When Does the Skin Start to Lose Elasticity?

Elasticity refers to the skin’s ability to snap back into place after being stretched. If young skin usually returns rapidly back to its original position, aging or older skin can take time or a few seconds to bounce back. The amount of collagen and elastin in your skin (structural proteins) determines its degree of elasticity.

What are the key components of skin elasticity?

Collagen and elastin are essential skin proteins responsible for giving the skin strength, elasticity, and firmness. The body makes an abundance of these two when you’re young, but starts to produce less of them as you age. Both collagen and elastin, furthermore, are vulnerable to changes caused by UV exposure and pollution. 

A decline and damage to these two skin proteins can lead to wrinkling and sagging of the skin. Genetics and gravity also have an impact on skin elasticity and other factors such as smoking, lack of sleep, and poor nutrition (too much sugar and refined carbs) can also accelerate the loss of elasticity. 

At what age does skin lose elasticity?

Collagen production starts declining around the mid-to-late 20s and or early 30s, with the skin losing about 1% per year afterward. Noticeable changes in the skin’s elasticity can show between your 30s and 40s. Studies suggest that women lose about 30% of skin collagen in the first five years of menopause. The decline is more gradual after that. 

As collagen and elastin decline, the skin loses its firmness and starts to sag. This can then cause jowls, fine lines and wrinkles, creases, and even enlarged pores. If healthy and youthful skin looks plump and hydrated, less elastic skin appears drier, thinner, and even sagging. 

In your 40s is where you’ll start to see more noticeable changes. Some prominent wrinkles may remain fixed or visible even when your face is at rest. There may also be sagging and laxity around the jawline, as well as jowls, volume loss, and smile lines. Other things that women may notice at this age include: 

• Sun spots or pigmentation on the face, neck, chest, and hands
• Sun damage 
• Dryness 
• Loss of skin tone

Signs of aging are likely to become more evident in your 50s and beyond. This is especially true with bad skincare habits or if you do nothing to address areas of concern. Hormone shift with decreased estrogen levels and increased androgens can negatively affect the skin, along with dryness and bone resorption. 

Take note: Everyone, of course, ages differently. Some may experience more prominent changes younger or even later. The ideal thing to do is to visit a skin or aesthetic doctor to combat loss of elasticity and other signs of aging, or get product recommendations for your most common skin concerns. 

Is there a way to test the elasticity of your skin?

The skin pinch test or skin turgor test is a simple technique for assessing your skin’s ability to stretch and snap back, as well as its hydration levels. This involves relaxing your hand and pinching the skin on the back of it for five seconds. Then, release the skin and count how many seconds it takes to go back in place.

• 1 to 2 seconds – for people under 30 years old
• 3 to 4 seconds – for those who are 30 to 44
• 5 to 9 seconds – for people who are 45 to 50
• 10 to 15 seconds – for people who are 60

It could also be a sign of dehydration if your skin takes longer than usual to snap back into place.

What can help?

There are a variety of aesthetic procedures that can help improve elasticity and other signs of aging. The treatment or combination of treatments can depend on the degree of laxity and the area you want to target and improve. These include:

• Dermal fillers – Some injectable gels encourage collagen growth to address volume loss and improve skin texture and elasticity. Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) fillers, for instance, have biostimulatory abilities that can stimulate the body to produce more collagen over time. It can also improve skin contour and definition, as well as address other signs of aging.
• Microfocused Ultrasound with Visualization (MFU-V) – This US FDA-cleared non-invasive procedure naturally lifts the skin on the face, neck, and chest area. It can also contour the lower face and reduce the look of lines and wrinkles on the upper chest. MFU-V improves collagen production and can be combined with dermal fillers to maximize results and provide lasting results.
• FaceStim – This non-invasive skin rejuvenating treatment treats different muscle groups to sculpt the face and correct certain asymmetries. It gives the face a workout through facial muscle stimulation that can firm, tone, and tighten the skin. It also helps with collagen formation and tissue remodeling, with results including lifted eyebrows and midface, reduced nasolabial folds, and a firmer jawline and neck area.
• NIR or Near Infrared Skin Tightening – This non-invasive treatment is for tightening and contouring the skin and reducing cellulite. It helps stimulate collagen growth, which can then treat and improve aging, sagging, and crepey-looking skin. It treats different areas of the face and body, and is ideal for those with mild to moderate skin laxity.
• Titan Skin Tightening – This US FDA-cleared procedure is for non-invasively tightening the skin and enhancing skin tone on the face, neck, and other areas of the body. It promotes collagen production that can tighten the skin over time and improve lines, folds, and mild laxity. It can be used on the face, jawline, neck, upper arms, and abdomen. 

Other helpful tips

Apart from the aesthetic treatments mentioned above, you can also tweak your habits or put in the time and effort in giving your skin more TLC to help improve skin elasticity. Some of the things you can do include:

• Prioritize sun care or wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, regardless of the weather. You should also limit sun exposure and wear sunglasses and protective clothing when out in the sun. 
• Quit smoking or avoid smoking in the first place. This habit destroys collagen and elastin, and accelerates skin aging.
• Invest in quality skincare or anti-aging products. Dr. Sylvia’s Multi Peptide Youth Infusion is a multi-tasking rejuvenation serum with peptides that can help stimulate collagen production. It can help firm and tighten skin, and improve the appearance of dark spots for a more youthful complexion. 
• Get enough sleep. The body goes into reparative and regenerative mode while you sleep. Not getting enough of it can activate inflammation and affect the skin’s ability to produce collagen. 
• Mind your diet, as what you eat and drink can affect how your skin looks. Some of the foods that are beneficial for your skin include fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts. Those rich in antioxidants can also help reduce inflammation and protect it from free radicals that can cause premature aging.

Get in touch with us

Are you looking to non-invasively tighten your skin and address other signs of aging? Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore to learn more about our treatments or schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor.