How Collagen and Elastin Work in Your Body to Keep You Looking Youthful

To a large extent, looking youthful depends on what’s going on under the surface of your skin as much as what’s happening that the eye can see. Two key proteins — collagen and elastin — play a big role here. These provide the scaffolding and elasticity that help to keep your skin taut and smooth over time.

Through the years, though, your body makes less of these proteins. The result? Visible aging. That’s why, here at LH Spa & Rejuvenation in Livingston and Madison, New Jersey, Robert M. Olson, MD and our team provide a variety of services to stimulate collagen and elastin production.

To help you understand what these treatments can do, let’s explore how these proteins work.

Collagen and elastin 101

Your body has at least 28 different types of collagen. These proteins serve a wide variety of functions, from covering certain organs to helping your blood clot. When it comes to your skin, collagen carries a heavy load. It helps your body replace dead skin cells with new ones. It also provides the structure and elasticity your skin needs to move with you throughout the day.

Elastin functions somewhat similarly. As its name suggests, it plays a large role in keeping things elastic. While it supports stretching throughout your tissues and organs, it also helps your skin. Because it’s much stretchier than collagen, it enables your skin to stretch, then quickly snap back into position.

At least, that’s a look at how both collagen and elastin function when your body has plenty of these proteins. But your system’s natural production of both of them declines with age. As you lose the support collagen provides and the elasticity from elastin, you get wrinkles and skin laxity. In other words, you look older.

Stimulating the production of these proteins

Fortunately, even though your body may not naturally make as much elastin and collagen as you age, you can take steps to tick up the production of these proteins.

In fact, here at LH Spa & Rejuvenation, Dr. Olson and our team offer a variety of ways to increase your skin’s ability to make collagen and elastin. Some of the best treatments to stimulate the production of these proteins include:

Here at our offices, Dr. Olson and our team can evaluate your unique skin and create a personalized treatment plan for you. With one or more of the options on this list, we can stimulate your skin to make more collagen and elastin, helping you defy aging through the years.

To get started, call the LH Spa & Rejuvenation office nearest you.