How to Improve Skin Elasticity

Maybe you’ve noticed that when you apply makeup or you pull on your facial skin, it doesn’t quite bounce back the way it used to.  As we age, it becomes less likely that our skin will be as resilient as when we were younger. This is because you are gradually losing the natural plumpness in your skin due to a reduction of two major structural proteins – collagen and elastin. 

Skin elasticity is the skin’s ability to stretch and snap back to its original shape. Loss of elastin is known as elastosis. When this happens, you are likely to notice your skin appearing saggy, crinkled, or leathery. 

Believe it or not, you begin losing a certain amount of collagen production as young as your early twenties.  In fact, you lose about 1 percent of your collagen production every year after the age of 20, and much more following menopause, according to Dr. Sheila Farhang, a board-certified dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon and founder of Avant Dermatology & Aesthetics. The elastin in your skin also decreases with age, which leads to crepey and sagging skin. 

While there is no such thing as eternal youth, you can strive for a more youthful complexion by taking certain measures to improve the elasticity of your skin or maintain more elasticity for a longer period of time. 

Here are eight skin-care practices and general actions to take that are designed to protect and improve your skin’s elasticity. 

10 Ways to Improve Your Skin’s Elasticity 

1) Retinol & Retinoids

Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A, and is typically found in over-the-counter (OTC) skin-care products that include eye serums and facial creams. Retinol has ingredients in anti-aging skin care. 

Retinol is known to increase collagen and elastin levels in your skin. It also plays a role in helping skin cell turnover.  What’s more, there is plenty of evidence pointing to topical retinol, combined with vitamin C, being effective at replenishing skin elasticity. 

2) Hyaluronic Acid

As you age, your levels of hyaluronic acid become depleted. You gradually lose this substance through the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) ray exposure and the process of aging. 

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found mostly in the skin’s connective tissue. It is responsible for maintaining moisture and keeping your skin lubricated. When you use serums or creams fortified with hyaluronic acid, you could be assisting the skin in regaining some of its natural elasticity.  You also have the option of taking supplements containing hyaluronic acid to boost your skin’s elasticity. 

3) Chemical Peels

Chemical peeling is an in-office treatment that involves chemicals such as glycolic acid or lactic acid that will resurface and revitalize your skin. There are three types of chemical peeling procedures. They are light, medium, and deep. 

Chemical peels are effective in increasing skin elasticity and collagen production. It has also been found to combat photoaging. 

4) Antioxidant-Rich Foods & Other Healthy Foods

There are certain foods that have been found to replenish the skin’s elasticity. They include greens, green tea, berries, fatty fish, cantaloupe, almonds, walnuts, pecans, broccoli, citrus fruits and kale. In general, consuming antioxidant-rich foods can play an especially important role in boosting the skin’s elasticity. 

These foods are also known to improve your skin’s health. 

5) Collagen Supplements

There is evidence to suggest that collagen – a protein found in the skin’s connective tissue – can be absorbed through the gut and make its way to the skin through the bloodstream. 

In one small study that involved people taking collagen peptides, along with vitamin C, Hibiscus Sabdariffa extract, and Aristotelia Chilensis extract, these study participants experienced a substantial improvement in skin elasticity and firmness, beginning at four weeks. 

Another study concluded that participants benefited from an increase in skin elasticity after consuming a nutritional drink containing collagen and other ingredients that included hyaluronic acid. 

Because a variety of ingredients were used in these studies, the correlation between collagen supplements and increased skin elasticity is not conclusive, but more anecdotal.

6) Cocoa Flavanols

If you love dark chocolate, then you will enjoy this method for increasing your skin’s elasticity. One study showed that daily intake of cocoa flavanols, which is a compound in chocolate, improves skin elasticity. Cocoa flavanols are naturally occurring, dietary flavonoids found in the cocoa bean. 

Some chocolate is not infused with enough cocoa flavanols to obtain this effect. Search for chocolate that contains approximately 320 milligrams of cocoa flavanols, the same amount used in the aforementioned study. 

7) Genistein Isoflavones

Genistein, a type of soybean isoflavone, is a phytoestrogen. Phytoestrogens are plant-derived compounds that work similarly in the body as estrogen. 

Genistein was found in some studies to boost elasticity in skin when taken orally. It is possible that it could improve the quality of skin when applied topically, as well. More studies are necessary to obtain conclusive evidence as to Genistein’s effectiveness in increasing skin elasticity. 

8) Laser Treatments

There is one study that examined the effectiveness of combining two laser therapy techniques. They were non-ablative fractional laser (NAFL) and intense pulsed light therapy (IPL), that were performed on the same day to the study’s participants. 

These procedures were found to have positive effects on improving the quality of skin, including bringing about more skin tone and an increase in the production of collagen. What’s more, this study showed that the combination of these two therapies led to a substantial increase in skin elasticity and tone. 

9) Use Sunscreen

Sunscreen has been proven to help prevent premature skin aging. In fact, some dermatologists recommend covering your skin with sunscreen on a regular basis. 

“It’s crucial for protecting your skin from UV damage,” says Dr. Sheila Farhang. 

“Sunscreen is the number one studied anti-aging ingredient.  It may not seem glamorous, but without sunscreen, any of the other products you are using will be counteracted by the damage from UV light exposure,” explains Dr. Mamina Turegano, a Louisiana-based triple board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist. 

10)   Get Enough Sleep

It is during the night that your skin regenerates. So, if you don’t have an adequate amount of sleep, you are denying your skin the time it needs to repair itself, according to dermatological nurse and celebrity aesthetician, Natalie Aguilar.   

Poor sleep also contributes to the breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers, which leads to sagging skin. The National Sleep Foundation suggests getting seven to nine hours of restful sleep per night for adults. 

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