The elastic skin is definitely a sign of healthy skin; this is due to good levels of elastin and collagen. In fact, when elastin levels decrease, mainly due to the passage of time, but also due to the action of external factors, the skin becomes weak, loses tone and begins to hollow out thus causing wrinkles to appear, especially around the mouth and eyes which are the most delicate parts, and stretch marks on the body.
Skin that has little elastin will also be very sensitive and more exposed to environmental stresses.
The elasticity of the skin is mainly due to two proteins,elastin and collagen , which account for about 25 percent of the total proteins contained in the body and have a joint action. To prevent these two substances from diminishing over time, which naturally occurs as we age, action can be taken by using special creams and taking specific supplements.
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Elastin and collagen: what are the differences
These two proteins, precisely because they have a synergistic action, are often named together and are often confused. In fact, each of them has specific characteristics and a specific role.
Collagen, for example, is one of the proteins that is found in abundance in our bodies and is found in muscles, bones, tendons, blood vessels, skin, and even in some systems, such as the digestive system. Its function, as the name suggests, is to provide the body with a kind of glue to hold structures together. There are 28 types of collagen in our bodies, but 4 are the most important ones.
Type 1 collagen, for example, is that found in 90 percent of the body, especially in skin, hair, nails, organs, bones, and ligaments, while type 2 collagen is found in cartilage, and the other two types are found in the dermis, blood vessels, and connective tissues.
Elastin, on the other hand, is a protein found not only in the skin but also in the arteries, lungs, and intestines. The presence of elastin means that tissues can stretch and contract, obviously within a certain limit, without being damaged. This protein is produced by the human body from the age of development until about age 20. That’s why, over time, skin naturally tends to lose its elasticity.
How to stimulate collagen production: right products and massage
The body’s production of collagen decreases from the age of 25, but it is possible to stimulate it through some simple products and gestures that can be incorporated into one’s daily routine.
To achieve the best results and increase the production of this protein, it is good to take an integrated approach on two fronts: on the one hand, we need to ensure the body’s proper hydration, whether by drinking 2 liters of water a day, bringing water-rich foods such as cucumbers, tomatoes, and watermelons to the table, or using some Specific face creams and products.
In addition, when facial products are applied, choosing new generation cosmeceuticals, it is recommended to perform a facial massage. In this way, not only are the active ingredients absorbed deeply, but microcirculation is stimulated, and the formation of wrinkles is prevented by stimulating the production of elastin and collagen.
The right cosmetic products for stimulate collagen and elastin production are those that contain the amino acids for skin , such as. histidine, leucine, lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine, as well as essential ones such as arginine, cysteine, glycine, glutamine, proline, and tyrosine. In addition, you can also supplement amino acids for the skin by taking special supplements capable of giving the skin all the support it needs to be toned, supple and firm.
