#2: Can Thin Skin Be Thickened? The short answer: yes, skin can be thickened. While you can't entirely reverse the process of skin thinning, there are ways to increase collagen, repair elastin, and improve your skin's overall appearance.
It is not possible to reverse thinning of the skin. However, moisturizing the skin can make it more flexible and less likely to break. Anything that makes the skin red or sore is likely to be damaging it. A person with thin skin might need to protect it from damage.
Eat foods that are rich in vitamins C and E.
These vitamins repair worn out tissues in the body and therefore slow down the aging process. Foods rich in vitamin C help to increase collagen production, which helps to thicken the skin over time.
Vitamin C–squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin.
Aging, sun exposure and genetics all play a role in thinning skin. Certain medications, such as long-term use of corticosteroids, also can weaken the skin and blood vessels in the skin. Thin skin isn't necessarily a sign of an underlying medical condition.
Collagen loss makes the skin less able to repair itself, causing thin, fragile skin.
Fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and herring, are excellent foods for healthy skin. They're rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for maintaining skin health (1). Omega-3 fatty acids are necessary to help keep skin thick, supple, and moisturized.
The most common sign of thin skin is that it seems almost transparent. In such cases, the individual may be able to see his/her tendons, bones, or veins very easily. This skin type is prone to damage, and patients may even notice tears or bruises on their skin after the most minor injuries.
Both collagen and elastin give our soft tissue and skin stretch and resilience. Fibroblasts start to become less active as early as our twenties, so skin thinning can begin when we are still very young (1). Most people won't notice this until they reach their sixties and their skin becomes more fragile and delicate(2).
Topical retinoids are a mainstay in reversing thin skin. Multiple studies report improvement of skin atrophy after topical tretinoin was applied to the forearms in photoaged skin of older adults. Topical retinoids have been shown to stimulate epidermal hyperplasia, possibly by inducing HB-EGF.
This is called extrinsic aging. As a result, premature aging can set in long before it was expected. In other words, your biological clock is more advanced than your chronological clock. Controllable factors such as stress, smoking and sun exposure can all play a role in expediting extrinsic aging.
Eating foods rich in vitamin C and amino acids can increase the levels of hyaluronic acid and collagen in the body as both are important for skin. Foods such as oranges, red peppers, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and strawberries are all rich in vitamin C.
Here's what you can do: Wash with a gentle, fragrance-free, moisturizing bar soap, cleanser, or body wash. Doing so will help soothe rather than dry your skin. Moisturizing ingredients that can help reduce dryness include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and lanolin.
“No studies have proven that biotin supplements will change the appearance of your hair, skin or nails,” Barth says. “But some people find that taking a biotin supplement helps them boost hair and nail growth. It's usually not harmful to try biotin for thicker hair or healthier nails.”
Retinol cream with vitamin A is thought to be effective in the treatment of thin skin. In fact, according to a 2018 study, topical retinoids are a mainstay in reversing thin skin.
Unfortunately, there is no way to reverse thinning skin. However, there are steps that your mother can take to protect it. It sounds obvious, but using sunscreen, avoiding peak sun and wearing protective clothing are all important. So is a balanced diet and drinking enough water.
It's been shown repeatedly that omega-3 fatty acids are essential for increasing collagen production, and therefore, making our skin stronger and improving the barrier function of our skin. Vitamin C also plays a major role in collagen, and you'll find it in foods like broccoli, leafy greens and citrus fruits.
When are we considered old? For women, the old age threshold is about 73; for men, 70.