Crepes may be delectable, but crepey skin? Not so much.
Crepey skin describes skin that appears thin and crinkled, like crepe paper, and typically lacks youthful skin’s elasticity, thickness, and firmness. While crepey skin is primarily an aesthetic concern, it can also indicate potential health issues. Since it usually develops due to substantial sun damage, individuals with crepey skin may be at increased risk for skin cancer. Additionally, crepey skin is thinner and less elastic, so it may be more susceptible to bruising and tearing, leading to infection if not properly cared for.
Plenty of creams and lotions claim to alleviate the appearance of crepey skin, and anyone who wants to treat it quickly can seek doctor-administered treatments. Here’s an overview of what works best and whether there’s anything you can do to prevent crepey skin from forming in the first place.
Why and When Crepey Skin Forms
Crepey skin primarily results from sun exposure. While many assume crepey skin develops solely from aging, lifestyle factors like sun exposure and smoking are significant contributors. Everyone is susceptible to crepey skin, but people with lighter skin tones, who are more prone to sun damage, are particularly at risk.
Sun exposure causes the skin to lose volume due to dehydration, leading to the degradation of collagen and elastin, the proteins that hold water and help the skin maintain its structure. Any ultraviolet exposure, even from tanning beds, can lead to crepey skin.
Genetics also plays a role. If your parents have crepey skin, you should start prevention earlier. Many women begin to notice crepey skin around the time they hit menopause because the drop in estrogen speeds up the decrease in collagen and elastin, resulting in thinner skin with a loss of moisture and fat. The skin’s elastic fibers start strong in your 20s and 30s, but they don’t work as effectively by the time you reach 40.
Crepey skin from UV damage usually appears around the eyes, chest, and back of the hands. Some people also see it above the knees and on the inner arms.
What You Can Do to Prevent Crepey Skin
Wearing sunscreen may seem like the obvious way to ward off crepey skin, but physical sun protection methods may be more effective. Since you can’t see light through your clothes, wearing long sleeves, sunglasses, and hats is better than relying solely on sunscreen. Sunscreen should be your last line of defense, applied to areas that clothing and accessories can’t cover. Use a water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher that offers broad-spectrum protection with SPF 30 or higher.
Over-the-Counter Options to Try for Crepey Skin
While creams, moisturizers, lotions, and especially sunscreen are helpful in maintaining skin health, eliminating all signs of aging is nearly impossible. However, regular topical products with ingredients such as retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids, peptides, growth factors, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants can help stimulate collagen production, improving skin quality.
These products generally take several months before you see their potential benefits. Consistent use is far more critical than the price tag. You want to ensure the moisturizer contains water to rehydrate the skin. Water is the number one hydrator, and products with niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, can help alleviate the appearance of crepey skin. An excellent way to test whether a moisturizer is thick enough to hydrate correctly is if it doesn’t drip when you open the jar and flip it upside down.
Doctor-Administered Treatments to Address Crepey Skin are available. This reassurance can make you feel secure and informed about your options in managing crepey skin. The first FDA-approved skin booster, Skinvive by Juvederm, improves skin smoothness in adults over 21. This injectable hyaluronic acid has been used for years overseas. Unlike fillers, which volumize, skin boosters replenish the skin’s deep hydration, giving fantastic results for skin quality improvement, especially in thin-skinned areas prone to crepey texture.
Other injectables, like Radiesse and Sculptra, stimulate the body to synthesize collagen. Treatments such as radiofrequency skin tightening and fractional non-ablative lasers stimulate the body’s natural healing process, producing new collagen and elastin that promote thicker and more elastic skin. Neuromodulators like Botox can reduce crinkling around the eyes and other areas.
While we can improve the appearance of crepey skin, the aging process is ongoing and inevitable. Regardless of their claims, it’s important to have realistic expectations regarding what to expect from anti-aging products. Aging is a natural part of life and is much better than the alternative.
How Pur MedSpa Can Help
At Pur MedSpa, we offer a variety of treatments to address crepey skin and other signs of aging. Our comprehensive approach includes:
- RF Microneedling: Combines microneedling with radiofrequency to stimulate collagen and elastin production, tightening the skin and reducing wrinkles.
- Hydration Therapy: Ensures your skin stays hydrated from the inside out, promoting elasticity and firmness.
- Injectables: We offer Skinvive by Juvederm, Radiesse, and Sculptra to replenish hydration and stimulate collagen production.
- Laser Treatments: Fractional non-ablative lasers promote the body’s natural healing process, leading to thicker, more elastic skin.
- Botox: Reduces crinkling and smooths out fine lines, especially around the eyes.
“At Pur MedSpa, our goal is to provide personalized care tailored to each individual’s needs,” says Dr. Ric S Kolluri (Hon.), CEO of Pur MedSpa. “Our advanced treatments and expert team ensure you receive the best possible results in a comfortable, spa-like environment.”
Conclusion
While crepey skin is a natural part of aging, numerous ways exist to prevent and treat it effectively. From sunscreen and moisturizers to advanced treatments at Pur MedSpa, you have various options to maintain youthful, healthy skin. Consistent care and realistic expectations are vital to achieving the best results.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit our website at Pur MedSpa or call us at 469-750-2273. Let us help you achieve smoother, more youthful skin!