What is crepey skin?
Crepey skin is thin and looks finely wrinkled like crepe paper, which may also sag or feel loose. While crepey skin is similar to common wrinkles in many ways, the condition tends to impact larger areas, and this skin feels noticeably more fragile and thin. Crepey skin is most common under the eyes and on the upper inner arms.
The causes of crepey skin
Unfortunately, sun damage is the most common cause of crepey skin, but it certainly isn’t the only cause. Crepey skin can also result from aging, a lack of moisture, excessive weight loss, or any combination of these. The ultraviolet light in the sun’s rays break down collagen and elastin in skin that help it stay tight and wrinkle-free, and once these fibers break down, the skin can loosen, thin, sag, and wrinkle.
Age is also a factor.
You produce less collagen and elastin — the fibers that help your skin look supple and smooth — the older you get. Pollution, stress, and smoking cigarettes all take a toll on skin over your lifetime and can contribute to visible signs of aging. Know this, as you age, your skin produces less oil than it did when you were younger.
And it’s these oils that create an important lipid barrier that protects your skin and helps seal in moisture. Hormonal changes can also lead to drier skin and less natural oil production. In fact, dryness--for any reason--can cause crepey skin. If you have crepey skin that comes and goes depending on the day or the season, a lack of moisture is most likely the cause.
It’s incredibly important to properly protect your skin from sun damage to prevent crepey, saggy, and loose skin. If you’re going to be in the sun for lengths of time, always wear proper sunscreen SPF and sun-protective clothing. Slather on a good moisturizer or body lotion, which goes a long way for protecting the skin.