Skin Elasticity and How to Keep It

It is called a quarter-life crisis for a reason. When you turn 25, you start to visually age since your skin’s ability to regenerate slows down. You begin aging because the body is slower to replace older cells, as well as slower to bring about new surface skin or heal wounds. At age 45, your skin begins to thin and your body starts to experience hormonal changes. Skin elasticity becomes an issue. Your skin is more fragile and easy to damage, as well as more susceptible to environmental factors since it is thinner than before. Collagen and elastin are both essential in maintaining a youthful appearance. Elastin is similar to collagen in that it is a protein, but it is more stretchable and maintains skin elasticity. Without skin elasticity, the skin begins to wrinkle and break down. Skin elasticity is slowly lost as the coils of collagen and elastin are cut and damaged.

One way to test your skin elasticity is to pinch the back of your hand and see how quickly the skin snaps back. The less skin elasticity, the longer the skin will take to return to its usual state. If you’ve noticed your skin elasticity isn’t what it used to be, follow these easy tips:

Decrease your sugar intake—this doesn’t mean you should eliminate all sugar since whole grains, fruits and vegetables turn to glucose, a type of sugar, when they’re digested. But you should keep your sweets to a minimum at no more than 10 percent of your total calories. Also, avoid high fructose corn syrup.
Wear sunscreen—skin elasticity is lost more quickly when left unprotected and overexposed to the sun.
Antioxidants!—this word seems to pop up constantly when talking about skin elasticity and anti aging. These compounds are the weapon against cell-damaging free radicals that can lead to premature aging. Eating delicious foods like cranberries, walnuts, red peppers and red grapes can help save skin elasticity, and maintain suppleness and youth.

In order to maintain your skin’s elasticity, avoid harmful and damaging life style choices like smoking and drug and alcohol consumption. If you’re feeling highly stressed or angry try to research ways to lessen these feelings for the sake of your health and longevity.