Our skin might become increasingly loose and flabby as we age. The most prevalent cause of skin that feels as thin as paper or as crepe isn’t aging.
Crepey skin, unlike folds all around the eyes and mouth, is usually caused by sun exposure. The fibers in your epidermis enable the stretching and return to their regular place are broken down by exposure to sunlight over time.
Those fibers can recover, but following multiple exposures over time, they remove their capacity to repair entirely. Consider it a stretchy waistline that gets softer over time.
What Is Crepey Skin?
The surface of crepey skin is thin and wrinkled, similar to crepe paper. It also shows a lack of flexibility or resilience; when expanded, it does not back to its original tone as fast as skin from a kid or a young person.
The most frequent form of crepey skin is found in places that are exposed to the sun. Brown spots (sometimes referred to as “liver” or “age” spots) and damaged red capillaries are common. Another sort of crepey skin can be found in locations that aren’t exposed to the sun, such as the insides of both the upper arms. It is more common in women than in men.
Causes Of Crepey Skin
The crepey complexion is more frequent among the elderly, but it can also be caused by other factors. UV exposure is a frequent source of crepey skin. The biggest preventable cause of initial skin damage is exposure to UV radiation.
Exposure to sunlight and use of tanning can cause this type of harm. UV light causes the skin’s suppleness to deteriorate over time. When the skin has normal elasticity, it can bounce back to its original position after being stretched.
After stretching, skin that has lost its elasticity owing to UV damage becomes laxer and does not soon return to its original posture. While the epidermis has the potential to recover, long-term UV exposure causes the skin to loosen and become less elastic.
Other causes may include:
- Significant weight fluctuation
- Alcohol consumption
- Lack of moisture
- Medications such as Prednisone
- Smoking
- Sleep deprivation
- Pollution
- Difficulty in eating a balanced diet
- Heat exposure
- Increased cortisol levels
Prevention From Crepey Skin On Upper Arms
To avoid crepey skin, it’s critical to adequately keep your skin from sunlight exposure. Keep as much of your skin out of the sun as possible, and do not forget to always wear sunscreen and UV-protective clothes.
A decent body lotion or moisturizer might also help a lot. To prevent or improve the look of crepey skin utilize products containing glycerin or hyaluronic acid. These chemicals attract and hold moisture, keeping your skin moisturized and plump. Avocado oil and cocoa butter are all moisturizing oils that can help soften and hydrate your skin.
While no specific supplements or foods have been demonstrated to enhance wrinkles skin, a very well-balanced diet rich in antioxidants, such as those found in colorful fruits and vegetables, can help to support the skin health and the rest of the body. Vitamin C, in particular, maybe good for skin health since it aids in the formation of collagen.
However, increasing your antioxidant intake will not instantly improve your skin. “You can’t eat a pound of blueberries expecting your skin will look better,” said Amy Kassouf, a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist, “but it does help avoid that breakdown over time.”
Retinol-containing topical creams may help enhance skin suppleness and collagen synthesis. Treatments help cells regenerate more quickly, which may lessen the risk of crepey skin.
However, because retinol can dry up the skin, it’s recommended to use a tiny portion and moisturize right afterward. Retinol is available in both prescribed and (OTC) forms.
Peptides are another component of topical creams. These operate as a message to the skin, telling it that it is injured and that more collagen is needed to help tighten it up. Based on the concentration, this component can be found in over-the-counter or prescription topical treatments.
Treatment Of Crepey Skin
To improve skin health and minimize crepey skin, a variety of treatments can be used. What therapies are best depends on your skin type and the place on your body. Whatever method you use, the earlier you treat wrinkled skin, the simpler it will be to see a difference in its look, texture, firmness, and support. Your dermatologist can assist you in determining the best therapies for your skin and ensuring that you are diagnosed correctly.
Dermatological Treatments
- Topical Retinoid
Retinoids, whether in the form of a cream or a gel, promote exfoliation and cell renewal. However, if these products aren’t utilized with prudence and a moisturizer, they can be irritating and exacerbate crepey skin.
- Fractional Laser Treatment
This procedure employs lasers to heat small areas beneath the skin, promoting the formation of new collagen. From within, this helps to strengthen your epidermis and smooth out wrinkles. Crepey skin close to the underarms responds nicely to therapy with Fraxel dual laser.
- Ultrasound
Ulthera is an epidermis therapy that uses focused ultrasound to burn the supporting tissues beneath your skin, comparable to fractional laser therapy. This extreme heat helps to shrink your skin by breaking down a few of the layers and stimulating collagen formation. This procedure is usually reserved for the face and neck, rather than the upper arm. Because topical anesthetics are ineffective and neurons in the upper arm can make the procedure painful, this is the only option.
- Cryolipolysis
Cryolipolysis is a method for removing fat from specific regions. The fat cells’ lipids are frozen and progressively disintegrate as a result of the treatment. When excess skin is already over excess fat, cryolipolysis is utilized to tighten the skin by eliminating the fat beneath the surface.
- Fillers
Radiesse or Sculptra, a bio stimulatory filling agent, can improve the look, structure, and density of crepey skin. These substances are infused into your body to promote collagen development.
Treatments At Home
A sugar scrub can help exfoliate rough, dead cells and enhance your skin’s overall look. The greatest thing you can do at your home to treat crepey skin is to make sure you’re using gentle body and face cleansers that don’t remove your skin from its natural lipid and protein shield, and that you’re properly moisturizing afterward.
