Elasticity refers to the ability of the skin to return to its place once it is stretched. The suppleness and elasticity of the skin is a noticeable characteristic of younger looking skin.
Unfortunately, our level of elasticity changes as time goes by and we begin to age. However, don’t let this worry you unduly as there are plenty of ways to keep your skin’s elasticity from deteriorating more than it should. You can still have firm, well-toned skin despite growing older.
Here are a few useful tips you can do to improve your skins elasticity.
Exercise
Of course, this is one of the majors. Exercise forces your body to improve blood flow and this translates to more oxygen being delivered throughout your body.
In turn your skin benefits. One obvious result of regular exercise is that supple, toned skin radiates. This makes the skin look younger and more vibrant.
Cardio training is an excellent form of exercise as it flushes out toxins from the body. It also improves the delivery of nutrients to the cells and aids in the process of skin cell regeneration.
Exercise is also important for keeping the production of cortisol, a stress-related hormone, within healthy levels. Having too much cortisol in the body can lead to the increased production of sebum and this can lead to the appearance of acne. Having high levels of cortisol may also damage the skins collagen and the result will undoubtedly be sagging, wrinkled skin.
However, with regular exercise your collagen production is maintained and this means having more supple, firmer skin. The elasticity of the skin cannot help but improve!
Hydrate and Moisturize
Keeping the skin hydrated and hence moisturized, will help ward off any early signs of aging. This is because dehydrated skin becomes prone to the damage caused by free radicals. Keeping it hydrated will help boost your skin’s ability to repair itself.
Therefore, drinking plenty of water is of the utmost importance if you want your skin to look ‘full’ and not wrinkly. Water makes your skin soft and supple.
When choosing skin creams and moisturizers, choose creams that contain neroli or chamomile. Chamomile has been found helpful in repairing broken capillaries and improving the skin elasticity. Neroli works to improve the process of cell regeneration and as an added benefit, helps prevent the development of varicose veins.
Stop Smoking
Smoking contains a plethora of harmful chemicals that not only make your skin become discolored, but also promotes premature development of fine lines, facial wrinkles and dry skin.
However, if you stop smoking your collagen production will eventually return to normal and if you follow some of the other tips mentioned, your skins elasticity will improve as well.
Eat Anti Aging Nutrients to Improve Skin Elasticity
Sorbitol
This nutrient is commonly found in seaweeds, berries and grapes. It is known to help the skin hold more moisture thus improving the elasticity of the skin.
Lutein
Since dermatologists discovered the wonders of lutein in improving skin elasticity, they have included this nutrient in many of their skin care products. However, to get the most benefit out of lutein, it is best to obtain it in its most natural form – by eating whole foods that are rich in lutein. These include eggs and green leafy vegetables.
Lycopene
The lycopene content found in orange, red and yellow foods provides extra ultraviolet protection for your skin. In fact, its ability to protect your skin from UV rays has been rated by experts as having a factor four sunscreen. So it has a natural built in UV barrier.
This isn’t enough to stop your skin from burning, but as you can see, eating a healthy diet has many hidden benefits in keeping your skin looking young and healthy.
