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True to its name, crepey skin looks like condensed wrinkles that resemble crinkled crepe paper. Crepey skin may also be accompanied by thinness and sagging.
The most common cause of crepey skin is a change to the skin’s dermis and epidermis — the middle and top layers of the skin. When these skin layers experience damage, they can thin out, giving the skin a crepey appearance.
Crepey skin can appear anywhere on the face or body, with sun-exposed areas being more prone to crepiness. Unfortunately, these are also the areas we show off the most to the world.
If you’re starting to experience crepey skin, don’t worry: there are many solutions for this skin concern. Starting with skincare products, this guide from Nourishing Biologicals goes over the different ways to fight crepey skin.
What Causes Crepey Skin?
Essentially, anything that damages the skin can lead to crepiness. This means that there are many potential causes of crepey skin. Here’s an overview of them:
- Sundamage: The sun’s UV rays destroy collagen and elastin in the skin, which are proteins that give the skin its youthful qualities. While these proteins can regenerate (to an extent), excessive sun damage can permanently degrade them, making the skin thin, saggy, and prone to crepiness.
- Faircomplexion: Not everyone responds to the sun in the same way. Those with fair skin are much more likely to endure sun damage. On the other hand, darker skin tones can generally spend more time in the sun — without enduring significant damage.
- Genetics: Besides your complexion, your genes also determine how quickly your skin ages. Of course, just because your parents aged quickly doesn’t mean you have to. Lifestyle factors play just as big a role in your skin’s appearance.
- Moistureloss: Moist skin is resilient skin. When the skin dries out, it’s not able to handle various stressors thrown at it, like rapid weight gain. Those who skip out on using a body lotion every day are more likely to experience moisture loss.
- Smoking: Cigarettes contain chemicals that can directly degrade collagen and elastin in the skin. Plus, cigarettes can decrease circulation, making it harder for your skin to repair itself. While it’s easier said than done, quitting smoking is one of the best things to do for your skin.
- Lack of sleep: When you don’t get enough sleep, your body releases higher cortisol levels. This stress hormone can directly damage collagen and elastin stores, making the skin more prone to crepiness.
- Stress: Stress is bad for your skin for the same reason as lack of sleep — stress can increase cortisol, and in turn inflammation, which can drive skin damage at the cellular level.
- High-sugar diet: Sugar molecules can bind to certain proteins in your skin, creating advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). These are free radical molecules that can damage healthy proteins that keep your skin healthy.
- Pollution: There’s no shortage of pollution in the modern world. Pollution can come from smoke, radiation, and even household cleaning supplies. These sources of pollution create free radicals, which damage healthy skin cells. It’s no wonder those living in highly-populated cities experience more rapid skin aging.
- Rapid weight gain: Stretching out the skin too rapidly can make it more crepey. In general, anything more than 10 pounds per month is considered rapid weight gain.
- Corticosteroidmedications: While these medications are effective for temporarily reducing inflammation, they can significantly speed up skin thinning. This can make the skin more crepey.
What Are Some Skincare Products To Fight Crepey Skin?
Not everyone knows how to prevent crepey skin. By the time they learn about it, they may have already developed this skin concern.
Fortunately, crepey skin is not forever. With the right skincare products, you can significantly improve the appearance of crepey skin.
Here are some skincare products that can fight crepey skin.
1. Topical Retinoid
Retinoids are synthetic forms of vitamin A. They can penetrate deep into the skin and stimulate collagen production, making them the “golden standard” for addressing aging skin.
Studies show that using retinol for as little as three months can noticeably improve the appearance of crepey skin.
The best thing about topical retinoids is that they can be applied anywhere on the face or body. The only thing to be careful with is sun exposure. Topical retinoids can make the skin a lot more sensitive to the sun, so proper sun protection is essential when using this ingredient.
2. Bakuchiol
Retinol can be irritating to the skin. Plus, some people might prefer not to use synthetic ingredients in their skincare.
Fortunately, you can get all the benefits of retinol minus the side effects.
Bakuchiol is considered a natural retinol alternative. It’s a plant-derived compound that can stimulate collagen production, tightening and smoothing crepey skin.
3. Glycolic Acid
Glycolic acid is a favorite in the chemical peel world. Due to its small molecular size, it can penetrate deep into the dermis, which is the skin layer where collagen production happens. It can also increase the skin’s hyaluronic acid content for increased moisture.
As a result, glycolic acid can significantly improve the appearance of sagginess, which can worsen crepey skin.
You can use glycolic acid in the occasional chemical peel or use it in a daily serum.
4. Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally-occurring molecule in the skin that holds 1,000 times its size in water. Over time, our skin’s hyaluronic acid stores deplete, making the skin less moist and more prone to environmental damage.
You can replenish some of your hyaluronic acid stores by applying it topically.
A hyaluronic acid serum (such as our Miracular Face Serum) can boost moisture while plumping the skin. The result? Firmer, smoother, and more youthful-looking skin.
5. CoQ10
Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that lives in virtually every cell of our body. As an antioxidant, it protects the skin from various free radicals.
However, it can deplete as we age or partake in some unhealthy lifestyle habits. Less CoQ10 can make our skin more prone to damage from sun exposure or air pollution.
Applying this antioxidant to the skin can help the skin look more firm and smooth, reducing crepiness. As a bonus, it can slow down skin aging by smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles.
6. Ceramides
Ceramides are lipids that make up a large portion of the skin barrier.
Because the skin barrier protects skin cells from external damage, it plays a major role in skin health. When it’s damaged, the skin’s collagen and elastin are more likely to degrade due to environmental factors, such as UV exposure.
The skin barrier can be restored with ceramides, which are gentle lipids that we already have in some amounts in our skin. Applying moisturizers with added ceramides to the skin is an excellent way to achieve this.
7. Squalene
Our skin’s oils are made up of a naturally-occurring oil called squalene. This oil is excellent for keeping the skin moist while protecting it from harsh environmental factors.
Squalane is very similar to squalene, which means that it can provide many of the same benefits. As a bonus, it’s easily absorbed by the skin, which means that it can penetrate the deeper layers.
Keeping the skin moisturized with squalene can make it better able to withstand stressors like rapid weight gain. Plus, it can help smooth the skin for a more youthful appearance.
8. Jojoba Seed Oil
From the world of natural seed oils, jojoba seed oil is a favorite at Nourishing Biologicals.
Because it's very similar to the skin’s natural oils, jojoba seed oil can provide superior moisture, helping to maintain the skin’s elasticity. Plus, it’s gentle, so you’re unlikely to experience any irritation from this ingredient.
9. Collagen Supplements
A collagen supplement is essentially a protein powder with higher amounts of glycine and proline — two amino acids important for producing collagen. If you give your body more amino acids, you can help your body with its collagen production.
There are plenty of studies that show the efficacy of collagen supplements. For instance, in one double-blind placebo-controlled trial, participants who took collagen supplements created significantly more collagen than controls. This resulted in firmer-looking skin with fewer wrinkles.
The results of collagen supplementation were visible after only four weeks, which is approximately how long it takes to see results.
Fighting Crepey Skin With Nourishing Biologicals
There are plenty of effective skincare products for treating crepey skin. From retinol to moisturizers to collagen supplements, it’s possible to have youthful skin again.
To support you in your skincare journey, Nourishing Biologicals has a variety of products that are clinically shown to nourish the skin. Discover our selection of products — for your most youthful skin yet.
Sources:
Aging Genetics and Aging | PMC
The Interplay Between Stress, Inflammation, and Emotional Attention: Relevance for Depression | PMC
Environmental Stressors on Skin Aging. Mechanistic Insights | PMC
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