How to Treat Crepey Skin: What Works, What to Expect and How to Get Started
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Tiempo de lectura 4 min
A comprehensive guide to smoothing crinkly spots on your face, neck and décolletage
Crepey skin is one of those things that sneaks up on you. One day your skin looks smooth, and the next, it’s thin, finely wrinkled, and a little crinkly—especially on the arms, neck, chest or under the eyes.
If you’re wondering what causes crepey skin and how to treat it, you’re not alone. Most women are plagued by changes to their skin texture, especially as time marches on. The good news? While crepey skin is a natural part of aging, there are effective ways to improve its appearance and keep skin looking healthier, hydrated and overall smoother and more luminous.
What is Crepey Skin and What Actually Helps Treat It
Crepey skin refers to skin that looks thin, fragile, and finely wrinkled, similar to crêpe paper. Unlike deep wrinkles, crepey skin is more about texture than lines. While you can’t completely reverse crepey skin, the right skincare routine can significantly improve how it looks and feel
How Crepey Skin Differs from Run-of-the-Mill Dry or Wrinkled Skin
While seasonal dry skin is usually a temporary condition caused primarily by dehydration, crepey skin actually signals compromised cells that have been depleted over time, read: a structural, textural change that requires a bit more targeted approach.
Main Causes and Why Crepey Skin Gets Worse Over Time
Crepey skin is primarily caused by a drop in estrogen which depletes collagen and elastin. Skin naturally thins over time and without the cushion of collagen and elastin, it starts to look looser with a crinkly texture. Since we continue to age and lose more collagen, crepiness can look more pronounced if left untreated. Factor in DNA damage caused by exposure to UV radiation and free radicals and vulnerable skin is subject to continual breakdown. Poor diet, lack of sleep and smoking can contribute, too.
Where Moisturizers and At-Home Care Can Help (and Where it Can’t)
Like anything in life, it’s important to be realistic and understand that lipids can only do so much; they can, of course, deeply moisturize skin and help draw moisture, leading to a plumper, more even finish that bounces light to create the illusion of smoother skin. Consistent use helps maintain this effect. But moisturizers offer instant gratification; they cannot alter degraded skin cells.
At-Home Ways to Treat Crepey-Looking Skin
Minimizing the look of crepey skin is totally possible with major moisturizers and a consistent self-care plan. You’ve got this!
Choosing a Moisturizer For Crepey Skin
The key factors in creating the look of smoother skin are hydration and locking it in. Humectant formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid and aloe vera help draw water to skin. They’re best applied on damp skin, right after bathing. Follow with more of an occlusive formula, such as a balm or oil like Halo42 Copaiba-Infused Moisturizing Face and Body Elixir, to keep skin plumped up, temporarily filling in the uneven texture and fine lines in crepey skin.
Ingredients to Look For That Smooth Fine Lines
Uncovering fresh cells will lead to an overall smoother look, so ingredients that exfoliate gently can be helpful. Try a product with retinol if your skin can tolerate it, Alpha Hydroxy Acids or Polyhydroxy Acids. Peptides can also be helpful, especially in the neck and décolletage areas, because they stimulate collagen synthesis. Facialist Lord Gavin McLeod-Valentine favors exosomes for this same reason.
Layering Products to Supercharge Smoothing
Because tackling crepey skin isn’t a quick fix, treatment requires a multi-pronged approach, layering different active ingredients and product formats. Generally speaking, start with finer formulas, like serums, and top with heavier lotions, then creams and balms.
The one exception is an oil, which should be your final step to lock in moisture. To visibly iron out crepiness in the eye area, tap in a thick eye cream with your ring finger, allow it to sink in for a minute, then dab a drop of an eye oil like Halo42 Anti-Aging Eye Oil on top. The copaiba-infused formula deeply nourishes delicate skin while creating a brighter, smoother look.
Habits That Help Prevent Crepey Skin
Consistency is key when it comes to keeping crepey skin looking smoother, younger and more radiant — a couple of daily habits are worth sticking to.
A Daily Application of Sunscreen Goes a Long Way
Prevent crepiness from getting worse over time by shielding compromised skin from additional UV damage. Slather skin with a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every single day, even if you’re simply taking a walk outdoors. Incidental sun damage, the kind of exposure we get during everyday activities, can be just as damaging as sunbathing at the beach!
Remember that sunscreen should be your last defense, ie: the final step in your skincare routine. For a broader daily framework, explore our Wellness Skincare Routine: A Lifestyle Approach to Better Skin. We’ve already discussed layering products; after you’ve applied your oil or balm to lock in moisture, let it sink in for three-to-five minutes, then top with sunscreen.
DIY Devices Can Erase Crepiness Over Time
Daily use of an at-home skincare device may help, too. Red LED light masks claim to boost collagen and help refine skin texture over time. Valentine also recommends the LYMA Laser, as it works at the cellular level to trigger collagen.
When to Seek Professional Help for Crepey Skin
Since crepey skin is caused by a structural change to the skin, topical treatment can do wonders to lessen the look of crinkles and wrinkles, but the only way to treat the underlying structure is with a professional treatment at a dermatologist’s office or medi-spa.
In-Office Treatments That Smooth Wrinkles Fast
Laser treatment like Fraxel create controlled thermal injury to the underlying layers of skin, signaling fresh collagen production which pushes out the damaged skin cells. Radiofrequency microneedling technology such as Morpheus8 stimulates collagen and elastin production by combining heat with punctures that create micro-injuries to the skin.
After Care for Pro Procedures
Following any in-office procedure, sun protection is paramount to promote healing. During the day, a mineral formula SPF of at least 50 should be applied, while at night, slather on a simple occlusive ointment like Aquaphor or Vaseline to keep skin protected.
Crepey skin affects almost all women at some point, but it’s totally possible — even easy — to improve the look of skin texture for a healthy, youthful, glowing look with nourishing skin saviors, like those by Halo42.
