Crepey skin is thin and looks finely wrinkled like crepe paper. It may also sag or feel loose. While crepey skin is similar to common wrinkles in many ways, the condition tends to impact larger areas, and this skin feels noticeably more fragile and thin.
Unfortunately, no at-home fix will reverse the look of crepey skin, but methods used by dermatologists can often vastly improve the look of your skin.
Dr. Kassouf recommends retinol topical creams to help reduce that crepey look. Retinols help restore skin's elasticity and thicken collagen (which gives our skin its structure) as well as elastin (which gives our skin its stretch).
While there are many causes of crepey skin, including aging, hormonal changes, dehydration, weight loss, using tobacco, and even stress, Dr. McMahan says, “The main reason people develop crepey skin is prolonged or excessive exposure to sunlight.
Reduces Wrinkles. Water keeps your body hydrated and refreshed and helps maintain your skin's elasticity. People who drink large amounts of water are less likely to suffer from scars, wrinkles, and soft lines and they won't show as many signs of aging as those who drink little amounts of water.
vitamin E may be effective for crepey skin, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
As its name suggests, crepey skin resembles the crepe paper from which streamers are made — it's loose, thin, and slightly wrinkled. You're most likely to notice crepey skin on your arms, hands, and neck. It's more common as you get older and begins to appear after age 40.
Dry skin brushing tightens and tones your skin by increasing the flow of blood to your skin's outer layers. This increased circulation can also help lessen the appearance of cellulite.
Will Coconut Oil Help Crepey Skin? In a nutshell, the answer is: Yes. According to research, saturated fatty acids that have emollient properties can be found within coconut oil.
Building muscle mass through weight training exercises can help decrease the appearance of loose skin, especially if the loose skin is from weight loss.
Blood pressure drugs, cholesterol medications, acne treatments, wrinkle creams, and antihistamines when taken long-term, are all medications that cause dry skin. Elderly patients who take these medications are at an even higher risk for skin complications because their skin is already more fragile.
Olive oil may be effective for crepey skin, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
As just mentioned, collagen the protein that keeps your skin firm and elastic is the most abundant protein in your body. Once sugar attaches to collagen, it becomes rigid and inflexible and therefore your skin is more likely to sag and develop wrinkles- two things you don't want have!
Over-the-counter treatments
Lactic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and hyaluronic acid can also help to moisturize the skin and improve the skin's appearance. For crepey skin on your arms or legs, look for a body moisturizer that contains ammonium lactate like Lac-Hydrin or AmLactin.
Itching and Discomfort
Because crepey skin is thinned and damaged, it can become irritated. Moisturizing regularly can help relieve itching.
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.
Ultraviolet radiation, which speeds the natural aging process, is the primary cause of early wrinkling. Exposure to UV light breaks down your skin's connective tissue — collagen and elastin fibers, which lie in the deeper layer of skin (dermis).
While it's impossible to reverse the signs of aging without medical procedures, eating more protein and choosing skincare products designed to plump and firm the skin can help. Protein is one of the best ingredients to fight crepey skin and can be used in skincare products, the foods we eat, and health supplements.
In a new paper published in Nature, a research team found that a collagen protein called COL17A1 plays a key role in maintaining youthful skin. Declining levels of this protein over time cause our skin to develop wrinkles, sag, and lose its elasticity, according to the paper.
For your body
You can apply olive oil to dry patches of your skin or use it as an all-over moisturizer. Nussbaum notes that while it's non-comedogenic, it can still clog pores and doesn't recommend the oil-as-a-moisturizer trick to the acne-prone folk.
Proper exfoliation is key to improving the appearance of skin crepiness, and exfoliation also prepares the skin to receive the maximum benefits from moisturization. "Exfoliation loosens and removes the top layers of dull dead skin cells and improves the skin's appearance," Dr. Levin says.
Because crepey skin is a surface issue, exfoliation can help a lot, as you are removing that surface layer of skin. If you're noticing crepiness, try stepping up your exfoliation to see if that helps. You can use gentle sugar-based scrubs, or fruit-acid based exfoliating products, or both in an alternating routine.
Stand with elbows at shoulder height and bent to 90 degrees, forearms parallel to the floor with 1 weight in each hand and palms facing down. Without moving your elbows, raise forearms perpendicular to the floor, palms now facing forward. Next, press the weights overhead, extending arms. Slowly reverse the move.
Bicep Curls
Position your arms in front of your hips with the insides of your arms facing forward. Raise your forearms toward your shoulders while keeping your elbows by your sides. Lower the weights with control to complete the repetition. Perform eight to 24 reps, three times per week.