Learn how to tighten loose skin with these 6 great tips

Loose skin can be frustrating and have an impact on self-esteem. While there are many ways you can develop loose skin, once you get it, it can be difficult to reverse.

Causes of loose skin can include:

• weight loss
• pregnancy
• the effects of aging

Common places where people experience loose skin include:

• stomach
• face
• neck
• back
• arms
• legs

While cosmetic surgery can help improve loose skin, there are many options for people who prefer to avoid medical procedures.

These options include:

• excercise
• tightening products
• non-surgical procedures
• weight loss
• massage

Here are six ways you can tighten loose skin.

A good choice for a firming cream is one that contains retinoids, she says Dr. Alison Wellsowner and medical director, Valley Plastic Surgery and Medi-spa;

Retinoids are chemical derivatives of vitamin A and include:

• tretinoin
• retinoic acid
• adapalene

They increase the proliferation, maturation and turnover of skin cells, says Wells.

He also suggests using creams containing hyaluronic acid, which attracts and holds water molecules. Hyaluronic acid helps:

• reduce the depth of wrinkles
• increase skin firmness
• reduce skin roughness

Wells recommends avoiding skin care products containing lanolin because of the steady increase in the rate of contact dermatitis (allergic skin reaction) associated with it.

Here are some creams to try that contain retinoids and hyaluronic acid:

While there is no magic pill to fix loose skin, some supplements can be helpful.

Here are some hyaluronic acid supplements you can try:

Building muscle mass through weight training exercises can help reduce the appearance of loose skin, especially if the loose skin is due to weight loss.

If excess fat stretches the skin over a long period of time, the skin may lose some of its ability to shrink with weight loss. Replacing this lost fat with muscle mass can reduce the appearance of loose skin.

If you have loose skin from a recent pregnancy consult a doctor before exercising as there may be certain movements to avoid.

One form of exercise that has not been proven effective for loose skin is facial exercise.

While facial exercises have been popular since the 1960s, there is little research to support that these exercises actually help tighten loose skin.

Stubborn fat under the skin can make the skin look loose. This type of fat is called subcutaneous fat.

If you pinch the problem area and there is more than a few millimeters of skin, then subcutaneous fat is present. Losing this fat could tighten the skin.

Massaging loose skin can increase blood flow and help trigger an anti-aging response.

A study analyzed the effects of skin massage combined with an antiaging skin cream.

The study showed that regular massage with a manual oscillating massage tool enhanced the positive effects of the cream.

Along with the massage, you can also use a salt or sugar scrub to increase blood flow.

Many non-surgical procedures can help with loose skin.

These procedures include:

• Chemical peels. Removing the outer layer of old skin can reduce the appearance of loose, sagging or wrinkled skin on the face and neck. Once the old skin peels off, the skin underneath is usually less wrinkled and smoother.
• Laser resurfacing. This procedure is also known as “laser resurfacing”. It is similar to a chemical peel because it removes the outermost layer of old skin. The laser also heats the layers below the top layer. This heat promotes collagen production.
• Ultrasound skin tightening. This procedure uses heat to stimulate collagen production. Focused ultrasound energy is transmitted through the surface of the skin to heat the deeper layers.
• Radiofrequency treatments. This is another form of safe energy transfer that heats the skin to induce collagen production. This method focuses on the outer layer of the skin.
• IPL/RF combination treatments. These treatments combine intense pulsed light (IPL) and radio frequency (RF). The procedure heats the outer and deeper layers of the skin to facilitate collagen production.
• Neuromodulators. This treatment is often referred to as Botox. Botulinum toxin, known to relax wrinkles, is injected into the skin. Although this is not the most holistic procedure, it requires minimal recovery time and reduces the appearance of loose skin when injected into certain areas where muscles work in opposition to each other.

These are all examples of minimally invasive, non-surgical techniques to reduce loose skin. There are also surgeries to remove loose skin. These are known as body contouring procedures.

Body contouring may also be referred to as retraction or lifting surgeries. They involve an incision and the removal of extra fat and skin. These surgeries usually require a hospital stay followed by recovery time at home.

If other loose skin tightening techniques do not provide the results you are looking for, you may choose to consult a doctor to see if body contouring is the right option for you.

Loose skin can be problematic, but there are many ways to minimize or reduce it.

Collagen is a huge factor in skin elasticity. Boosting your body’s collagen production is one way to reduce loose skin.

You can also take steps to prevent loose skin from developing, such as avoiding:

• smoking
• tan
• using skin products with harsh chemicals