Skin loses elasticity as we age. This is an undeniable fact. It is also an unavoidable fact, but only to some extent. As with other parts of the body, there are certain factors, such as stress, smoking and bad diet, that can hurry the ageing process, and others that can hurry it along. There are some things you can do to help retain your skin’s elasticity.

Your skin consists of several layers. The epidermis is the one we can see, which contains pigmentation and sloughs off old skin. Underneath, in the dermal layer, are nerves and blood vessels, oil glands, follicles and connective tissue as well as collagen.

As you might guess from this description, the epidermis isn’t the layer you should worry about. A wrinkle is well and truly founded by the time a change appears in the epidermal layer. Yet it is this layer that most topical skin treatments focus on, mainly because it is not that difficult to produce temporary improvements in the appearance of skin at this level.

Your skin can act as a mirror for the way you treat your body. If you treat your body well, provide it with plenty of the nutrients it needs, and give it lots of rest and relaxation, your inner health will glow through your skin and make you appear younger. If you overtax your body, making it deal with lots of stress, introduce it to lots of chemicals and badly nourish it, this will also reflect through your skin. And we all know, this won’t be in a good way.

There are a few different things you can do to encourage your skin to keep its elasticity. A lot of these are connected with your overall body health. For instance, exercising regularly promotes blood flow and oxygenation, which is great for a whole lot of areas of your body, but also your skin. Eating healthy food keeps your internal organs functioning well, and in turn keeps your skin looking healthy.

There are also things you should do specifically for your skin. Exposure to the sun accelerates the ageing process. Don’t avoid the sun completely, but don’t be a sun seeker either. Keep your skin well moisturised, both through using a good moisturiser and through drinking lots of fresh water to stay hydrated. Avoid putting your body under stress, both emotionally and chemically through things like smoking.

You can do other things, as well. Some foods, such as soy proteins, artichoke hearts, strawberries and blackberries are thought to improve skin elasticity due to the vitamins and antioxidants they contain. Keeping your muscles active can be great for your skin, as your muscle system supports the skin. Lack of musculature causes the skin to sag. This doesn’t mean you have to become a body builder, but regular exercise that keeps you trim will keep your skin trim too.

A lot of beauty products claim to reduce or even stop the ageing process, and you should always be wary of these sorts of claims. Some products can actually harm your skin in the long term with their harsh treatment. Moisturising and collagen are definitely elements that help promote healthy skin, but both of these can come from within your body, when you drink water and eat a healthy diet that promotes your body to naturally produce collagen. Some products do have beneficial effect, but test them carefully.