Why are collagen and elastin so important to maintaining a youthful appearance?

Collagen is considered the fountain of youth because it wards off fine lines and wrinkles. As much as 75 percent of the dermis layer of the skin (the substantial second layer that is protected by the translucent outer layer called the epidermis) is made up collagen. Aging, exposure to sunlight and other environmental factors diminish the body's ability to produce collagen. Skin becomes thinner and loses its flexibility.

Elastin, also located in the dermis, holds the collagen bundles together and gives structure to the skin. When time and elements decrease the body's ability to produce elastin, the skin wrinkles and sags. Collagen and elastin also are important because they bind the skin to the fatty layer beneath the dermis, called the hypodermis or subcutis.

According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, the skin's elasticity declines dramatically when people are in their 50s. Although this is true for both men and women, it impacts women much more dramatically. Women's skin has less collagen content than men's skin. Also, the drop in estrogen following menopause impacts the fibroblasts in the dermis — the cells that create collagen and elastin. As a result, women may look older than men who are the same age and who have had similar sun exposure.

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