What is elastin and what role does it play in maintaining skin health?
Posted by Ivatherm
Elastin is an essential protein in the extracellular matrix, which provides elasticity and strength to tissues.
The body endogenously (naturally) produces elastin, but the production of this protein decreases with age. A well-balanced diet provides the body with the ingredients it needs to help the body produce elastin naturally.
Elastin and collagen are the main structural protein components of the skin and work together to maintain skin health. However, there are some significant differences between the two proteins. First, elastin is approximately a thousand times more flexible than collagen. Damage or inflammation of elastin fibers in the skin can lead to the development of skin conditions.
Table of Contents
What is elastin?
Elastin is a protein and a major constituent of elastic fibers. These make up the connective tissue, which, in turn, supports, protects, and provides structure to other tissues and organs. Connective tissue forms the extracellular matrix (a network of fibrous proteins that exist outside the cell membrane).
Elastin is one of the most abundant proteins in the body. It is an elastic protein, similar to a rubber band: it can stretch and then shrink back to its original shape.
Elastin is a key protein of the extracellular matrix, which provides strength and elasticity to tissues and organs. It is the dominant protein in extensible tissues and is primarily present in the lungs, aorta, and skin. Mutations in the elastin gene can lead to diseases such as Williams syndrome, cutis laxa, and supravalvular aortic stenosis.
Elastin is found in:
skin;
blood vessels;
heart tissue;
lung tissue;
elastic cartilage;
tendons (connective tissue that connects muscle to bone);
ligaments (connective tissue that connects bones).
How is elastin formed?
Proteins are composed of amino acids. The main amino acids that make up elastin are proline, glycine, desmosine, and isodesmosine. These are grouped into short, repeating sequences of three to nine amino acids that create strong and flexible structures.
Elastin is synthesized from a molecule called tropoelastin. Many small tropoelastin molecules combine to form elastin.
Elastogenesis, the process of elastin formation, mainly occurs during fetal and early neonatal development of organs.
What is the role of elastin?
The primary function of elastin is to allow the tissues in the human body to stretch and recoil. Thus, it gives elasticity to tissues.
Elastin is the main component of elastic fibers. Optimal synthesis, as well as good organization and integration of elastic fibers with other extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans, are essential for maintaining the structure, function, and youthful appearance of healthy skin.
With age and exposure to various harmful factors, elastic fibers degrade. This degradation contributes to the loss of the skin's structural integrity, which, associated with the loss of subcutaneous fat, leads to undesirable changes in appearance (sagging skin, fine lines, wrinkles).
Elastin also gives arteries elastic characteristics that facilitate the heart's pumping of blood. Arteries are tube-shaped blood vessels that carry blood from the heart throughout the body.
Last but not least, elastin allows the lungs to function optimally. When we inhale, the diaphragm contracts (tightens). The lungs create energy as they contract, and the elastic tissues in the lungs store that energy. When we exhale, the energy in the lungs is released as the lungs recoil (return to their original shape).
Elastin and collagen
Collagen and elastin are both proteins found in connective tissue. However, they differ in structure and function.
Collagen is a fibrous protein, accounting for one-third of the proteins in the human body and is abundantly found in the extracellular matrix. There are 16 different types of collagen, all with different structures and functions, but only three of them (types I, II, and III) form regular fibers. In the dermis, collagen molecules form a fibrous network around cells called fibroblasts, which are the most common cells and synthesize the cellular matrix and collagen. Fibroblasts play a significant role in wound healing.
Elastin, like collagen, is an important protein in the extracellular matrix of the dermis. It is present in the form of long, flexible fibers. Unlike collagen, elastin fibers do not show pronounced hierarchical organization and constantly change shape.
Collagen fibers themselves are not elastic, but the movement between them gives elasticity to the tissue. The main role of collagen is to provide structure, strength, firmness, and support to the body.
Although elastin also provides, to some extent, rigidity to the body, its main function is to make tissues elastic, being about a thousand times more flexible than collagen.
Both proteins contribute to the firm and supple appearance of the skin. With age, collagen breaks down, and elastin weakens, just like a rubber band that has been stretched too many times. For this reason, it is recommended to use cosmetic products that supplement or support collagen and elastin in the skin.
Try Ivatherm's first food supplement!
Ivatherm's first beauty food supplement contains elastin and collagen peptides obtained from protected, safe, and sustainable sources, visibly reducing wrinkles in 28 days.
Collagen Elastin contains marine collagen and elastin peptides, L-lysine, an essential amino acid that contributes to the synthesis and stabilization of the collagen network, natural vitamin C from Acerola, which has strong antioxidant properties and contributes to collagen synthesis, and zinc, a mineral with an antioxidant role for the skin.
Collagen and elastin peptides are obtained from wild fish skin, from Boulogne-sur-Mer, a picturesque town in Northern France, through enzymatic hydrolysis, a completely natural method by which proteins are cleaved into smaller peptides, without resorting to chemical solvents. The ideal proportion of collagen and elastin peptides with a small molecular weight, similar to that in human skin, enhances the absorption and effectiveness of the product, ensuring increased bioavailability.
The Ivatherm food supplement is part of the IvaRG range, a regenerating range that prevents and corrects the signs of aging.
Measures to maintain tissue elasticity
Levels of elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid gradually decrease with age and prolonged sun exposure, leading to loss of structural integrity and skin elasticity.
Sagging skin, fine lines, wrinkles, sensitivity, and changes in skin tone and texture are some of the consequences of the aging process.
The most severe changes in elastic fibers occur in skin prolonged exposed to the sun and photodamaged. While there are numerous solutions for improving collagen and hyaluronic acid levels in the skin, no treatments have yet been identified for increasing elastin levels, but scientists are studying how to stimulate the production of this essential protein for the body.
Elasticity is considered a marker of overall skin health, and elastin production is fundamental for the strength of tissues and organs. Current treatments aim to preserve endogenous elastin in the skin.
Intrinsic factors, namely the natural aging process, and extrinsic or environmental factors, such as pollution and ultraviolet rays, contribute to the decrease in elastin production. However, there are some measures that can prevent the deterioration of elastic fibers.
Adopting an effective skin care routine
Skin care routine is essential for maintaining healthy skin for as long as possible. Therefore, it is advisable to consistently follow all skin care steps: cleansing, moisturizing, sun protection, and exfoliation. Although elastin production cannot be accelerated, there are certain ingredients that can maintain high levels of this protein.
Serums and moisturizers containing ferulic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and help repair damaged skin cells. Also, some studies suggest that ingredients such as retinoland peptides could help preserve endogenous elastic fibers.
Add to your daily skin care routine:
ivaRG Regenerating day cream SPF30 – helps diminish fine lines, wrinkles, and pigment spots, as it contains ingredients that combat oxidative stress at the cellular level, and helps the skin maintain or regain its firmness and luminosity by stimulating the synthesis of hyaluronic acid and collagen.
ivaRG Regenerating night cream – contains Granactive Retinoid 2%, low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, shea butter, Lactobacillus Ferment, and Herculane thermal water, ingredients that act on the signs of aging, even out skin tone, and correct age spots.
ivaRG Regenerating eye contour cream – is formulated to diminish fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen and elastin synthesis, and also to reduce dark circles and under-eye bags by improving microcirculation.
Avoiding prolonged sun exposure
Ultraviolet rays are among the factors that lead to premature skin aging. Specialists recommend applying products with sun protection factor (SPF) every day, avoiding sun exposure between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM when ultraviolet rays are stronger, and using clothing accessories to protect the skin (wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, long pants, long-sleeved shirts).
Adopting a healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, sufficient rest, and a low stress level. Cortisol, the stress hormone, can contribute to the degradation of the extracellular matrix, implicitly to the decrease in elastin production. Therefore, it is necessary to keep stress levels under control with the help of relaxation techniques. Yoga, meditation, reading, cooking, hiking are some of the ways to reduce stress levels.
Also, exercise helps reduce oxidative stress and stimulate blood circulation, increasing the flow of oxygen and nutrients, which helps maintain healthy skin.
At the same time, diet can influence elastin in the body. Antioxidant consumption can provide an additional layer of protection against oxidative stress, which is responsible for the loss of skin elasticity. Many foods can help maintain elastin and collagen levels in the skin, including citrus fruits, berries, fatty fish, and nuts.
Quitting vices
Nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes accelerate the skin's aging process. Smoking is one of the vices that deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients. Quitting smoking helps maintain skin elasticity and reduce the risk of developing fine lines and wrinkles.
Conditions that influence endogenous elastin levels
Genetically acquired connective tissue abnormalities can cause diseases associated with loss of skin elasticity. At the same time, certain conditions acquired throughout life can influence elastin levels.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or cutis laxa – is a genetic condition characterized by defective elastin metabolism and abnormal elastic fibers, which makes the skin loose and lacking elasticity.
Atherosclerosis – is a condition characterized by the accumulation of plaque inside the arteries, which narrows the arteries and can lead to blood clots, heart attacks, or strokes. Several studies on atherosclerosis have shown a decrease in heterogeneous elastin in the arteries.
Supravalvular aortic stenosis – is a heart defect that can develop before birth and causes narrowing of the aorta. A mutation in the elastin gene is one of the causes of supravalvular aortic stenosis.
Williams syndrome – is a rare neurodevelopmental genetic disorder caused by the absence of the gene that produces elastin synthesis.
Emphysema – is a lung condition that usually develops after several years of smoking. Elastin in the lungs breaks down and specific symptoms appear, such as shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and fatigue.
Elastin is a protein that the body produces naturally. It provides strength and elasticity to the skin and many other organs. With age, the amount of endogenous elastin decreases, but with a balanced diet, we can maintain an appropriate level of this protein. At the same time, exercise and an adequate skin care routine contribute to maintaining elastin in the body.
Conținutul IvaStories este creat de echipa Ivatherm, brand romanesc de dermatocosmetice fondat de Dr. Rucsandra Hurezeanu. Produsele Ivatherm sunt formulate cu Apă Termală Herculane și sunt testate dermatologic, recomandate de medici specialiști.
What is elastin and what role does it play in maintaining skin health?
Elastin is an essential protein in the extracellular matrix, which provides elasticity and strength to tissues.
The body endogenously (naturally) produces elastin, but the production of this protein decreases with age. A well-balanced diet provides the body with the ingredients it needs to help the body produce elastin naturally.
Elastin and collagen are the main structural protein components of the skin and work together to maintain skin health. However, there are some significant differences between the two proteins. First, elastin is approximately a thousand times more flexible than collagen. Damage or inflammation of elastin fibers in the skin can lead to the development of skin conditions.
Table of Contents
What is elastin?
Elastin is a protein and a major constituent of elastic fibers. These make up the connective tissue, which, in turn, supports, protects, and provides structure to other tissues and organs. Connective tissue forms the extracellular matrix (a network of fibrous proteins that exist outside the cell membrane).
Elastin is one of the most abundant proteins in the body. It is an elastic protein, similar to a rubber band: it can stretch and then shrink back to its original shape.
Elastin is a key protein of the extracellular matrix, which provides strength and elasticity to tissues and organs. It is the dominant protein in extensible tissues and is primarily present in the lungs, aorta, and skin. Mutations in the elastin gene can lead to diseases such as Williams syndrome, cutis laxa, and supravalvular aortic stenosis.
Elastin is found in:
How is elastin formed?
Proteins are composed of amino acids. The main amino acids that make up elastin are proline, glycine, desmosine, and isodesmosine. These are grouped into short, repeating sequences of three to nine amino acids that create strong and flexible structures.
Elastin is synthesized from a molecule called tropoelastin. Many small tropoelastin molecules combine to form elastin.
Elastogenesis, the process of elastin formation, mainly occurs during fetal and early neonatal development of organs.
What is the role of elastin?
The primary function of elastin is to allow the tissues in the human body to stretch and recoil. Thus, it gives elasticity to tissues.
Elastin is the main component of elastic fibers. Optimal synthesis, as well as good organization and integration of elastic fibers with other extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans, are essential for maintaining the structure, function, and youthful appearance of healthy skin.
With age and exposure to various harmful factors, elastic fibers degrade. This degradation contributes to the loss of the skin's structural integrity, which, associated with the loss of subcutaneous fat, leads to undesirable changes in appearance (sagging skin, fine lines, wrinkles).
Elastin also gives arteries elastic characteristics that facilitate the heart's pumping of blood. Arteries are tube-shaped blood vessels that carry blood from the heart throughout the body.
Last but not least, elastin allows the lungs to function optimally. When we inhale, the diaphragm contracts (tightens). The lungs create energy as they contract, and the elastic tissues in the lungs store that energy. When we exhale, the energy in the lungs is released as the lungs recoil (return to their original shape).
Elastin and collagen
Collagen and elastin are both proteins found in connective tissue. However, they differ in structure and function.
Collagen is a fibrous protein, accounting for one-third of the proteins in the human body and is abundantly found in the extracellular matrix. There are 16 different types of collagen, all with different structures and functions, but only three of them (types I, II, and III) form regular fibers. In the dermis, collagen molecules form a fibrous network around cells called fibroblasts, which are the most common cells and synthesize the cellular matrix and collagen. Fibroblasts play a significant role in wound healing.
Elastin, like collagen, is an important protein in the extracellular matrix of the dermis. It is present in the form of long, flexible fibers. Unlike collagen, elastin fibers do not show pronounced hierarchical organization and constantly change shape.
Collagen fibers themselves are not elastic, but the movement between them gives elasticity to the tissue. The main role of collagen is to provide structure, strength, firmness, and support to the body.
Although elastin also provides, to some extent, rigidity to the body, its main function is to make tissues elastic, being about a thousand times more flexible than collagen.
Both proteins contribute to the firm and supple appearance of the skin. With age, collagen breaks down, and elastin weakens, just like a rubber band that has been stretched too many times. For this reason, it is recommended to use cosmetic products that supplement or support collagen and elastin in the skin.
Try Ivatherm's first food supplement!
Ivatherm's first beauty food supplement contains elastin and collagen peptides obtained from protected, safe, and sustainable sources, visibly reducing wrinkles in 28 days.
Collagen and elastin peptides are obtained from wild fish skin, from Boulogne-sur-Mer, a picturesque town in Northern France, through enzymatic hydrolysis, a completely natural method by which proteins are cleaved into smaller peptides, without resorting to chemical solvents. The ideal proportion of collagen and elastin peptides with a small molecular weight, similar to that in human skin, enhances the absorption and effectiveness of the product, ensuring increased bioavailability.
The Ivatherm food supplement is part of the IvaRG range, a regenerating range that prevents and corrects the signs of aging.
Measures to maintain tissue elasticity
Levels of elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid gradually decrease with age and prolonged sun exposure, leading to loss of structural integrity and skin elasticity.
Sagging skin, fine lines, wrinkles, sensitivity, and changes in skin tone and texture are some of the consequences of the aging process.
The most severe changes in elastic fibers occur in skin prolonged exposed to the sun and photodamaged. While there are numerous solutions for improving collagen and hyaluronic acid levels in the skin, no treatments have yet been identified for increasing elastin levels, but scientists are studying how to stimulate the production of this essential protein for the body.
Elasticity is considered a marker of overall skin health, and elastin production is fundamental for the strength of tissues and organs. Current treatments aim to preserve endogenous elastin in the skin.
Intrinsic factors, namely the natural aging process, and extrinsic or environmental factors, such as pollution and ultraviolet rays, contribute to the decrease in elastin production. However, there are some measures that can prevent the deterioration of elastic fibers.
Adopting an effective skin care routine
Skin care routine is essential for maintaining healthy skin for as long as possible. Therefore, it is advisable to consistently follow all skin care steps: cleansing, moisturizing, sun protection, and exfoliation. Although elastin production cannot be accelerated, there are certain ingredients that can maintain high levels of this protein.
Serums and moisturizers containing ferulic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and help repair damaged skin cells. Also, some studies suggest that ingredients such as retinol and peptides could help preserve endogenous elastic fibers.
Add to your daily skin care routine:
Avoiding prolonged sun exposure
Ultraviolet rays are among the factors that lead to premature skin aging. Specialists recommend applying products with sun protection factor (SPF) every day, avoiding sun exposure between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM when ultraviolet rays are stronger, and using clothing accessories to protect the skin (wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, long pants, long-sleeved shirts).
Adopting a healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, sufficient rest, and a low stress level. Cortisol, the stress hormone, can contribute to the degradation of the extracellular matrix, implicitly to the decrease in elastin production. Therefore, it is necessary to keep stress levels under control with the help of relaxation techniques. Yoga, meditation, reading, cooking, hiking are some of the ways to reduce stress levels.
Also, exercise helps reduce oxidative stress and stimulate blood circulation, increasing the flow of oxygen and nutrients, which helps maintain healthy skin.
At the same time, diet can influence elastin in the body. Antioxidant consumption can provide an additional layer of protection against oxidative stress, which is responsible for the loss of skin elasticity. Many foods can help maintain elastin and collagen levels in the skin, including citrus fruits, berries, fatty fish, and nuts.
Quitting vices
Nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes accelerate the skin's aging process. Smoking is one of the vices that deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients. Quitting smoking helps maintain skin elasticity and reduce the risk of developing fine lines and wrinkles.
Conditions that influence endogenous elastin levels
Genetically acquired connective tissue abnormalities can cause diseases associated with loss of skin elasticity. At the same time, certain conditions acquired throughout life can influence elastin levels.
Elastin is a protein that the body produces naturally. It provides strength and elasticity to the skin and many other organs. With age, the amount of endogenous elastin decreases, but with a balanced diet, we can maintain an appropriate level of this protein. At the same time, exercise and an adequate skin care routine contribute to maintaining elastin in the body.
Resources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22482-elastin#
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/elastin
https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/What-is-Elastin.aspx
https://study.com/learn/lesson/elastin.html
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ics.12372
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8239663/
https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/beauty-style/what-is-elastin
Echipa Ivatherm
Conținutul IvaStories este creat de echipa Ivatherm, brand romanesc de dermatocosmetice fondat de Dr. Rucsandra Hurezeanu. Produsele Ivatherm sunt formulate cu Apă Termală Herculane și sunt testate dermatologic, recomandate de medici specialiști.