Sagging Skin

Sagging skin is a common beauty skin problem. Several contributing factors cause the skin to sag. Some of the factors are controllable while others are not. Learn what those factors are and try to minimize exposure to controllable factors.

What Causes Sagging Skin?

– Aging: As we age, facial muscles weaken. Collagen and elastin in our skin also get depleted, causing the skin to lose its firmness, suppleness and elasticity. In addition, bones shrink away from the skin, resulting in smaller places for the skin to adhere to.

– Gravity: When we walk, stand, sit, and move around in an upright position, the skin is affected by gravity. As we age, the ability of the skin to fight against gravity declines, causing the skin to sag downward.

– Sun Exposure: Sun’s rays increase free radicals that damage the skin’s collagen and elastin. They also accelerate the aging process of our body.

– Smoking: Like UV rays, smoking causes free radicals. It also dries out the skin and reduces the skin’s ability to retain moisture that makes our skin plump.

– Weight loss: Losing a lot of weight quickly cause the skin to become less elastic. The skin sags where the fat once filled out. Some people who are overweight find that their skin and tissues are too stretched out to snap back.

– Stress: Stress can cause collagen and elastin to break down quickly, resulting in both sagging skin and wrinkles.

How to Tighten Sagging Skin?

– Use moisturizers that contain retinoid/retinol, vitamin C, alpha hydroxy acid or beta hydroxy acid. These ingredients can help tighten your skin. Use firm upward strokes when applying lotions or creams.

– Massage the sagging areas twice daily for 5 minutes. Facial massage strengthens muscles and increases circulation which aids in the flows of blood and nutrients to the areas.

– Exercise. Facial muscle exercises not only tighten the top layers of skin but also strengthen the muscles. Chewing gum also helps exercise facial muscles.

– Try a laser resurfacing treatment. These treatments cause the skin to tighten and produce more collagen.

– Get an injection. This treatment plumps up sagging skin by replacing lost collagen with new collagen, hyaluronic acid, or other fillers. The results of injections are temporary. They last from three months to six months, depending on which filler is used.

– Consider a facelift. A facelift will remove the sagging skin around your eyes, mouth and jaw line. This treatment is the most effective but causes pain, swelling, and discomfort for about six weeks.

How to Prevent Sagging Skin?

– Eat supplements or foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Antioxidants help fight free radical and slow down the aging process while omega-3 fatty acids normalize skin lipids and prevent dehydration.

– For people who are considering weight loss, you should lose weight properly and slowly. Keep your weight loss at 1.5 to 2 pounds a week. Any faster rates than these can cause muscle loss and loose skin. Also, work out at least three times a week to build new muscle for the skin to adhere to.

– Avoid the sun and smoking to prevent collagen and elastin from breaking down.

– Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or above to protect the skin from sun’s rays.

– Relax.