Elastin

Elas­tin is a struc­tu­ral pro­te­in of con­nec­ti­ve tis­sue that gives the skin its ela­s­ti­ci­ty. Its fibres can stretch and then return to their ori­gi­nal shape. In the der­mis, elas­tin and col­la­gen tog­e­ther form the sup­port­ing framework.

Appli­ca­ti­on

Elas­tin allows the skin to spring back smooth­ly after facial expres­si­ons, stret­ching or pres­su­re. The body pro­du­ces it main­ly during child­hood and ado­le­s­cence; very litt­le new elas­tin is for­med in adult­hood. Exis­ting fibres wear out over the years and are dama­ged by UV radia­ti­on. The skin loses its boun­ce, beco­mes lax and stays creased for lon­ger when pushed together.

Good to know

With hea­vy sun dama­ge, alte­red, non-func­tion­al elas­tin accu­mu­la­tes in the skin, a hall­mark of pho­to­ag­e­ing. Unli­ke col­la­gen, elas­tin can only be rebuilt to a limi­t­ed ext­ent by aes­the­tic tre­at­ments; some ener­gy-based pro­ce­du­res and bio­sti­mu­la­tors may part­ly impro­ve ela­s­tic fibres. Con­sis­tent sun pro­tec­tion is the­r­e­fo­re the most important safeguard.

Matching tre­at­ment at Swiss Der­ma Cli­nic: Skin tigh­tening