No matter what age, everyone has some form of crepey skin on his or her body. Just take a look at your knees or elbows and you’ll know what we mean. What you’re seeing is also known as “elephant skin” because of its crinkly texture.
Crepey skin comes from lowered levels of elastin and collagen (proteins). As we age and move into our 30s, the protein production in our skin begins to drop, which results in thinner skin that eventually wrinkles and sags. Think of your skin as a rubber band. When it’s new, skin is able to snap back easily from constant, repeated motions. As you age, the elasticity of your skin breaks down, which means parts of your skin that are both thin and repeatedly being stretched from motions start to wrinkle. Remember, crepey skin doesn’t come on suddenly like a pimple. It takes months, even years, for sagging skin to set in. It’s also important to understand that everyone’s skin is unique and will be effected by wrinkles differently. Although age lines can occur almost anywhere, the most common places you’ll see wrinkles are around the eyes, mouth, neck, chest, knuckles, and finger joints.
How to Treat Crepey Skin
Although harmless and a natural part of aging, crepey skin can affect the way we see ourselves in the mirror. Luckily, there are two ways to maintain our skin’s elasticity and repair any affected areas: injectable surgery and creams.
Surgery using injectables improves the appearance, texture, and thickness of crepey skin. At Coastal Dermatology, we use Restylane, Juvederm, and Radiesse, all very successful methods of adding fullness and volume to skin around the mouth, cheeks, eyes, and backs of hands. Restylane and Juvederm are made up of hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a natural sugar found in skin. These products are FDA approved and contain no human or animal DNA. Radiesse is also composed of hyaluronic acids, but additionally contains a constitute of bone and cartilage in a creamy, injectable form. All our injectable methods work immediately, only taking a few days to completely “settle” into a final shape. A small amount of puffiness or mild swelling is very normal for a day or two, but most people post-surgery can apply makeup and go right back to normal activities.
It’s true that we all wish anti-aging magic could be sold in a bottle. Creams may not completely revert you back to your younger years, but they certainly help keep skin moisturized! We always recommend using a wrinkle-fighting cream that contains shea butter, aloe, black/white/green tea, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C. Our center also carries a variety of skin care products, including anti-aging creams, that we’re happy to discuss in more detail when you make an appointment with us. We currently offer Elta MD, Avene, Obagi, Latisse, and Glytone.
We know it’s impossible to avoid aging, but don’t let crepey skin drag you down! Understanding what causes wrinkles and working to avoid them early on in life can help you preserve your youthful complexion. If you’re ready to revive your skin, surgically or topically, contact Coastal Dermatology & Surgery Center to schedule an appointment with us. We are happy to talk about the best solutions for your skin!