4 Causes of Loose Skin

There are many different factors that come into play when we consider the process and changes our skin goes through. It is the most outer layer of our body, and while some external factors can affect the even deeper layers, there are internal factors that we can’t avoid that lead to loose skin.

Aging
Sun exposure
Weight Loss
Smoking

What Causes Loose Skin?

While there are many different things that affect your skin and your body, here are some of the most common and known factors that lead to an excess of loose skin.

1. Aging

The most common cause of loose skin is aging, and of course it’s unavoidable. As we age, your body produces less collagen and elastin in the skin, both which give your skin its natural elasticity and keep it firm. Elastin fibers are proteins that help the skin “bounce back” from stretching and making facial expressions. Collagen is another protein that forms that skin’s structure.

As you age, the impact of normal stretching and contraction from exposure to the elements and life is more permanent, leaving behind loose skin that can’t bounce back on its own.

2. Sun Exposure

It can affect your elasticity and collagen production, too, but at a faster rate than aging. Sun damage caused by UVA/UVB radiation can affect your skin’s DNA and mutate it, leading to premature cellular death. This breaks down the collagen and elastin in your skin.

3. Weight Loss

When you lose large amounts of weight in a short time, go through bariatric surgery, or go through a pregnancy, is can lead to the loss of volume in your skin. This refers to the thinning of the fatty layer beneath your skin and stretching of ligaments. The quicker you lose this volume, the less amount of time you give your skin to recover, and sometimes it just needs a little help to catch up with your new body size.

4. Smoking

Like sun exposure, smoking can lead to premature aging. The nicotine in cigarettes can narrow the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. Due to this, the blood flow in your skin is disrupted which can lead to less oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells. Without the natural nutrients, your skin cells die (similar to sun exposure), reducing the production of collagen and elastin in your body.

How to Prevent Loose Skin

If you’re concerned about the rate your skin is aging, there are many health habits you can use to prevent the speeding process to continue.

Avoid sun damage. Sun damage is one of the top causes of premature aging. You should always use sunscreen when you are outsides and use other sun barriers whenever possible (hats, clothing). Try to avoid direct sun exposure from 11:00am to 2:00pm, which are peak sun hours.
Don’t smoke. If you already smoke, you should try to quit. Right behind sun damage, smoking is the second biggest cause of premature aging.
Practice skincare. Everyone should stick to a skincare regimen that includes exfoliating, hydration, and rejuvenation. Use products with alpha hydroxy, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, and retinol-based compounds.
Eat healthy. Eating a balanced diet with amino acids, vitamins A, C, and E, and the minerals silicon and zinc can help support healthy skin. Avoid fatty foods, processed foods, and other high sugar foods. These can cause inflammation and premature cell damage.
Drink water! If you want to keep your skin moisturized, drinking enough water is the best way. It keeps your skin cells firm, plump, and prevents fluid retention.
Stay fit. Weight training can help strengthen, condition, and tone your skin’s muscles. If you do lose weight, makes sure its at a healthy and moderate speed, about 1 to 2 pounds per week. Maintain proper nutrition to preserve your muscle mass and never allow dehydration and starvation.

How to Treat Loose Skin

In most cases, whether its aging, massive weight loss, pregnancy, or other factors, we all have loose skin we might want to tighten up. While there are creams and surgical options, that you could try, you should consider a non-surgical treatment that will cause the least damage to your skin cells with the quickest results.

Treating Loose Skin with the BTL Exilis

At Sculpt MD, we use the BTL Exilis to help patients treat loose skin from their faces all the way down to the end of their bodies. By using radio frequency and ultrasound technology, the BTL Exilis is completely non-invasive and uses your bodies natural responses to help tighten any loose skin.

Using the radio frequency and ultrasound energy, it penetrates the skin into its superficial layers to create a contraction in the collagen fibers of your skin. Your body responds by producing a significant amount of collagen, which helps with a tighter, smoother look and feel to your skin.

Another positive about the BTL Exilis is that it’s painless and there is no downtime! The procedure can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes, but you get to lie down comfortably based on where your treatment is.

Skin Tightening in Livermore with Sculpt MD

If you want to tighten any loose skin in your body, contact us today to set up your consultation! We’ll listen to what you want for your body, and we’ll plan your treatment accordingly. With our latest advancements in skin tightening and one-of-a-kind BTL Exilis treatment, you can expect to see results over a 3-month period!

Get started on your journey to youthful and smoother skin today!