What it is
Elastin is a key structural protein found in the dermis, the middle layer of the skin. It works alongside collagen to maintain the skin’s strength and elasticity. While collagen provides firmness, elastin is what allows the skin to stretch and return to its original shape. This makes elastin essential for skin that moves, flexes, and recovers, to aid in everything from smiling to healing after injury.
Elastin fibres form a supportive mesh within the dermis, giving the skin its bounce and resilience. When skin is young and healthy, elastin levels are high, and the fibres are tightly coiled and responsive. Over time, elastin production slows, and existing fibres become looser and more disorganised. This contributes to sagging, wrinkles and a loss of firmness.
The decline in elastin is influenced by both intrinsic ageing and external factors. UV exposure, in particular, breaks down elastin fibres. This is one of the reasons why sun protection is critical not just for preventing pigmentation, but for preserving the structure of the skin.
Unlike collagen, elastin is much harder to regenerate. The body produces very little new elastin after puberty, and most skincare products cannot restore elastin directly. However, certain ingredients and treatments can help protect what elastin you do have and support the dermal environment to slow its breakdown. Topical retinoids, peptides and antioxidants such as vitamin C may encourage fibroblasts to maintain healthier skin structure.
Professional treatments such as radiofrequency, microneedling, injectables and lasers aim to remodel the dermis and stimulate some degree of elastin renewal.
Elastin is also important in wound healing. During tissue repair, fibroblasts are activated to help restore structure and function, though the elastin formed in scar tissue is often less organised and less functional than in healthy skin.
In short, elastin is what keeps skin springy, supple and firm. While you can’t fully replace lost elastin, protecting elastin through daily sunscreen, antioxidant support and collagen-stimulating treatments can help maintain elasticity and slow visible ageing.
