Which proteins are degraded in the dermis, causing loss of firmness from cumulative UV exposure?
Answer
Collagen and elastin fibers
The most profound, long-term structural consequence of UV exposure occurs beneath the surface in the dermal layer. The energy from the sun breaks down the critical structural components that maintain the skin's shape and ability to recover its form. Specifically, collagen fibers, responsible for firmness, and elastin fibers, responsible for the skin's capacity to snap back after being stretched or compressed, are systematically degraded. This degradation leads directly to the visible symptoms of sagging and deep wrinkling that manifest years later.
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