If your skin is loose, wrinkled, and has a fragile texture like crepe paper, then you’re a victim of crepiness. While crepe paper sure sounds great for your art projects, it’s not remotely as much fun when your skin has a similar kind of texture.
Crepey skin looks pretty much similar to wrinkles but they’re different. That’s because it’s not the result of old age. Crepiness generally occurs as a result of sun exposure.
When you’re exposed to the sun, the UV rays break down collagen and elastin fibers in your skin. Due to the loss of collagen and elastin, your skin starts to lose elasticity. It becomes loose, fragile, and wrinkled.
Crepey skin is more common in older people, however, it can also happen in younger people. Also, folks with fair skin are more susceptible to this problem. If you happen to burn rather than tan, then there’s a good chance you can develop crepey skin and wrinkles at an early age.
It’s also important to note that indoor tanning sessions can also cause this problem as there are UV radiations involved. Moreover, it’s imperative that we understand that UV exposure isn’t the sole cause of this problem.
There are some other factors that can lead to crepe-like skin. For example, pollution, lack of moisture, unhealthy diet, smoking, etc. can also cause your skin to become loose and fragile.
That said, there’s still a silver lining to it. Crepey skin is not something that’s inevitable. You can prevent it or, at least, delay it. Below you’ll find some great tips on how to fix crepey skin.
Crepey Skin Prevention & Treatment
As they say, prevention is better than cure! Meaning it’ll be much easier for you to prevent crepey skin than to actually treat it. But if that ship has sailed, there’s still a lot of things you can do to fix this problem. Let’s take a look!
Wear Sunscreen
Like we mentioned above, UV exposure is still the leading cause of this problem. And how can you deal with that? Wear sunscreen! Sun protection not only delays crepiness but it can also stop it from getting worse.
Sunscreens block UV rays and prevent them from breaking down elastin fibers in your skin. And as a result, your skin won’t lose elasticity. But this is not the only way you benefit from wearing sunscreen.
Sunscreens can also prevent skin cancer, sunburns, and premature aging. That should be more than enough to get someone to invest in a decent SPF.
OTC Products
There are several over-the-counter products that can help you get rid of crepey skin. For example, retinol has been known to reverse sun damage and help with crepiness. Several AHAs and BHAs are also helpful in treating this problem.
Glycolic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid — they all are great when it comes to the skin that resembles crepe paper. Exfoliation is just great, and your skin will thank you for it later.
Moisturize
We’re often schooled about the importance of moisturization. Oddly enough, some of us still don’t moisturize regularly, or at all. If you’re planning to get rid of this problem, you’re gonna have to moisturize.
And the good news is that there are a lot of lotions and moisturizers that help with crepey skin. It doesn’t matter where on the body you got crepey skin — whether on your arms, legs, neck, hands, or even your face — you can find products made specifically for those areas.
Trust us, moisturization would help a great deal. You’ll notice that your skin will become less wrinkly and loose upon regular moisturization.
Laser Treatments
If you’ve got money to spare, you can try out laser treatments. They’re very effective. Your dermatologist may recommend treatment options such as using a radiofrequency device or ultrasound based on the severity of the situation.
These treatment options are very effective especially on the neck and face. And they work by heating up your skin, remodeling the collagen & stimulating its production, making your skin tighter as a result. You can also go for micro-needling or skin resurfacing treatment options. Make sure to consult your dermatologist to make an informed decision.
Other Things
Some other things that you can do is quit smoking, eat a balanced diet, and keep yourself hydrated all the time. On top of that, limit sun exposure if that’s possible. Doing physical exercises may also help you in the long run. Massaging the affected areas with oils and lotions can also prove beneficial. Above all, get plenty of rest and drink lots of water.
Conclusion
Crepiness is not a great experience at all. But thanks to the advancement in the skincare world, you can take preventative measures to avoid it. Then there are several treatment options available to help you with the problem.
Hopefully, this article helped you find the information you were looking for. By following the tips mentioned above, you’ll be able to achieve healthy and youthful skin.
