It’s only common to want to know how to get rid of crepey skin. And the reason why it’s so common is that crepey skin itself is a part of the natural and sometimes inevitable process of aging.
But crepey skin and old age don’t necessarily have to go hand in hand. You can take certain measures ahead of time to prevent the formation of crepey skin. And if you have crepey skin already, then there are many effective treatment methods as well.
Crepey skin, after all, is much like wrinkles and fine lines. It’s a result of your skin losing its elasticity and becoming more flaccid. But crepey skin is marked by the appearance of thin, wrinkled crepe paper. And the skin feels notably more fragile.
So let’s not waste any more time and get to know everything about crepey skin. Including how to prevent and treat it.
Crepey Skin - What Is It?
The appearance of crepey skin is much like finely wrinkled, thin crepe paper. Crepey skin sometimes even appears to sag and feel loose. It has a lot in common with other aging-related signs like fine lines and wrinkles. But crepey skin impacts larger areas. And it makes the skin look more thin and fragile.
The most common regions where crepey skin is likely to develop are the upper side of your inner arms and under your eyes.
Crepey Skin - What Are Its Causes?
- Sun Damage
As for the most common cause, you should know that the sun’s natural UV light penetrates your skin and breaks down its elastin and collagen. Both of which are responsible for keeping the skin wrinkle-free and tight. This means your skin develops fine lines and wrinkles. And it starts to loosen and become thin.
- Aging
Another common factor is age. As you grow older, your skin produces less elastin and collagen. Meaning the loss of skin tightness and elasticity.
On top of that, there’s stress and pollution too that don’t make matters any easier. Even smoking has long-term negative effects on the skin.
- Hormonal Changes
I’m sure you already know that hormonal changes have a direct impact on your skin. They’re responsible for causing excessive dryness. Plus, unstable hormonal levels reduce natural sebum production. In simple words, the natural oils that protect and hydrate your skin get compromised. Therefore, the lack of moisture protection and excessive dryness lead to crepey skin.
Crepey Skin - How to Prevent It?
One very effective prevention method comes in the form of sunscreen. It’s necessary after all to protect your skin from sun damage. So you can keep away crepey skin along with other common skin conditions as well. Such as hyperpigmentation, acne, rosacea, premature aging, etc.
Make sure the SPF rating of your moisturizing sunscreen formula is 30 or higher. Since we’re on the subject, let me also tell you that you can prevent crepey skin by not exposing your skin to the artificial UV light of tanning beds. Tanning bed UV radiation damages skin cell DNA. And that, in turn, results in your skin aging faster and even skin cancer.
Using a good body lotion or moisturizer on a daily basis is yet another very effective prevention strategy. The gentle formulation should have highly recommended ingredients like hyaluronic acid to boost skin moisture. Moisturizing ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, aloe vera, shea butter, etc. also do an excellent job in terms of hydrating and softening your skin.
And lastly, turn to antioxidants for the prevention of more than just crepey skin. Veggies and fruits loaded with antioxidants should be a part of your daily diet. In that case, even Vitamin C is extremely beneficial as it increases the production of collagen.
Crepey Skin - How to Treat It?
To be honest, it’s never too late when it comes to treating your skin condition and health. As long as you figure out the best treatment method, reducing the noticeable appearance of crepey skin is indeed possible.
- At-Home Treatment
First and foremost, using a body lotion specifically formulated with ingredients that boost hydration, collagen production, and elasticity is very important. These formulas are specially created for strengthening your skin’s natural protection barrier.
So, no matter how crepey your skin looks and feels, you might want to check out these body lotions reviewed by skincare experts.
The next at-home treatment remedy consists of simple homemade sugar scrub. What this does is eliminate dead and dry skin cells. Thus, improving the appearance and texture of your skin.
Then comes simple, everyday tasks like drinking plenty of water for providing your skin with the moisture and hydration it needs to look healthy and young. In that case, nutrition also plays a major role. Include foods packed with antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and Vitamins A, C, D, and E.
- Over-the-Counter Treatment
Sun damage skin or aging skin benefits a great deal from OTT skin care products containing peptides, alpha-hydroxy acids, and retinoids. These ingredients certainly know how to encourage the production of fresh, new skin cells. And also to get rid of damaged, dry, or dead skin cells.
Look for alpha-hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, and lactic acid. All of them improve the appearance of crepey skin while also moisturizing it.
- Dermatological Treatment
There are the 5 most common dermatological treatments for crepey skin…
- Fractional Laser Treatment
The treatment method here uses lasers for heating up small regions below your skin. This process boosts collagen production. And helps in smoothing out wrinkles from within.
One of the most common areas where crepey skin develops is below the eyes. It’s an area that responds very well to Fractional Laser Treatment.
- Topical Retinoid
The retinoid comes in the form of either a gel or cream. And what topical retinoids do is boost skin cell turnover and encourage skin exfoliation.
But keep in mind that retinoids tend to cause dryness. So if you’re not using the ingredient minimally along with a moisturizing lotion, then it has the ability to aggravate crepey skin.
- Cryolipolysis
It’s known as CoolSculpting and it’s a non-invasive treatment method. Cryolipolysis helps in eliminating localized fat areas. In simple words, the procedure freezes your lipids present in the fat cells. Therefore, these lipids dissolve slowly.
The treatment is the most suitable when there’s too much loose skin over too much fat. After all, it does indeed tighten the skin by getting rid of the fat present below the surface.
- Ultrasound
Much like Fractional Laser Treatment, Ulthera is also a very common dermatological skin-tightening process. The procedure makes use of targeted ultrasound for heating your skin’s supporting tissues underneath it. The intense heat does the job of breaking down some skin cells and stimulating the production of collagen.
The Ultrasound or Ulthera treatment method is typically employed for reducing the appearance of crepey skin on the neck and face.
- Fillers
Did you know that biostimulatory filling agents improve not just the appearance but also the thickness and texture of crepey skin? These fillers include Sculptra and Radiesse. And they’re injected into the skin for boosting collagen production.
Conclusion
So there are plenty of ways to prevent and treat crepey skin. Please keep in mind that skin damage caused by UV light, both natural and artificial, is the most common cause. So never neglect to put on sunscreen on your face, neck, arms, and any part that’s directly exposed to the sun.
Then comes the inevitable process of aging, which you certainly cannot prevent but you can keep those aging-related signs under control. This includes wrinkles, fine lines, and crepey skin. And you can do so simply by incorporating skincare formulas equipped with anti-aging, hydration-boosting, and skin-repairing ingredients.