There are many names for the thin skin that develops on our bodies as we age- crepey skin, wrinkled skin, thin skin, elephant skin or grandma skin.
Most commonly called crepey skin, this type of skin is characterized by being loose and wrinkled.
It is one of the most frustrating signs of the aging process, as well as one of the most common.
What is crepey skin?
Crepey skin is given that moniker as it closely resembles paper – specifically, dry, tissue thin and wrinkly crepe paper. Crepey skin on the body looks saggy and fragile, and can also be scaly. In scientific terms, it represents the thinning of the dermis and epidermis. Crepey skin is not the same as a regular wrinkle or laugh line. They develop differently, and have different underlying causes.
Crepey skin first appears as tiny dots around the hair follicles, which later merge together and connect. While wrinkles are often caused by repetitive motions such as squinting, crepey skin is caused primarily by a thinning of the skin. Crepey skin can show up on the elbows, inside of the arm, neck, chest, legs, back of the hands, and eyelids.
Crepey skin can appear anywhere on the face or body. It often appears under the eyes, due to the thin skin around the eyes. It is also common under the neck and upper arms.
Who gets crepey skin?
Anyone can get crepey skin but you’re more likely to develop it if you are fair skinned and have less melanin. Some ethnicities have thicker skin than others so they are less likely to develop it. Crepey skin tends to show up first on the back of the hands and décolletage, as well as under the eyes where the skin is naturally thinner. It tends to show up in the 40’s, but crepey skin could make an appearance much earlier due to genetics and sun exposure.
What causes it?
Sun Damage
One of the main causes of crepey skin is damage from the sun. Over time, exposure to the sun’s damaging rays can break down the elastin in the skin – this is what gives skin firmness and a bounce back quality. As collagen and elastin deteriorate over time, the creases and pores on the skin become more noticeable and start to give skin a saggy look. Another way to think of it is if skin were a rubber band that has stretched out and lost its bounce. The damage can result either from exposure to the sun or the use of tanning beds. Damage is often cumulative and develops over months and years.
Genetics
Genetics play a role in crepey skin. Studies found genetics play a role in crepey skin. Some people are born with thin skin.
Loss Of Collagen
But the sun isn’t the only culprit. The loss of moisture in aging skin also plays a role as does sudden, significant fat loss especially in older people as aging skin cannot bounce back as readily as younger skin. Some medications can also contribute to crepey skin, such as steroids. One reason why crepey skin is more noticeable in older females is due hormonal changes, which also cause dry skin.
Rapid Weight Changes
Rapid weight changes can cause the skin to sag or stretch, resulting crepey skin.
Smoking
Smoking is also highly damaging and can cause crepey skin, as the chemicals in cigarettes damage collagen and elastin. Smokers often have crepey skin around the mouth as well as back of the hands and eyes. Exposure to second hand smoke is also damaging, so the sooner you can quit smoking for your skin and health, the better.
Lifestyle Factors
The position you sleep in may also contribute to wrinkles and creased skin. Sleeping on your side with your face pressed up against a pillow can lead to permanent creases. But it’s not only your face getting squashed and wrinkles. If you sleep on your side, your chest and neck area may also be getting creased. Try sleeping on your back if possible. It’s hard but you can also try a sleep positioning pillow.
Diet
Research shows that a lack of sleep results in accelerated aging. You know that sugar is bad for your health but it is also bad for your skin. When you consume a lot of sugar, glycation occurs- this is when a protein or fat molecule bonds with a sugar molecule. Eventually these form “advanced glycation end products,” or AGEs, which cause protein fibers to stiffen and its thought this can contribute to wrinkles and crepey skin.
Squinting
Crepey skin under eyes is caused by repetitive squinting.
How to prevent crepey skin
The single most important thing you can do to prevent crepey skin (as well as wrinkles and skin cancer) is to wear a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every single day. Buy a daytime moisturizer with a high SPF or if you don’t like the feel of a cream, try a mineral based powder, which acts as a physical blocker to the sun’s damaging rays. Cover up on a sunny day, and be vigilant about protecting the neck and chest area, as well as the back of the hands. Invest in a rash guard for the beach and throw on a scarf to protect the delicate neck. Remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours. Skip the tanning beds as the UV radiation can lead to premature skin aging and skin cancer. If you love the look of sun kissed skin, buy a bottle of self tanner instead.
Make sure to moisturize the skin and keep it well hydrated. Don’t overlook the areas where crepey skin can develop, such as inside the arms and chest. Look for moisture boosting ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, which works like a moisture magnet and can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, as well as glycerin and nourishing oils. Other deeply hydrating ingredients include shea butter, jojoba oil and coconut oil. Another way to keep your skin hydrated is by drinking enough water, as dehydrated skin can exaggerate the appearance of fine lines. Aim for at least eight glasses of water a day.
If you’re trying to lose weight, do it slowly. Skip the aggressive weight loss plans or crash diets so your skin has time to adjust to weight loss and this will help prevent loose, saggy skin from developing.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet can also help keep skin smooth, soft and supple. Choose lean proteins such as chicken and fish, and include fresh fruits and vegetables at every meal to get an adequate amount of skin-healthy vitamins and minerals. Load up on omega-3 and 6 rich foods such as cold water fish (mackerel, sardines), flax seeds and avocados. Omega 3s and 6s have anti-inflammatory properties and can help support the body’s collagen production.
We also recommend wearing sunglass, when you spend time in the sun.
How to treat crepey skin
There are plenty of options for treating crepey skin, ranging from over the counter solutions to home remedies as well as the dermatologist’s office. One challenge is that crepey skin can occur on multiple parts of the body, so different products may be needed as you wouldn’t use a facial cream on your leg and vice versa.
Large body areas such as legs and arms should be kept moisturized and hydrated with a good body lotion. Look for one containing ceramides, as well as nourishing ingredients such as cocoa butter or jojoba oil and apply twice a day, especially after showering.
For the face, look for creams and serums containing hyaluronic acid. It’s the ideal beauty ingredient as it leaves skin looking dewy and temporarily fills in fine lines to give skin a plumped up look.
Other key ingredients to look for are collagen-boosting retinols and peptides, especially for the delicate neck and chest area. Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, works by boosting collagen production and encourages cell turnover to reveal smoother looking skin. It also helps to improve skin elasticity. Look for free radical fighting antioxidants and skin smoothing peptides.
Exfoliation is also key to whisking away dead, dull skin cells to reveal smoother looking skin. Skip the harsh, grainy scrubs which can be damaging to delicate skin. A better exfoliating option is a gentle but effective acid peel, such as glycolic acid or acids derived from citrus.
A serum is one of the best options for tackling crepey skin on the face. Choose one that’s spiked with vitamin C to help stimulate collagen production and leave skin looking fresher and brighter. Another vitamin to look out for is vitamin B- or niacin, which can penetrate the skin to improve texture and tone.
Dermal Rollers
Dermal Rollers contain hundreds of tiny needles. More abrasive dermal rollers must be performed by a physician and can help you achieve smoother looking skin. Multiple treatments are required.
Fractional Laser
Fractional lasers like Fraxel can be effective at treating crepey skin on the face or body. Fractional laser technology sends thousands of tiny light beams into the skin. It targets only a fraction of the surface, resulting in less downtime. This can be effective at treatment crepey skin without the downtime associated with CO2 lasers.
Ultrasound Lasers
Ultrasound lasers such as Ultherapy and Thermage lasersheat the dermis to stimulate collagen growth and tighten the skin. These lasers are designed for the face and typically have minimal downtime. The downside is the cost. Treatments cost $2000-5000.
Microdermabrasion
Another way to improve dry skin resulting from aging is with microdermabrasion. The upper layers of the skin are scrubbed with a small metal brush, causing the skin to produce new, healthier layers of cells. It is especially effective with crepey skin because the wrinkles are more prominent on the upper layers of skin.
Chemical Peels
Another option for treating crepey skin is at a dermatologist’s office. Chemical peels remove the top layer of skin but a chemical peel can go deeper than microdermabrasion. Down time varies depending on the treatment.
Mesotherapy
This treatment injects a mixture of vitamins, amino acids, and other ingredients designed to stimulate the body’s production of collagen and elastin.