Collagen and Elastin

• Collagen is a collection of short fibrils, which are tiny fibers. It is a protein that contains galactose and glucose. It is primarily found in the skin, bone and muscles.
  
  

Elastin

• Elastin is a thin and rubbery fibrous protein. It is less abundant than collagen and is mostly found in the ligaments, organs, muscles and the walls of arteries.
  
  

Skin

• The skin is made up of a number of layers. The outer layer of skin is called the epidermis. Below this layer is the dermis, which is made up of collagen and elastin that has been synthesized by cells called fibroblasts. The dermis is where the most collagen is found in the skin, and 75 percent of the skin consists of collagen, according to WebMD. The elastin in the dermis is responsible for the elasticity of the skin.
  
  

Healing

• There are a number of phases in the healing process. In the first phase, the damaged area swells and blood clots over the wound, creating a cover. Under the scab created by the clotted blood, the second phase begins. Collagen fibers begin to stretch across the wound, building a new layer of skin. Collagen continues to proliferate, strengthening the new skin and creating a scar. Scar tissue is tighter than the surrounding skin in part due to a lack of elastin.
  
  

Aging

• As the body ages, elastin begins to cease to be produced by the body. By the time full adulthood has been reached, elastin production is almost entirely stopped. As the body ages, elastin begins to degenerate. This causes reduced elasticity in the skin. Collagen production also begins to slow, and this reduces the strength of the skin, causing it to wrinkle.