Imagine waking up one morning, looking in the mirror, and noticing that your skin has started to resemble something you’d find in an arts and crafts store rather than on a human body.
You’re not turning into a paper mache project, but your skin has taken on a texture that’s eerily similar to crepe paper.
This condition, aptly named ‘crepey skin’, is a common sign of aging and can be quite unsettling.
But fear not!
You’re not alone, and more importantly, it’s not irreversible.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the world of crepey skin – understanding why it happens, how to prevent it, and most importantly, how to treat it if you’ve already started noticing it.
So sit back, relax, and let’s unfold the mystery of crepey skin together.
What causes crepey skin?
If you have read some of my other posts, you may guess what the number one cause is.
Other than aging, the main cause of crepey skin is overexposure to the sun.
Even though you think of the sun causing immediate damage, like sunburn and suntans, the real damage shows up later in life.
The sun damages the skin cells, which makes it harder for your skin to keep moisture, which leads to dry skin more prone to wrinkling.
The sun also destroys collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep your skin intact, plump, and bouncy.
Tanning beds are also a culprit of causing skin damage, leading to dry and crepey skin.
Other causes of crepey skin include dehydration of skin, smoking, poor nutrition, hormonal changes, and rapid weight loss. Long-term use of medications, such as the steroid prednisone, can cause your skin to become thin and reduce elasticity.
How to prevent crepey skin
Even though there are several ways to develop crepey skin, there are even more ways to prevent it. Here’s a list of those ways and why to incorporate them into your routine:
1. Sunscreen- This is the most important thing you can do for your skin. Use an SPF of 30 or above and if you’re going to be out in the sun for a while, reapply every 2 hours.
2. Keep skin hydrated- Make sure you drink plenty of water, around 8 eight ounce glasses a day. Also, using moisturizers with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and emollients will help improve your skin’s hydration, barrier function, photodamage, fine lines, and wrinkles.
3. Use retinol products with retinol- Retinol can stimulate the amount of collagen your body makes and plump up your skin, which will help smooth those lines and wrinkles.
4. Exfoliate- Exfoliating your skin helps to remove the outer layer of skin by removing dead skin cells. It will also boost collagen and elastin production and support healthy skin cell turnover.
5. Eat healthy- Your diet should include vitamins and minerals that support healthy skin such as omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins A,C, D, and E, as well as food containing collagen.
The foods to include are salmon, avocado, leafy greens, nuts, berries, oats, oranges, fish, and grapes.
6. Avoid hot showers & baths- Hot water can strip your skin of its natural moisture.
7. Don’t smoke- Smoking causes collagen and elastin to breakdown causing your skin to lose its elasticity and sag.
8. Exercise- Exercising and building up your muscles can help pull your skin back in place and help blood flow so important nutrients and oxygen get to your skin.
What to do if your skin is already crepey
First of all, if your skin only gets crepey from time to time, then it’s a moisture problem. So, all you have to do, if that’s the issue, is moisturize your skin.
However, if your skin is consistently dry and crepey, then you may need to consider other ways to treat your skin.
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Over-the-counter products
1. Moisturizers: Look for products that contain hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or glycerin. These ingredients can help your skin retain moisture. Some popular options include CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Aging Body Lotion.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Aging Body Lotion contains white almond extract and elderberry blossom extract for tightening the skin and nutrient rich oils to improve the loss of elasticity.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is the best drugstore brand you can get. It’s gentle on sensitive skin and contains hyaluronic acid and 3 essential ceramides to provide 24 hour hydration, plump your skin, and help maintain your skin’s barrier.
2. Exfoliants: Products containing alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic acid or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) such as salicylic acid can help remove dead skin cells and promote new skin growth.
For gentle exfoliation and deep moisturization, Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Glycolic Body Lotion will make a huge difference in dry, crepey skin.
With a blend of glycolic, lactic, tartaric, and citric acids working together, they will reveal brighter and more youthful looking skin.
Plant oils and butters that are rich in antioxidants penetrate deeply into the skin to provide moisture for dry, irritated skin. Additionally, squalene, vitamin F, sodium hyaluronate, and niacinamide collaborate to strengthen and improve the overall health of the skin’s protective barrier.
3. Retinol: Retinol can help improve skin elasticity and stimulate collagen production. For face and neck repair, look no further than RoC Multi Correxion Crepe Repair and for the rest of your body, there’s RoC Multi Correxion Crepe Repair Targeted Treatment.
In 4 weeks’ time, you will see a reduction in crepey skin, a reduction in sagging, and your elasticity restored.
Learn about all retinol’s benefits here.
4. Sunscreen: Sun damage is a major cause of dry, crepey skin. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day to protect your skin.
Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Oxide Dry Touch SPF 50 is a water resistant, no-greasy, hypoallergenic mineral sunscreen that provides the ultimate protection from UVA and UVB rays and is gentle enough for sensitive skin.
5. Antioxidants: Products that contain antioxidants like vitamins C and E can help protect your skin from damage.
For face and neck, Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Restorative Night Cream is antioxidant rich in vitamins C & E, and blackberry complex which will strengthen your skin’s barrier, restore its elasticity, and enhance moisture.
The Best Product To Address Your Dry, Crepey Skin
DefenAge 8 in 1 Bioserum is this brands supreme bestseller and can be used anywhere on your body.
This serum is so popular because it seems to understand your skin’s needs better than your own DNA,
It contains the patented Age Repair Defensins, which are molecules that wake up your dormant skin cells, which then causes a wound healing response to kick in and create new skin.
What can you expect from 8 in 1 Bioserum?
- Firmness, elasticity, and texture renewed
- Skin barrier and immunity promoted
- Skin tone and clarity is brighter
- Skin luminosity is enhanced
- Overall visible skin health and quality is improved
- Look of fine lines, wrinkles, pores, skin pigmentation and discolorations are minimized
- Skin’s natural moisture is revived
- Appearance of any skin redness is improved
What makes 8 in 1 Bioserum different?
- Can be used on all skin types including those with sensitive skin, rosacea, and melasma
- Has 5 times more defensin molecules than any other formula
- Can be used daily by both men and women
- Safe and effective for use around your eyes, lips, neck, and decollette
- High performing on crepey thin skin on your neck and arms
- Has a lightweight application, so you don’t feel it all day and night
- Boosts results of procedures such as fractional and ablative lasering, microneedling, RF microneedling, and Softwave
- Enhances results of filler treatments when you prep your skin for 4 to 6 weeks before procedure
- Makes a great retinol or bakuchiol alternative
You end up with the results of 8 serums from this 1, hence the name, 8 in 1!
Learn more about DefenAge and their other products here.
Professional Treatment Options
While the decision of which treatment will be the best for you will be between you and your dermatologist, here is a list of which options are available and for which area on the body.
- Fractional Laser Treatment (Fraxel) – This is non-invasive and uses small lasers to make microscopic holes in your skin, which in turn promotes the new growth of collagen. It can be used anywhere on your body and works really well around the eyes.
- Dermal Fillers – Fillers, such as Radiesse or Sculptra, are injected to stimulate collagen growth. This can be done for the face and arms to plump your skin and give it a more youthful appearance.
- Ultrasound – This is an alternative method that does not involve surgery and can initiate the production of collagen. By applying intense heat, it is able to disrupt cells, which in turn encourages the development of fresh collagen. This technique is particularly effective in addressing wrinkled skin on the face and neck. The recovery period for this procedure is minimal to nonexistent, and the majority of individuals are satisfied with the outcome within a span of 90 days.
- Cryolipolysis – Also known as Coolsculpting, it’s designed to be used externally on the skin to freeze and eliminate fat cells without the need for surgery. The fat cells are subsequently eliminated from the body through the lymphatic system, resulting in a tightening of the skin and reduction of crepiness. Many individuals notice improvements in their appearance within three weeks to three months following the treatment.
- Microneedling – This creates tiny holes in your skin to trigger the production of collagen and elastin to heal the wounds. Results can appear in a week, or take 4 to 6 weeks. You may also need several treatments depending on your unique needs.
- Chemical Peel – This uses a chemical solution to remove the outer layer of skin, which promotes skin cell turnover and stimulates collagen production. Depending on the type of chemical peel used will determine downtime and recovery.
- Surgery – This is generally used for those who have rapid weight loss and have extremely excessive skin.
Conclusion
In conclusion, crepey skin is a common skin issue caused by various factors such as aging, sun exposure, tanning beds, dehydration, smoking, poor nutrition, hormonal changes, rapid weight loss, and long-term medication use.
However, there are numerous preventative measures and treatments available.
These include regular use of sunscreen, maintaining hydration, using retinol products and exfoliation, maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding hot showers and smoking, and regular exercise.
If the skin is already crepey, moisturization is key. Over-the-counter products like moisturizers, exfoliants, retinol products, sunscreens, and antioxidants can be beneficial.
The DefenAge 8 in 1 Bioserum is highly recommended for its multi-faceted benefits.
Professional treatments like laser treatment, dermal fillers, ultrasound, cryolipolysis, microneedling, chemical peels, and even surgery can also be considered.
Always consult with a dermatologist to understand the best treatment for your unique skin needs.