What is elastin?

Recently we brought you an article all about collagen. Collagen is a substance that is found around the body, including the face, and helps to provide structure and stability, as well as volume. But this works in partnership with another substance known as elastin. So what is the role of elastin? And how does the natural ageing process effect elastin? Well, here at The Skin and Wellbeing Clinic, we are Preston’s leading facial treatment providers. From anti-wrinkle injections to dermal fillers, chemical peels to mesotherapy, we provide a range of high quality, effective anti-ageing treatments, administered by qualified, registered professionals. As a result, we have produced this guide to everything you should know about elastin.

So, first of all, what exactly is elastin? Well, elastin is a substance that occurs naturally in the body alongside collagen. It is a protein that can be found throughout any and all connective tissue, adding elasticity and resilience.

Why is elastin so important?

So, why is this substance so important? And what kind of difference does it make to our appearance? Well, elastin is crucial for allowing our tissue to stretch and then rebound back into position. This occurs thanks to the way elastin molecules are structured, as these can be stretched out, and then bounce back, just like a rubber band. This is something that happens many times a day, whenever we frown or smile, or make any kind of facial expression.

Elastin and ageing

The natural ageing process can take its toll on elastin cells, that can become damaged over time due to wear and tear and natural degradation. This means that the skin will no longer be as capable of bouncing back into position, and this causes the formation of lines and wrinkles, particularly around the eyes, forehead and mouth.

Elastin and other environmental factors

It’s not just ageing that can have a negative effect on elastin. Other lifestyle habits and environmental factors also play a role, including:

Smoking – smoking can seriously damage blood vessels, which means that these can deliver less nutrients and oxygen, to your skin, causing elastin to break down more quickly. The act of smoking itself also causes your lips to pucker, and over time, this will lead to wear and tear of the elastin around your mouth, causing lines and wrinkles to develop.

UV – Too much sun, without proper sun protection and UV protection can damage your elastin, as well as other cells in your skin tissue.

Elastin and collagen

Elastin and collagen work in combination across your face to provide effective movement and structure. As part of the ageing process, you will start to lose both of these substances, as the body slows down or halts production altogether. That’s why anti-ageing treatments are so popular.

Elastin and Anti-wrinkle injections.

For treating the effects of elastin loss, and preventing this loss from occurring, anti-wrinkle injections, or Botox, can be the most efficient solution. This is because these injections will temporarily relax the muscle and the tissue that control facial movement in particular areas. This means that forming expressions will be more challenging, as the muscles are in a very relaxed state. This allows the skin to repair and reset, smoothing out areas of lines and wrinkles.

In terms of prevention, anti-wrinkle injections can dramatically reduce the amount of time you use the elastin, which means that wear and tear will not be as much of an issue, and as a result, wrinkles can be avoided altogether.

For professional, high quality anti-wrinkle injections, why not book an appointment today, here at the Skin and Wellbeing Clinic?