Our skin goes through significant changes as we age. From wrinkles and fine lines, to dark spots and crepey skin, our complexion goes through a lot. Although these skin concerns are a normal part of aging, we understand if they bug you and you want some tips to help. Crepey skin is mostly due to sun damage, which breaks down the skin’s elastin. Here’s how to get rid of crepey skin and how to prevent it in the first place.
What is Crepey Skin?
Crepey skin is skin that resembles delicate crepe paper. When skin is wrinkled, fragile, and hanging loose, it’s called crepey skin. Similar to wrinkled skin, crepey skin is a condition that occurs when people age due to UV rays and environmental damage. But while wrinkles occur due to genetics, facial movements, and some sun damage, crepey skin is mostly due to sun damage from the sun breaking down elastin. When skin loses collagen and elastin, the skin can appear saggy, crinkled, and loose.
What Causes Crepey Skin?
There are a number of things that are responsible for causing crepey skin. The natural aging process causes wrinkles and fine lines, and exposure to UV rays can cause significant skin damage. Over time, UV radiation breaks down the elasticity of the skin that allows it to bounce back to its usual position after it stretches. Long-term exposure to UV rays makes the skin looser, less elastic, and less able to repair any damage. Other factors that can cause crepey skin include significant weight loss, alcohol consumption, lack of moisture in the skin, smoking, pollution, sleep deprivation, stress, and an unhealthy diet.
How to Prevent Crepey Skin
1. Wear SPF Daily
We pretty much say this in every single skincare post, but wearing SPF everyday is the best way to keep your skin healthy and protect it from the sun’s harmful rays. It will help prevent sun spots, sun cancer, and age-related wrinkles, plus it will keep your skin looking youthful with fewer lines and crepiness.
2. Prioritize a Healthy Lifestyle
An overall healthy lifestyle is the best foundation for healthy skin. Make sure you’re eating a healthy diet, with lots of vegetables, fruit, omega 3s, healthy fats, whole grains, protein, and legumes. The healthier the foods you consume, the better your skin will look. Exercise and daily movement is also amazing for the skin, as is adequate sleep hygiene. Avoid excessive alcohol, smoking, sugar, and processed foods, as these can wreak havoc on your complexion.
3. Cleanse Your Face Properly
Properly cleansing your skin in the morning and at night is super important. Cleansing washes off makeup, dirt, oil, and impurities from the day, creating a clean surface for the rest of your products to do their thing. If you’re not properly cleansing your skin, you won’t be able to reap all the skincare benefits. Stay away from makeup wipes, which tend to push makeup and dirt around your face, and invest in a good cleanser that thoroughly melts away makeup, impurities, and dead skin cells.
How to Get Rid of Crepey Skin
1. Add Hyaluronic Acid to Your Routine
Keeping your skin well moisturized is extremely important as a lack of hydration can be a nightmare when combined with crepey skin. While using a good moisturizer morning and night is great, another ingredient to add is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid works to seal in moisture your body has already created. It attracts and adds moisture back into the skin, keeping it smooth and youthful. If your skin is lacking plumpness or is dull, hyaluronic acid is key.
2. Go For Retinol
Retinol stimulates collagen and elastin production, and helps thicken the skin’s foundation, making fine lines and crepiness less apparent. Retinoids also help the skin regenerate faster. Since retinol can dry out the skin, it’s best to use a small amount and moisturize immediately after. It’s also known to deactivate with sunlight, so it’s best to use as part of your nighttime skincare routine.
3. Incorporate Peptides
Peptides are small proteins that help maintain the skin’s firmness. They penetrate the top layer of your skin and send signals to your cells to let them know how they should function. They also boost collagen production, which is key for restoring and maintaining the skin’s firmness and elasticity. The more collagen in your skin, the less likely you are to develop crepey skin. When used on a regular basis, peptides work to rejuvenate your skin, making your complexion youthful and more resilient.
4. Exfoliation
Chemical exfoliation is another important step of a crepe-combatting routine. AHAs such a glycolic or malic acid gently resurface the skin, while also brightening it. AHAs are also humectants, meaning they help boost hydration by drawing water into the skin. Since texture is part of the problem with crepiness, exfoliation is a no-brainer.
5. Use Antioxidants for Extra Protection
Along with SPF, antioxidants are a key part of protecting your skin against aggressors such as UV rays. Products such as vitamin C serum shield the skin from environmental free radicals that contribute to skin aging. It’s known for combatting fine lines and wrinkles, which can enhance the look of crepey skin. Regular application of antioxidants can improve skin firmness and elasticity.
6. Try Microneedling
Microneedling is a non-invasive procedure in which tiny needles are rolled over the skin, creating microscopic punctures that stimulate collagen. It’s great for anyone with textural concerns, including crepey skin, and is known as one of the most effective anti-aging treatments out there. Book a consultation to see if it’s right for you.
If you’re worried about or dealing with crepey skin, use these tips and remedies to prevent and minimize this skincare woe.
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