When we think of skin healing, we often think topically—but the deepest repair happens beneath the surface. Especially during the later stages of healing, your body calls upon vital nutrients to rebuild the structure of your skin. Two of the most essential players in this process? Protein and collagen.

In this post, I want to share why these nutrients are key to long-term skin repair, what’s really happening inside your skin when it heals, and how to naturally support that process with daily habits and nourishment.

 

What Are Collagen and Elastin?

Collagen and elastin are structural proteins found in the dermis—the middle layer of your skin. They’re what give your skin its shape, stretch, and strength.

• Collagen acts as your skin’s scaffolding—holding everything together, maintaining firmness, and supporting wound closure.
  

• Elastin gives your skin flexibility and bounce—allowing it to stretch and return to form.

 

Together, they create the architecture that holds your skin steady, even during inflammation and recovery.

 

What Happens to Collagen and Elastin After a Flare-Up or Wound?

When your skin goes through trauma—like a rash, eczema flare-up, or scratch—collagen and elastin are broken down during the inflammatory phase. This is your body’s way of clearing out damaged tissue so healing can begin.

In the proliferation phase, your body starts producing new collagen (mostly Type III), which fills in the wound quickly—but it’s not as strong or well-organized yet. Think of it as scaffolding thrown up in a hurry to stabilize the area.

As your skin enters the remodeling phase, the rushed collagen is slowly replaced with Type I collagen—which is stronger, smoother, and better aligned. This process takes time, but it’s what helps healed skin regain integrity.

Elastin is also rebuilt during this stage, though in smaller amounts. This is why healed areas may initially feel tight, stiff, or more fragile.

 

Why This Healing Phase Can Feel “Weird”

During the remodeling phase, you may notice your skin:

• Feels tight, dry, or itchy, even though it looks better
  

• Is more sensitive to heat, friction, or dryness
  

• Lacks flexibility or feels slightly “stiff” or “shiny”

This is normal—your skin is still weaving collagen fibers, rehydrating deeper layers, and adjusting to its new structure.

 

 

 

How to Support Collagen & Elastin Rebuilding

Both internal and topical care are key here. Healing from within will provide your body with the building blocks it needs to restore skin strength and flexibility.

Topical Rituals to Support Remodeling:

• Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid): Essential for collagen production

• Niacinamide (B3): Improves elasticity and helps rebuild the skin barrier

• Peptides: Signal the skin to produce more collagen

• Gentle massage: Boosts circulation and helps align collagen fibers

• Plant + fruit oils from Everbella:
  Our formulations include a powerful blend of flaxseed, chia seed, rice bran, castor oil, mango seed butter, tangerine oil, and apricot kernel oil.
  These oils are rich in fatty acids, antioxidants, and regenerative nutrients that help:

  • Nourish delicate or newly healed skin

  • Lock in moisture to protect collagen fibers

  • Improve elasticity and softness

  • Calm post-inflammatory tightness or irritation

Internal Support: What to Eat

• Protein-rich foods (e.g., eggs, lentils, grass-fed meat, fish): Provide amino acids like glycine, proline, lysine—essential for collagen
  

• Collagen peptides or bone broth: A direct source of healing amino acids
  

• Zinc + Copper + Vitamin C: Cofactors needed for collagen synthesis
  

• Silica-rich foods (e.g., cucumber, horsetail, bamboo): Help build stronger connective tissue
  

• Seeds + Greek yogurt or plant-based yogurt with protein: A powerful breakfast ritual
  

• Antioxidants (e.g., berries, leafy greens, matcha): Protect collagen from breakdown

 

Try blending collagen powder into your morning yogurt, paired with chia or pumpkin seeds for an amino acid and mineral boost.

 

A Gentle Reminder

You may not see big changes daily—but your skin is working hard beneath the surface. During the collagen remodeling phase, the magic is subtle but powerful. New fibers are being laid down. Strength is being rebuilt. Sensitivity is fading.

This is the phase where deep resilience is formed—and your support through ritual and nutrition makes a real difference.

If you’re in this stage of healing right now—I see you. It took me a long time to realize that this stage is actually harder than the inflammation stage because it takes more energy to stay focused and determined on the end goal versus the weird discomfort and subtle fear of relapsing that this stage brings. However, by taking consistent pictures, journaling, meditating and sticking to healthy eating habits, I seen my skin make leaps and bounds in its healing and overall appearance.

So keep nourishing your body, honouring your rituals, and trusting the process. Each meal, each moment of care, is helping your skin become stronger than it was before.

 

As always,

Your beauty starts with self-care.

Mekisha