Have you been noticing your skin looking and feeling a little, well…crepey?
If you’ve got crepey skin on your upper arms, neck, or other areas of your body, you’re likely wondering what causes it and how to get rid of it. The good news is that there are plenty of treatments available—both over-the-counter and professionally administered—to keep crepey skin at bay.
Read on for a comprehensive guide to crepey skin so you can look as young as you feel!
What Causes Crepey Skin?
Crepey skin is dry, thin, easily wrinkled skin that often appears in areas such as the upper arms, neck, or legs. It is a common issue that can affect anyone, regardless of age, caused by a lack of support structures in the skin, such as elastin and collagen (the proteins responsible for keeping our skin firm and wrinkle-free).
Several factors can cause this unfortunate condition:
- Age: As we age our skin’s natural process of regeneration slows down which can lead to a build-up of dead skin cells which can contribute to the appearance of creping skin.
- Genetics: Genetics plays a major role in determining whether or not someone will develop crepy skin. This is why some people may be more prone to developing it than others.
- Hormonal Changes: Hormonal changes due to pregnancy or menopause can also make crepy skin more prominent due to the decrease in collagen production during these times.
- Sun Exposure: Too much sun exposure can cause the collagen and elastin in your skin to break down making it more susceptible to creping.
- Dehydration: If your skin isn’t getting enough hydration, it won’t be able to maintain its elasticity, making it look and feel papery (like crepe paper).
- Environment: Lastly environmental factors such as dry air, smoking, and pollution all contribute to the development of creping skin by damaging collagen fibers leading them to break down faster than normal.
How Is Crepey Skin Treated?
When it comes to treating creping skin, there is no "one size fits all" solution. Depending on the severity of your condition, there are both dermatological treatments and over-the-counter products available.
Dermatological Treatments
Depending on how severe your case is, there are various treatment options available from prescription medications to laser therapies at a dermatologist's office.
Speak to your dermatologist about the best course of treatment for you.
- Prescriptions: Prescription medications such as tretinoin, hydroquinone, and glycolic acid can help reduce dark spots and wrinkles caused by crepey skin.
- Retinoid Creams: Retinoids are powerful antioxidants that help reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture. Retinoid creams can be applied topically to the affected area once or twice a day.
- Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion is a procedure that uses tiny crystals to exfoliate the top layer of skin and promote cell turnover. It can also help reduce wrinkles and improve overall skin tone.
- Chemical Peels: Chemical peels consisting of alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic and lactic acid are used to break down the outer skin layer and stimulate collagen production. This can help reduce wrinkles and improve overall texture.
- Radiofrequency Therapy: Radiofrequency therapy is a non-invasive method that utilizes radio waves to heat the deeper layers of skin, promoting collagen production and reducing wrinkles.
- Ultrasound: Ultrasound technology uses sound waves to promote tissue repair & stimulates collagen production to reduce wrinkles.
- Fillers: Injectable fillers can also help fill in fine lines and wrinkles caused by crepey skin. These injections are often made of hyaluronic acid, which is a natural substance found in the body that helps retain moisture and give skin a more youthful appearance.
- Laser Resurfacing: Laser treatment uses light energy to penetrate the deeper layers of skin, stimulating collagen production to tighten skin and reduce wrinkles.
- Surgery: In more extreme cases, surgery may be recommended. This can involve removing excess loose skin and fat to reduce wrinkles and improve overall texture.
Over-the-Counter Treatments
In addition to dermatological treatments, there are a variety of over-the-counter products available to help improve skin elasticity and treat crepey skin. These products can be found in your local drugstore or online and include topical creams with retinol or peptides which have been shown to help stimulate collagen production and reduce wrinkles, moisturizers to keep skin hydrated, and serums with antioxidants that can help protect against free radical damage.
Additionally, look for products that contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides which help draw moisture into the skin and improve texture. Finally, exfoliation products such as scrubs and masks can help remove dead skin cells and reveal smoother, healthier-looking skin.
By combining dermatological treatments with over-the-counter products, you can effectively reduce the appearance of crepey skin and improve its texture. Speak to your doctor or dermatologist to figure out the best course of treatment for you.
With the right combination of treatments, you can have smoother, healthier-looking skin in no time!
How To Prevent Crepey Skin?
Now that we know what causes it let’s talk about how we can prevent further damage from occurring before it gets too bad – here are some tips!
- Sun Protection: Using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day when going outside is one surefire way of protecting against UVA/UVB rays (the leading cause of skin cancer) resulting in fewer wrinkles & discolorations caused by sun damage. Other ways include wearing protective clothing such as wide-brimmed hats & sunglasses – these will provide extra protection from UVA/UVB rays.
Remember- sunscreen should be applied 15 minutes before heading outdoors & reapplied every 2 hours if staying out longer!
- Hydration: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day keeps our bodies hydrated from within resulting in softer healthier-looking skin – aim for 8 glasses per day.
- Nutrition: Eating nutritious foods helps provide essential vitamins & minerals needed for optimal health including our skin – focus on eating nutrient-dense foods rich in antioxidants & essential fatty acids.
- Topical Creams: Applying topical moisturizers daily after washing helps protect against dehydration while nourishing sensitive skin. Get the best results by choosing a moisturizer with natural ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid specifically formulated to fight crepey skin.
- Home Remedies: Make DIY masks out of natural ingredients found at home such as honey, oats, avocado & yogurt – this helps soothe irritation while helping reduce wrinkles & fine lines.
- Avoid Smoking: Smoking accelerates the development of wrinkles due to its detrimental effects on collagen fibers.
- Exercise Regularly: Working out helps improve circulation which brings more oxygen & nutrients to our skin resulting in a natural glow!
- Collagen Supplements: Taking supplements containing collagen peptides has been known for helping people reduce signs associated with increasing age like wrinkling & sagging skin aka “Creeping Skin”. Collagen supplements come in various forms such as capsules, powders, liquids, or even ready-made drinks.
Don't let crepey skin hold you back from feeling and looking your best! Your journey towards smoother, healthier skin can begins with the right prevention strategies.
If you're eager to enhance your skin’s elasticity, check out our comprehensive review of the top collagen supplement brands for sagging skin. We’ve done the research to bring you the best options available. No more guesswork, just radiant skin!
The Final Mention
Creping or crease-like lines on your face can make you look older than you are; however there are ways you can tackle this issue head-on! We hope we helped inform you about what causes crepy skin as well as ways that you can treat it at home or through professional dermatological treatments!
So don't wait any longer- start taking action today so no one has any doubt about how young you really are!
With a bit of knowledge and some dedication, anyone can fight off those pesky wrinkles and enjoy their beautiful youthful glow again!
Remember to share this post and sign-up to become a free member to join the community- we would love to hear from you in the comment section below!
