What is Crepey Skin?
Chances are if you’re reading this blogpost – you are fully aware of what “crepey skin” is.
You work hard to look as young as you feel, exercise & eat right but then you notice your upper arms starting to look a little weird ….it looks “Creepy” but it’s really “Crepey” skin. And your knees – what is happening to our aging knees??!
I use those terms interchangeably because at first it really feels creepy – like “What is happening to my skin!”
Crepey skin is not something we usually worry about until it’s an issue. Then ~ IT’S AN ISSUE ~ and we frantically search for magic creams or potions that will “unwrinkle or smooth out” the tissue paper that has started to show up on our neck, arms, and legs.
Causes of Crepey skin
Once you have it – nobody really cares how they got it or
what they could have done in their 20’s to prevent it …but…
Crepey skin is caused by a number of factors including:
- Weight-loss
- poor Habits (stop sleeping on your stomach…just stop)
- Stress
- Smoking
- poor diet (i.e. sugar)
- lower collagen production (i.e. natural aging process).
The single biggest culprit to Crepey skin
Our skin simply does not repair itself like it did when we were younger.
….but the Single biggest cause of aging skin and skin damage is harmful UV rays from the Sun!
What we really want to know is, “what the heck can we do about it now!?”
Fortunately there are lots of things we can start doing now to minimize further damage and to improve our skin’s appearance.
Remedies for reducing the appearance of Crepey skin–
• Stay out of the Sun – this should absolutely be #1 on your list. I live in So. Cal. and understand how hard this can be but you MUST avoid the sun, cover up, wear a hat and use Sunscreen religiously!
• Lotions and serums- chances are you’re already using some type of moisturizer as part of your self-care routine.
The thought of adding even one more thing to your list may be overwhelming but I’ve noticed a definite improvement in my skin by using Vitamin C serums – and Retinols – primarily at night. I put these serums on my face, neck, chest and hands.
Along with Vitamin C, other effective ingredients to look for in skin products include the “acids” – https://theklog.co/best-acid-for-your-skin-type/
Depending on your skin, you might have to start gradually and work up to a daily use…but these stronger ingredients are totally worth it.
Dry Brushing –
Your skin is the largest organ in the body and is an organ of elimination. Dry brushing helps unclog pores and get rid of toxins that have become trapped in the skin.
Dry brushing has wonderful health benefits in addition to sloughing off the dead skin on our bodies. Best time to dry brush is first thing in the AM right before you get wet in the shower.
The fact that it feels like you’re waking up your body and getting your circulation going is a bonus!
Start at your ankles and stroke upwards….hitting all those parts of our bodies that start to “sag or pull down” due to gravity. Go easy on more sensitive areas like your chest – but the more you dry brush – the less sensitive your skin becomes.
Exfoliating your skin may increase dryness and irritation. It’s important to use moisturizing creams or lotions because they will lock water into your skin, soothe irritation and prevent dryness or itching. I love using coconut oil because it’s rich and it absorbs nicely.
All this brushing love also helps reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Gotta love remedies that provide dual-bonus-results! Especially when there are So many issues….so little time
• Wet Exfoliation – this is a more gentle way to get rid of dead skin on sensitive areas. Use a loofah or washcloth with a wonderful-smelling, rich sugar scrub (link to post) to soften skin for more effective sloughing.
Just be careful not to exfoliate every single day – it can irritate the skin.
Professional remedies
If your crepe-iness / aging is a little more advanced – or you’re impatient – you might want try one of the more aggressive lasers or treatments. The good news is there always seems to be something better, faster and with less downtime than in years past.
Wildly advertised “Crepe Erase” – (the ingredients include water and a bunch of different oils, & body butters) – claims “with daily use, areas of skin can appear smoother, firmer…..etc.”)
That’s probably TRUE but it would be true for ANY moisturizer you used on a daily basis.
All you really need to do is:
Exfoliate to get rid of dead top layer skin and then Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize.
But you must be religious about doing it every few days – either as part of your AM or PM routine (or both). Yes – even if that makes it #17 on your “things-I-gotta-do-every-damn-day-to-look-this-good.”
If your Crepey skin is Creeping you out:
Crepey skin is just one of the ways our skin changes as we age.
You cannot completely stop the aging process but by incorporating some of the remedies listed above (staying out of the sun, exfoliating, moisturizing) and you can keep your skin looking better and more supple.
You know how incredibly smooth your legs feel after you get a SPA pedicure? They first rub your lower legs with a sugar scrub, then massage, then oil, then massage, then lotion……you get the idea.
It’s motion combined with lotion…(sounds a little risque but hey, it works)
> The honest truth is you cannot rub away wrinkles….
It’s also about finding a balance between maintaining your desired weight vs. looking your best. Once we mature, maybe your ideal weight is really 5-10 pounds heavier than you’re used to – that extra weight might help make your skin look more firm and plump. “Skinny” may have been your goal in your 20’s but as you age, being super-thin just makes you look sunken and gaunt. (i.e. older)
I’ll end with those famous words of wisdom from one of the classic beauties:
“After a certain age, a woman has to choose between her fanny and her face.”
Catherine Deneuve
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