What effect does aging have on the skin's elasticity?

Aging has a significant impact on the skin's elasticity, which is its ability to stretch and rebound. As people age, the production of collagen and elastin, two critical proteins that help maintain skin's structural integrity, decreases. This reduction leads to a loss of elasticity, making the skin less able to bounce back after stretching. Consequently, this can result in sagging skin and the formation of wrinkles, contributing to an overall appearance that is less firm and youthful.

In contrast, options suggesting that aging increases elasticity, has no effect on it, or promotes smoothness and firmness misrepresent the physiological changes that occur in the skin as someone ages. Over time, environmental factors such as sun exposure, lifestyle choices, and the natural aging process further exacerbate the decline in elasticity, reinforcing why the correct answer focuses on the decrease in skin elasticity associated with aging.