a bad reaction.
Note: Take a look at our ultimate skin care guide, where we provide recommendations for every skin type.
10. Environmental Pollutants
Environmental toxins, such as air pollution, heavy metals, or cigarette smoke, degrade the skin’s elasticity through continual oxidative stress. These pollutants generate free radicals, highly reactive molecules that break down the collagen and damage cells.
Going on a skin detox is a good way to combat environmental damage through deep cleansing of built-up toxins, dirt, and pollutants. Another way to support the health of your skin is with Osmosis MD Skin Defense, a detox supplement aimed at removing heavy metals, pesticides, plastics, and food preservatives from the body.
Note: For more product recommendations and tips, read our guide to anti-pollution skin care.
11. Weight Oscillations
Excess weight stretches the skin, which becomes loose and saggy when you drop a few pounds. This is especially true if the weight fluctuations are sudden or rapid. Over time, the skin loses its natural ability to retract and regain its original firmness.
Skin experts suggest using resveratrol, a potent antioxidant that can increase collagen production by stimulating fibroblasts, the cells responsible for building connective tissue.
Note: If you are struggling to lose weight, schedule a weight loss therapy consultation to discuss treatment options and explore weight loss strategies that address your particular situation.
12. Chronic Stress
Chronic stress elevates cortisol levels which can wreak havoc on your skin in multiple ways. While some people have acne due to excess sebum production, others are prone to developing dry skin that can’t retain water and loses elasticity.
Stress can further exacerbate certain skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), damaging the skin’s protective skin barrier and its overall resilience.
Stress management techniques, such as meditation or breathing exercises, can alleviate some of the symptoms and help you restore your natural glow.
Note: Read about 13 ways to treat eczema naturally and restore skin’s protective function.
13. Lack of Exercise
Regular physical activity improves circulation, resulting in well-oxygenated skin that looks plump, firm, and fresh. Lack of exercise decreases blood flow, leading to insufficiently nourished, pale, and saggy skin. Furthermore, under-exercised muscles atrophy over time and are unable to support the skin and maintain its firmness.
Movement also helps flush out the toxins from the body through lymphatic drainage. If you wish to keep your skin healthy, toxin-free and elastic you should include regular physical exercise in your daily routine.
Note: Find out how can lymphatic drainage massage help you restore skin elasticity.
14. Alcohol
Excessive alcohol consumption builds up toxins and dehydrates the body, causing gradual loss of skin elasticity. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it triggers frequent urination, depleting the body of water and essential nutrients necessary for skin health, elasticity, and firmness.
Skin experts recommend moderate alcohol intake or abstaining completely for best results.
Note: Osmosis MD Hangover Relief Elixir is a healthy alcohol detox supplement supporting you on your journey to better-looking skin.
15. Genetics
While you cannot change your genetic make-up, you can certainly learn how to make the most of it. Understanding your skin type and what you are genetically prone to – wrinkles, acne, dry skin – can postpone the effects of premature skin aging.
If you notice your skin is losing its natural elasticity, schedule an appointment for some preventative Botox. Regardless of your genetic predispositions, there is still a lot you can do to improve your skin quality.
Conclusion
Loss of skin elasticity is inevitable but there are ways to slow down the process and minimize the negative effects. Changing your skincare routine and incorporating top-quality products and treatments can go a long way in rebuilding some of the lost collagen.
If you want to find out more on what helps skin elasticity, make sure to read our article and learn what are the effective tips and tricks.
Check out the best facials in Phoenix and reach out to us if you have any further questions.
