The elastic fibers are located within the dermal reticular layer, and their arrangement is parallel or oblique to the collagen fibers, and more often in the lower part of the reticular layer. Elastane fibers usually surround collagen fibers. The wavy elastic fibers can also surround hair follicles, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and peripheral nerves. In the superficial dermis, the elastic fibers are perpendicular to the epidermal-dermal junction. The elastic fibers are 1 to 3 microns in diameter and have good elasticity, which can restore the original shape of the collagen fibers after stretching.
In the dermis, elastin fibers generally renew very slowly, which can be accelerated by ultraviolet light and inflammation. Elastin fibers also change with age and a variety of genetic disorders. Degeneration of dermal elastin tissue is a sign of photodamage to the skin. It was confirmed in tissue sections of the papillary layer and is caused by the accumulation of abnormal elastic fibers.