Which is Better for Wrinkle Prevention and Repair: Collagen or Elastin?

What is Collagen?

Collagen is a protein that constitutes almost a third of the protein in the body, making up much of the skin, bones, connective tissues, and muscles. It’s made up of three amino acids: glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. 

The primary function of collagen is to offer support to various structures throughout the body. More specifically, collagen supports the growth of new cells starting in the dermis by replacing dead skin cells, causing blood to clot, covering organs for protection, and many other essential purposes in just about every part of the body.

Types of Collagen

We are aware of 28 distinct types of collagens thus far, which vary by their molecular arrangement and location in the body. Type I collagen, which makes up about 90 percent of the collagen in the body, is the structural support for skin, bones, and connective tissue.

How Collagen Production Changes With Age

Collagen production declines with age. Combined with the fact that collagen declines in quality, and that existing collagen also deteriorates more quickly, means that we have significantly less collagen as we get older. This is especially true in people who are over the age of 60. Menopause is also thought to be a primary trigger for reduced collagen production.

What is Elastin?

Like collagen, elastin is a protein. Elastin serves a different function than collagen: adding stretchiness to various parts of the body, including the bladder, lungs, blood vessels, ligaments, and skin. As this protein’s name suggests, the elastin in skin is what makes it elastic; this also means that the more elastin someone’s skin contains, the more elastic their skin will be.

Differences Between Collagen and Elastin

Comparing elastin vs. collagen indicates that there are differences in these two proteins. The difference relates to their main functions: providing elasticity (elastin) vs. providing structure (collagen). Furthermore, elastin is not as abundant throughout the body as collagen. Collagen and elastin proteins also differ in their production over time: collagen production starts declining after the age of 20, whereas elastin production ceases after puberty.

Benefits of Collagen and Elastin for Anti-Wrinkle Skincare

Having enough collagen and elastin is crucial to support skin health, particularly to avoid the development of wrinkles and fine lines.

How Does Collagen Loss Contribute to Wrinkles?

The skin produces about one percent less collagen per year starting at age 20, which can lead to the development of wrinkles in the skin as we age. This is due to collagen loss in the skin, which weakens the skin’s structure.

What’s Elastin’s Role in Preventing Wrinkles?

As previously mentioned, elastin is responsible for lending elasticity to the body’s tissues, which includes the skin. Elastin is present in the dermis, which is the middle layer of the skin.

When the skin is stretched past its usual shape, elastin allows it to bounce back. For instance, when we make facial expressions, such as frowning, as we age, this action creates small grooves in the skin if there isn’t enough elastin for the skin to bounce back. Stressors such as smoking cigarettes, exposure to UV radiation from the sun, and air pollution also break down elastin fibers, causing loss of skin flexibility. 

Taking Collagen and Elastin Together for Skin Health

Taking a combination of collagen and elastin supplements can help to reduce the development of wrinkles by providing the body with the building blocks it needs to replenish these proteins in the skin, especially when they are in a highly bioavailable form that the body can easily break down and use to replenish tissue.

Oral collagen supplementation has past research to support its efficacy, showing that these supplements can improve the skin’s moisture and texture, while reducing wrinkles, but future research with large sample sizes will be necessary to better understand the benefits of oral collagen supplementation.

So, Which is Better for Wrinkle Prevention and Repair: Collagen or Elastin?

By far the best oral supplement for wrinkle prevention and repair is a combination of both collagen and elastin, as the two supplements serve distinct functions and roles in the skin, as well as the body as a whole.

However, to answer the titular question, collagen supplements on their own are likely to be more effective for wrinkle prevention and repair than elastin supplements on their own, with significantly more research backing up the efficacy of collagen supplements. 

Best Sources of Collagen and Elastin

Collagen- and elastin-rich foods, supplements, or a combination of the two can often provide the body with the necessary building blocks to maximize its collagen and elastin production. Other foods and supplements may help prevent collagen and elastin breakdown, such as those containing antioxidants, which can protect the skin from the effects of free radicals. 

Foods that Help Increase Collagen and Elastin

Foods that may support the body’s production of collagen and elastin by providing the necessary amino acid “building blocks” of these proteins are thought to include nuts, fatty fish, chicken, egg whites, and beans. In addition, foods that help to minimize breakdown of existing collagen and elastin include leafy greens, citrus fruits, berries, and green tea.

Elastin and Collagen Supplements

Collagen and elastin supplements are another source of these crucial skin-health proteins. Although there are countless collagen supplements on the market, there are very few supplements that also contain elastin. Body Kitchen’s Collagen + Elastin Powder is one of the best collagen and elastin supplements available, and since it’s unflavored and highly concentrated, it’s been found to be easy to mix into your favorite beverages with minimal impact on flavor and texture.

The collagen in Body Kitchen’s supplement powder is 2,500 mg per serving of Verisol® Collagen. This type of collagen is a grass-fed, highly absorbable, and bioactive form that has been shown in clinical studies to improve skin structure by as much as 30 percent, increase collagen activity by 65 percent, and reduce eye wrinkles by 32 percent. 

Each serving of this supplement also contains 250 mg of Prolastin®, a pure and concentrated marine elastin that’s harvested from the coast of France. Because it’s in peptide form, it’s particularly digestible and bioavailable.

In addition to these two proteins, this pure and highly concentrated powder incorporates 100 percent of the daily recommended dose of vitamin C, which is not only an antioxidant but is also essential for collagen and elastin production in the body. Vitamin C is thought to fight against oxidation and minimize sun damage to improve the look and health of skin. 

Finally, also included is 100 mg of hyaluronic acid which has been shown to attract and hold moisture to make the skin look and feel smoother and more supple. As well as improving skin flexibility, it may also function as a natural equivalent of a filler, helping to minimize wrinkles and imperfections.

Speak with Your Doctor Before Incorporating Elastin and Collagen Supplements

Although elastin and collagen supplements are considered to be safe for the vast majority of people, they may be unsafe for those with allergies to fish, shellfish, or eggs. In addition, those who have a history of gout or who have any other condition that requires reduced protein intake, are not advised to take these supplements. Before starting supplementation using Body Kitchen’s Collagen + Elastin Powder, be aware that elastin and collagen supplements may also cause minor digestive side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea. As with any supplement, it’s important to speak with a medical professional to confirm that collagen/elastin supplements are the right choice for your needs.