Loose skin occurs when the skin begins to lose elasticity as you age. As your skin begins to mature, your body experiences hormonal changes and your ability to heal slows down. This causes a decrease in collagen in your skin, a protein that is what allows the skin to bounce back when stretched. When elasticity is lost, your skin has a hard time springing back into place, causing the skin to hang loose.
Excess skin on the face and body is common and is something that everyone is likely to experience. The most common causes of loose skin are excessive weight loss, aging, pregnancy, and lack of a proper skin care routine.
How to get rid of loose skin
The skin may retract to its original position on its own over months or years, depending on the reason why your skin became loose in the first place. But possible ways to get rid of loose skin include:
Facial massage
Massage can improve blood flow and increase the production of collagen. By, massaging the areas with loose skin, this can improve circulation to the area, which brings more blood cells to the skin, more oxygen, and better absorption of products, which can help tighten loose skin. Some of the main benefits of facial massage include reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, relieving muscle tension, and reducing stress and helping you feel more relaxed overall. Experts recommend massaging your face daily as a part of your skincare routine, this can be the secret not only to improved radiance but to a firmer, smoother complexion.
Skin tightening creams
Skin tightening creams that contain ingredients that increase levels of collagen and elastin can be highly effective in tightening loose skin. Collagen binds your skin closer together, reducing loose skin. Elastin will allow your body’s skin to stretch or spring back to its original position.
Still thinking to yourself “but which ingredients should I look for in creams?”. You’ll be pleased to know there are some ingredients that can give your skin a more youthful look. These include:
- Vitamin A, also known as retinol. Retinol can improve the shape of skins elastin. And there is even a small amount of research showing it can build elastin. Applying a retinol product every night can help a lot. The same is true for prescription retinoids.
- A daily use of an exfoliant containing salicylic acid (BHA) or glycolic (AHA) can also really help. There is a good amount of research showing that these ingredients can build more collagen, and, to some extent, help firm the skin.
- Alternatively, you can try the plant-derived skincare ingredient bakuchiol. Research show that this natural ingredient has many anti-aging benefits, such as reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Keep fit
You can minimize the appearance of loose skin by weight training after your weight loss, to replace lost fat with muscle. Your skin will have a hard time adjusting to a smaller frame when you’ve been carrying excess fat for a long time. By exercising and staying fit, you can tighten your skin and build a healthier body.
To specifically target facial skin, you will have to carry out regular facial exercises. Performing face toning exercises frequently will keep your face looking fit in the long run. When you work your face muscles you will improve blood circulation to the different areas of your face, replenishing the oxygen supply in the muscles and the skin. You will furthermore supply your skin cells with nutrients, which is leading to a stimulation of skin cell regeneration and wrinkle prevention. This will result in a bright complexion and a beautiful healthy glow, as well as alleviating skin tightening and sagging.
Daily habits to keep your skin tight
To help tighten loose skin, try incorporating some of the following tips into your daily routine.
Cold showers
Cold showers can be beneficial for your skin. Hot water can strip your skin of natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. Cold water, on the other hand, can help preserve these natural oils, which can keep the skin moisturized and healthy. Additionally, cold water can help tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of pores, making your skin look smoother and more even. It can also help reduce inflammation and puffiness, which can be especially beneficial if you suffer with sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Make it a habit to wear sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen is one of the best things you can do to tighten your skin. The suns ultraviolet rays can break down collagen in your skin, causing it to sag and wrinkle, so it’s important to wear sunscreen daily. Sunscreen helps protect your skin effectively from these harmful rays and helps to prevent wrinkled and saggy skin as well as fine lines.
Keep moving
Stay on the move. Be sure to take regular walks daily and incorporate any form of physical activity into your daily routine.
Eat foods high in antioxidants
If you are trying to tighten your skin, you should be eating foods high in antioxidants. Antioxidants helps eliminate free radicals and tighten the collagen in your skin. Avoid eating salts and fried foods and drinks less alcohol and sodas. To help get the nutrients you need to your body, try eating foods with anthocyanins (like pomegranate juice) to help strengthen blood vessels.
It is also crucial that you make sure to get enough calcium in your diet. Calcium strengthens connective tissue, so be aware of the high levels of calcium you get from plenty of mineral water or eating yogurt and cheese. Try to avoid sugar.
Skin benefits from drinking more water
Your skin is an organ, in fact it’s the largest organ in your body, and it is mostly made up of water. Without water, your skin can’t function at its best. If your skin doesn’t get enough water, not only will it become dry, tight, and flaky, but it will also become even more prone to aging. Your body looses large quantities of water every day, so if you don’t replace it by drinking more water, your skin will suffer the consequences.
Drinking enough water can help you combat a variety of skin issues such as psoriasis and eczema. It does this by helping your digestive system flush out toxins from the body. This in turn, will improve your complexion for healthy and glowing skin.
Our pores can get clogged and enlarged throughout the day. The more water you drink, the better balance of oil and water on the surface of your skin. This can help reduce your pore size, making them less likely to clog and cause a zit, which decrease acne breakouts, and reduce blemishes.
A great way to help tighten the skin around your jawline is to drink more water. That is because water helps improve skin elasticity, making it bounce back from sagging. Furthermore, drinking water can help keep your skin plumper, which can slow the aging process. Plump skin also helps hide current signs of aging, so that any wrinkles you already have are minimized.
Sources
- Nivea
- Byrdie
- Paula’s Choice
- Sculpt MD
- Manna Hydration