The Role of Collagen and Elastin in Your Skin

That smooth, firm, and seemingly flawless skin of youth is mainly due to collagen and elastin. Your body produces these two crucial proteins naturally, but levels tend to decline as you age.

Dr. Gerard Acloque and our team at Florida Concierge Medicine & Wellness in Hollywood, Florida, specialize in a variety of primary care services. We also offer high-end nonsurgical medical aesthetics therapies targeted at restoring your skin’s youthful appearance by enhancing natural collagen and elastin production.

What are collagen and elastin?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body, making up approximately one-third of its total protein content. 

Predominantly found in your skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments, it acts as a “glue” or scaffolding that holds your body together.

Elastin is the protein that gives your skin its elasticity, allowing it to return to its original position when poked, pinched, or otherwise stretched out of shape.

Understanding the role of collagen and elastin in skin health

Collagen provides your skin with structure, firmness, and strength. It creates a supportive scaffolding for skin cells, ensuring it looks plump and youthful. Collagen also promotes skin hydration, as it naturally holds on to water molecules, thereby preventing dryness and wrinkles.

Elastin, on the other hand, is responsible for your skin's flexibility and resilience. Found in the skin’s dermis (middle) layer, it allows your skin to stretch and bounce back to its original shape, preventing sagging, fine lines, and wrinkles. A decrease in elastin causes wrinkles and skin that looks loose and saggy.

As we age, our bodies produce less collagen and elastin. This decrease begins as early as our 20s and continues progressively, leading to visible signs of aging like wrinkles, fine lines, dull skin tone, sagging skin, and a roughened texture.

External factors, like sun exposure, smoking, pollution, and a poor diet, further accelerate the process, causing premature skin aging.

Boosting collagen and elastin production

While a natural decline in collagen and elastin production is inevitable, there are ways to stimulate the natural production of these vital proteins.

For instance, skin care products containing ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, peptides, and hyaluronic acid may boost collagen production while stimulating collagen and elastin synthesis. Notably, medical-grade products typically offer a higher level of correction than over-the-counter skin care regimens.

Many dermal fillers also contain collagen that, once injected into the skin, helps plump the skin and smooth away fine lines and wrinkles.

Additionally, Dr. Acloque may suggest radiofrequency microneedling with the Secret™ Pro Radiofrequency Microneedling system. This advanced platform uses targeted energy and tiny needles to stimulate new collagen growth beneath the skin.

You may also benefit from fractional CO2 laser treatments with the Secret™ Pro Fractional CO2 system to reduce common skin imperfections and create healthier, flawless skin without invasive treatment.

Dr. Acloque can also provide guidelines for a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and amino acids to support collagen and elastin production. Bone broth, fish, citrus fruits, berries, green leafy vegetables, and nuts are excellent dietary sources of the nutrients your body needs to produce collagen.

Because UV radiation breaks down collagen and elastin fibers, protecting your skin from the Florida sun with regular sunscreen use and protective clothing can also help.

Schedule an evaluation at Florida Concierge Medicine & Wellness today to learn more about our medical aesthetic services. Call our office or request an appointment online.