The decreased production of elastin and collagen in the skin causes wrinkles or hard skin.
Collagen and elastin are two fiber-forming proteins to help form connective tissue in the body. Collagen is widespread in the body and gives connective tissue strength and flexibility. Elastin is a protein that returns to its original shape after being stretched. Although collagen is produced more widely in the body, both it and elastin are necessary for many tissues to function.
Aging skin has reduced levels of elastin and collagen.
Collagen is so anatomically predominant that it accounts for a third of the total protein in the body. That’s about 6% of total body weight. In the body, collagen forms collagen fibers that form ligaments and tendons, cartilage, skin, and bone tissue. There are about 20 types of collagen, some of which are specific to certain tissues or organs. Other types of collagen support organs or occupy the space between organs and tissues. Collagen is produced in strong and flexible collagen fibers.
Collagen creams can be used to replenish the body’s supply of collagen and reduce the signs of aging.
Elastin, as its name indicates, is a protein with an elastic quality. It will return to its original state after stress, whether it is compressed or stretched. Elastin fibers form networks like collagen. Tissues gain elasticity when they contain elastin.
Both collagen and elastin stand out for their role in aging. As the body ages, collagen proteins become more cross-linked and stiff. Collagen is important for strength, but tissues like the lens can become too stiff and cause vision problems. The decreased production of elastin and collagen in the skin causes wrinkles or hard skin.
Collagen allows the body’s ligaments to stretch properly, which helps prevent connective tissue from becoming vulnerable to injury.
Vitamin C is necessary for the formation and organization of collagen fibers. Scurvy, which is caused by vitamin C deficiency, causes symptoms such as poor wound healing and bleeding from blood vessels. Teeth can even fall out because the ligaments that support them in cavities are weakened.
Both collagen and elastin are found in the important extracellular matrix, which is made up of loose connective tissue, in this case known as areolar. This type of tissue surrounds almost all of the capillaries, or small blood vessels, in the body. Nutrients from the blood pass through the extracellular matrix fluid to help the cells of the body. Thus, no cell is far from the connective tissue made up of collagen and elastin. The structure of the extracellular matrix also supports the functionality of the tendons to support stretching, the bones to support weight, and the ability of the skin to resist injury.