What do collagen and elastin do for your skin?
Collagen and elastin are the two proteins that hold skin up. Collagen gives skin structure and firmness, and elastin lets it stretch and snap back. According to the book Beyond Stem Cells, sun, stress, toxins and age wear them down, and regenerative options like PRP, microneedling, exosomes and stem cells aim to help skin rebuild them.
Key points
- Collagen and elastin for skin: collagen gives firmness and structure; elastin lets skin stretch and return to shape, like a rubber band.
- Skin is the body's largest organ and its most visible. Sun, stress, toxins and age break down collagen and elastin, leading to wrinkles, sagging and thinner skin.
- The book says skin aging is many changes at once: less blood flow, slower cell turnover, less moisture, and a thinning fat layer that leaves a hollow look.
- Collagen and elastin production happens in the deeper layer of skin. Fibroblasts are the collagen factories that regenerative treatments aim to switch on.
- PRP uses your own blood, concentrated so the platelets release growth factors that get fibroblasts going.
- Microneedling benefits, according to the book: tiny controlled injuries wake up the healing response, and the channels let PRP or exosomes reach deeper.
- Exosomes may help skin make more of its own water-holding molecules, like hyaluronic acid, for hydration from the inside.
- Inflammaging is low-grade inflammation that keeps wearing skin down. The book says MSCs from donated umbilical cord tissue may help calm it and shift skin toward repair.
- Microneedling side effects the book describes are usually a few days of redness and swelling, which is part of the healing signal.
Skin, Collagen and Elastin
Read the full transcript · Download the MP3 · Voices are AI-generated from a script based on the book.
Collagen and elastin: why skin ages
The skin is the body's largest organ and the most visible one. It is held up by two proteins, collagen and elastin. Over time, sunlight, environmental toxins, stress and natural aging break those fibers down, and the skin becomes thinner and looser, with fine lines and wrinkles.
Collagen gives structure, elastin gives stretch
Collagen provides firmness and structure. Elastin lets skin stretch and return to its original shape, a lot like a rubber band. As both slow down with age, skin loses its ability to stay firm and bounce back.
What happens in the layers of the skin
According to the book, the outer protective layer weakens and holds moisture less well, which can leave skin looking dull and rough. In the deeper layer, the dermis, the supporting proteins lose volume and density because less is made and more is broken down.
It is many changes at once
Blood flow drops as the tiny capillary networks shrink, and cells turn over more slowly. Skin holds less water as moisture-binding molecules decline. The fat layer underneath that gives the face its shape slowly thins too, which creates the hollow look.
Covering it up vs helping it rebuild
The book walks through the usual options: injections that relax muscles, fillers that add volume, and chemical peels. Its point is that these mostly work on the surface or for a limited time. Regenerative approaches aim at the deeper layer where collagen is actually made.
Collagen and elastin production: PRP, microneedling, exosomes and stem cells
The book names four main regenerative options for skin: PRP, stem cells, exosomes and biologic scaffolds.
PRP and fibroblasts
PRP is made from your own blood, spun so the platelets are concentrated. Once activated, the platelets release growth factors that help fibroblasts multiply, support collagen production and help new blood vessels form. Fibroblasts are basically your collagen factories.
What are the benefits of microneedling?
Microneedling uses fine needles to make tiny, controlled injuries in the skin. According to the book, those small injuries wake up the body's healing response, and the tiny channels let PRP, stem cells or exosomes get deeper. The book describes using microneedling together with PRP or exosomes so they can reach deeper.
Exosomes and hydration
Exosomes are tiny packages that cells send each other, carrying proteins and growth factors. In skin, the book says they may help it make more of its own water-holding molecules, such as hyaluronic acid, for hydration and plumpness from within. They are small enough to reach deep into tissue.
Biologic scaffolds
Scaffolds made from purified collagen, hyaluronic acid or tissue matrices copy the skin's natural support structure. According to the book, combining them with growth factors or stem cells helps create good conditions for organized skin rebuilding.
What is inflammaging, and how do stem cells fit in?
Inflammaging is chronic, low-grade inflammation that keeps wearing skin down over time. The book describes it as a major driver of skin aging. The stem cells it discusses are MSCs from donated umbilical cord or placenta tissue, and researchers are studying whether they may help calm inflammaging skin.
Inflammaging definition
Inflammaging is chronic, low-grade inflammation that keeps wearing tissue down. The book describes it as a major driver of skin aging, because ongoing inflammation speeds up breakdown in several ways at once.
How MSCs may help inflammaging skin
The stem cells described here are MSCs from donated umbilical cord or placenta tissue. According to the book, they can lower inflammatory signals and raise calming ones, shifting the skin environment toward repair instead of breakdown. The book also notes that donor cells need careful screening and processing.
Results, microneedling side effects and upkeep
The book says regenerative skin care is gradual by design, and that is part of the appeal: people tend to look refreshed, not overdone.
What it may help with
According to the book, these approaches may help with fine lines and early wrinkles, early sagging, the thin skin around the eyes, sun-damaged skin, and acne scars, which are small dents where collagen was lost. They can also support skin recovery after laser treatments or peels.
The timeline
First come a few days of redness and swelling, which the book says is the healing signal going out. A few weeks in, some people notice brighter skin and a bit of a glow. Over the following months, new collagen keeps building and reorganizing, which is where firmness and texture come in.
Side effects and safety
Because PRP uses your own material, the book says the risk of a reaction is very low. Most people see only some redness, swelling or bruising that clears up within days. The book stresses that clean, sterile technique and careful injection matter.
How long it lasts
It depends on age, sun exposure, smoking, diet and overall health. The book describes a starting series of a few sessions, then maintenance about once or twice a year.
Chapter 15 in one line
Instead of covering up aging, you are helping your skin rebuild what it is losing.
Episode 15 transcript.
Read along, or skim the parts you care about most.
EliseOkay so, chapter fifteen. And this one's about... skin? Like, looking younger?
GuideAesthetics, yeah. Same healing ideas, just pointed at your skin.
EliseOkay, I'm listening.
GuideSo skin is your body's biggest organ. And the most visible one.
EliseTrue.
GuideAnd it's held up by two proteins. Collagen gives it structure, firmness. Elastin lets it stretch and snap back.
EliseLike a rubber band.
GuideExactly like a rubber band. And over time, sun, stress, toxins, just getting older, those break down.
EliseAnd that's wrinkles.
GuideWrinkles, sagging, thinner skin. And the book says it's a bunch of stuff at once. Less blood flow, cells turning over slower, skin holding less moisture—
EliseMm-hm.
Guide—and the fat layer underneath that gives your face its shape slowly thins out too. That's the hollow look.
EliseUgh. Okay. So what do people usually do about it?
GuideThe book walks through the usual stuff. Injections that relax muscles, fillers that add volume, chemical peels.
EliseRight.
GuideAnd the book's point is those mostly work on the surface, or for a limited time. They cover it up.
EliseAnd regenerative is...?
GuideWorking on the deeper layer where collagen actually gets made. Helping the skin rebuild itself.
EliseOkay. So what are the options?
GuideMain ones are PRP, stem cells, exosomes, and what they call biologic scaffolds.
EliseStart with PRP.
GuideYour own blood, spun down, platelets concentrated. Those release growth factors that get your fibroblasts going.
EliseFibro-what?
GuideFibroblasts. They're basically your collagen factories.
EliseOh, okay. Got it.
GuideAnd there's a popular one people call the vampire facial.
EliseOh, I've heard of that!
GuideYeah. It's microneedling—tiny pokes with fine needles—and then PRP goes over the whole face.
EliseWhy the needles?
GuideTwo things. The little injuries wake up your healing response. And the tiny channels let the PRP get deeper.
EliseHuh. So you're hurting it a little on purpose.
GuideA controlled little bit, yeah. And the book says the combo does more than either one alone.
EliseAnd exosomes? They keep coming up.
GuideThey do. Tiny packages cells send each other. In skin, the book says they may help it make more of its own water-holding molecules, like hyaluronic acid. So more hydration from the inside.
ElisePlumper.
GuidePlumper. And they're small enough to get deep.
EliseAnd stem cells?
GuideSo MSCs, from donated tissue like umbilical cord. The book says donor cells need careful screening and processing. And the big thing here is inflammation.
EliseInflammation, huh?
GuideIt's everywhere! There's even a word for it in skin. Inflammaging.
EliseOh, that's good.
GuideRight? Low-grade inflammation that just keeps wearing tissue down. The book says MSCs can help calm that and shift the skin toward repair.
EliseSo what kind of stuff might this help with?
GuideAccording to the book, things like fine lines, early sagging, the thin skin under the eyes, sun damage, and acne scars, the little dents.
EliseAcne scars too?
GuideYeah, since those are basically spots where collagen got lost. It can also help skin recover after things like laser treatments or peels.
EliseOkay, timeline. When do I see something?
GuideSo first, a few days of redness and swelling. And that's actually part of it. That's the healing signal going out.
EliseOkay.
GuideThen a few weeks in, some people notice brighter skin, a bit of a glow. Then over the next several months, collagen keeps building and reorganizing. That's where firmness and texture come in.
EliseSo, slow.
GuideSlow. But the book says that's the upside. You look refreshed. Not overdone.
EliseNobody's asking what you had done.
GuideThat's what a lot of people like about it, yeah.
EliseIs it safe?
GuideThe book says with PRP, since it's your own material, the risk of a reaction is really low. Usually some redness or swelling that clears up in days. But it has to be done cleanly, with good technique.
EliseAnd does it last?
GuideDepends. Age, sun, smoking, diet, overall health. The book says there's usually a starting series of a few sessions, then maintenance, like once or twice a year.
EliseOkay. So if you had to sum up chapter fifteen?
GuideInstead of covering up aging, you're helping your skin rebuild what it's losing.
EliseI like that. And, quick reminder, this is general info, not medical advice. Talk to your own provider.
GuideAlways.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your own provider.
Frequently asked questions.
What is microneedling?
Microneedling is an in-office treatment that uses fine needles to make tiny, controlled injuries in the skin. According to the book, those injuries wake up the skin's healing response and open small channels so PRP or exosomes can reach the deeper layer, where collagen and elastin are made. A few days of redness and swelling are common afterward.
What is the difference between collagen and elastin?
Collagen gives skin its structure and firmness. Elastin lets skin stretch and return to its original shape. Both are made in the deeper layer of the skin, and both break down with sun, stress, toxins and age.
Why does collagen and elastin production slow down?
According to the book, aging slows how much is made while breakdown increases. Less blood flow, slower cell turnover and ongoing low-grade inflammation all add to the loss.
What are the benefits of microneedling?
Microneedling makes tiny, controlled injuries with fine needles. The book says this wakes up the healing response and opens small channels, and it describes using microneedling together with PRP or exosomes so they can reach deeper.
What is inflammaging?
Inflammaging is chronic, low-grade inflammation that keeps wearing tissue down. The book says it is a major driver of skin aging, and that MSCs from donated umbilical cord tissue may help calm it and shift skin toward repair.
What are the side effects of microneedling with PRP?
The book describes a few days of redness and swelling, sometimes bruising, that usually clears on its own. With PRP, since it is your own material, the risk of a reaction is very low, but clean technique matters.
Where is Beyond Stem Cells located?
Beyond Stem Cells is at 5912 S Cody St, Suite 201, Littleton, CO 80123, serving the Denver metro. This podcast is general education, not medical advice.
Want to see how this connects to care in the Denver metro? Learn about facial microneedling at Beyond Stem Cells, exosome therapy, stem cell therapy, regenerative medicine, aesthetics and red light.
Further reading: MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine): aging skin.
Want the whole book? Get the free Beyond Stem Cells book.
Regenerative care in Littleton and the Denver metro.
Beyond Stem Cells sits just off S Cody St in Littleton, an easy drive from Ken Caryl, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Englewood and Lakewood.
Questions about your own situation?
The podcast is general education. If you want to talk about your own health, request a consultation with our team.
Beyond Stem Cells · 5912 S Cody St, Suite 201, Littleton, CO 80123 · (833) 720-7836 · info@beyondstemcells.com
Medical disclaimer: This page is general education based on the book Beyond Stem Cells by John Comandari and Neville Campbell, MD. It is not medical advice. Individual results vary and no specific outcome is promised. Talk to your own provider about your situation.