What is Crepey skin

The thin-paper-like appearance of the skin is known as crepey skin. As the name denotes Crepey skin similar to the crepey paper-like appearance of the skin. This condition is a result of wrinkles in particular areas of hands, face, etc. The skin’s density reduces and the thin wrinkled skin is known as Crepey Skin.


Cause of Crepey Skin

Here are some of the factors that accelerate crepey skin.

  • Aging- With age the natural collagen and fiber underneath your skin loosen resulting in less supple and wrinkled skin. 

  • Weight Loss- Sudden weight loss also results in excess skin which loses its elastin resulting in a wrinkled skin appearance.

  • SunBurn- The harmful UV rays of the sun is very harmful to the skin which is exposed to sunlight. Thus mostly the face and hands are more affected by it. The UV-A and UV-B rays of the sun damage the underlying tissues and collagen resulting in an accelerated crepey skin appearance.

  • Excessive Smoking- Smoking promotes early aging by destroying the underlying tissues. Thus, excessive consumption of alcohol and smoking causes crepey skin earlier than expected.

  • Loss of moisture- Your skin needs to be hydrated. With numerous factors, the skin loses its natural moisture and thus becomes drier which results in crepey skin. 


What are the ways to prevent crepey skin?

There are several ways through which you can prevent crepey skin. These are as follows-

  • Maintaining a good skincare routine- Many people think that you can use anti-wrinkle cream once you get the actual wrinkles. But this is not true. You should start using an anti-wrinkle cream in your late 20’s and or by your early 30’s. This delays the signs of aging and your wrinkle gets delayed by 5-10 years depending on other factors.

  • Using the right moisturizer- A moisturizer is as important to the skin as water to our body. You should use a moisturizer every day. The right moisturizer meets the water requirement of the skin and gives us supple and tight skin. To get more results you can apply a serum before applying a moisturizer. Serum containing Vitamin C, Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide can give your skin all the nutrients that are required for a tightened glowing skin. Note- Kindly refer to a dermatologist before applying serum as certain ingredients can cause allergic reactions. You can use a different serum on alternate days and Vitamin C should not be mixed with any acidic-based ingredient. 

  • Exercise- There is no alternative to exercise. Weight training or cardio reduces unwanted fat from the body and makes your skin more supple and glowing.

  • Take a balanced diet- You should always take a balanced diet. Junk food adds extra calories to your body and it is reflected in the skin. A healthy life with a lot of fruits and veggies boosts your skin's overall health.

  • Avoid direct Sunlight- Though sunlight is a source of Vitamin D in the body excess of it damages your skin. More than 10 mins of exposure to open sunlight not only damage your skin but also aggravates problems like melasma, hyperpigmentation, and early aging. Always use sunscreen with a high SPF value. If you can use an umbrella while walking in the sunlight then nothing like it.


What are the different ways to treat crepey skin?

DIY treatments- Firstly, let's discuss the natural source to treat crepey skin. An exfoliating sugar-based scrub can reduce the condition to a large extent. Always remember to use a moisturizer after exfoliating your face. The loss of hydration after exfoliation is met by using a moisturizer.

Other than natural sources some clinical treatments can reverse the condition of crepey skin. They are-

  • Dermarollers- These dermal rollers are used by the dermatologist to peel off the excess skin from the body. It is supported with micro-needling( small microneedles are inserted in the face or the affected area ). This process doesn’t affect the underlying blood vessels and boosts the collagen production of the underlying skin. You need a couple of sessions depending upon the condition of your skin. This is an effective and less expensive treatment for crepey skin.

  • Botox and Fillers- Botox and fillers are used to fill underlying tissues and make your skin more supple. It injects fluids in the areas prone to wrinkles and thus your skin appearance gets more fuller and plumper. These are not only used to hide wrinkles but these days botox is also used to get a more defined jawline and plumper and fuller lip. This lasted for a couple of years. After that, you can again go for the treatment as advised by your consultant. 

  • Laser Treatment- Treatments like IPL(Intense Pulsed Light) and PDT(Photo Dynamic Light) are very popular these days. The laser light of varying frequency is injected in the affected area which promotes collagen production and removes the extra skin. Results are visible after a few sessions of this treatment. This is an effective way to get rid of crepey skin. You should take the expert opinion of the dermatologist before going for such treatments.

  • Facelift or other surgical procedure- Treatments like facelift, airsculpt, cool sculpt can give you desired results and are very common these days. When none of the above procedures works you can go for a lift treatment of the affected part of the body. This is the most expensive treatment of all the above procedures. To know more about where to get it done click here.


CONCLUSION

By now, you know what are the ways of getting rid of crepey skin. But my advice is first to try the natural source and as said “prevention is better than cure”, so start to maintain a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet and a good skincare routine right from your mid-20’s. Drink a lot of water, always use sunscreen while going out, do regular exercises, apply moisturizer daily and exfoliate your skin twice a week. All this will certainly delay signs of aging and will make your skin plumper. But, if you have already got crepey skin and are unable to alter its effect then you can go for surgical and laser treatments which reduces the effect of sagging skin in a few sessions.