If you are one of those that have lost a lot of weight recently, then you may have noticed that you have a bit of loose skin hanging around. From extra skin under the arms to a hanging pouch around the stomach, loose skin can pose an embarrassing problem, especially if weight loss has been achieved rapidly.
Why Skin Gets Loose After Weight Loss
Since it has to stretch as we move, grow, and—as in the case of weight loss— shrink, skin is an incredibly elastic living organ. Yes, that's right, skin is not just one big piece of rubber that covers the entire body, but is instead an organ,and just like all the other organs in your body, it is comprised of cells.
Different layers of your skin have different types of cells, and though the skin cells on the outer part of your skin (the epidermis) are constantly being lost and replaced with new cells, the skin cells under the epidermis are a bit more permanent.
What Happens to Your Skin When You Lose Weight?
When you lose weight, and especially when you lose weight very quickly, these elastic components of your skin not only lose the layers of fat that keep them stretched out over your body, but they also don't have much time for their elasticity to adapt to your new shape.
In addition to weight loss, age, poor nutrition, dehydration, excessive sun exposure, and smoking can all affect the elasticity of the skin and give you that elephant-like appearance you probably don't want.
How to Tighten Loose Skin After Weight Loss
As you lose fat and your loose skin begins to appear, the first rule is don't panic! Because it is a living organ, your skin will slowly take up to two years, here are steps you can take to make your skin tighten more quickly:
Tip #1: Don't Lose Weight Too Quickly
Crash diets and excessive amounts of time spent exercising can rapidly shed both muscle and fat, resulting in a double-whammy on your skin—the supportive underlying muscular structure that holds skin against your body is lost, as is the fat that keeps the skin stretched out.
Aim for 1-2 pounds of fat loss per week, and make sure your weight loss program includes weight lifting so that you do not lose lean muscle.
Tip #2: Stay Hydrated
Attend to your hydration needs. Water is a crucial component of maintaining skin elasticity. From both food and drink, you should be taking in at least two liters of water each day.
Tip #3: Eat Properly
Two necessary ingredients that keep skin plump and elastic are collagen and elastin. Protein-rich foods such as cottage cheese, milk, legumes, tofu, beans, seeds, nuts, and fish all contain collagen and elastin forming components, as well as oils to help maintain healthy skin.
Tip #4: Take Care of Your Skin
Nourish and care for your skin. Daily exfoliation can help to remove dead skin cells and increase skin circulation. A hot bath with sea salts and minerals can improve skin tone. Skin tightening creams with herbal formulas and ingredients such as aloe vera, hyaluronic
acid, yeast extract, soy protein, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin A can help to hydrate and increase collagen and elastin formation in skin.
Stay away from harsh detergents, such a sulfates in soaps, shampoos and dishwashing liquids. If you swim for fitness, use soap and shampoos that are specially designed to remove chlorine.
When to Consider Surgery for Loose Skin
Skin can only be stretched so far before it looses some of its ability to snap back. If you've had a 9-month pregnancy, then you'll be able to tighten your loose skin. But if you've carried a hundred or more extra pounds for many years, you may be a candidate for plastic surgery to tighten and lift loose skin. This fix should only be used in extreme cases, and I should warn you: my clients who have undergone this operation have actually gained more fat afterwards while they were rehabilitating from surgery!
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