Wrinkles and loose skins are unavoidable signs of aging.
According to Dr. Diana Howard at The International Dermal Institute, the main reasons for wrinkles and loose skins are:
- Reduction in muscle mass and skin thickness
- Cross-linking of collagen and elastin in the dermis
- Dehydration of the Stratum Corneum (SC)
The other common factors that lead to the premature occurrence of sagging skin are such as obesity, pregnancy, rapid weight loss, over-exposure to UVA rays, smoking, regular alcohol intake, poor diet habits, prolonged mental stress, environmental pollution, and the side effects of medication and cosmetic products.
Everyone loves to have healthy and youthful skin always, and some of us are worried about how to tighten loose skin.
In this article, we are going to have a look at various skin tightening treatments and preventive steps to get rid of stretch marks, wrinkles, and sagging skin.
How To Prevent Sagging Of Skin?
Before we proceed to discuss the details on how to tighten skin, let us look at some of the preventive solutions to keep our skin healthy and wrinkle-free till we reach ripe old age.
Here are some of the important skin-care tips that you should follow to prevent the loosening of skin:
- Obese people should avoid rapid weight loss methods as it will result in sagging skins and ugly stretch marks; do workouts for building up strong muscles and tightening skin while shedding the weight at a slow pace.
- Get rid of the baby fat gradually after childbirth through workouts and a balanced diet; do not follow a ‘crash diet’ for fast weight loss.
- Drink a minimum of eight glasses of water or fluids daily to keep your body well hydrated always to prevent the wrinkles caused by dehydration of the body.
- Make sure to eat lean protein-rich foods (meat, fish, legumes, nuts, etc.) which are excellent sources of collagen and elastin that keep your skin healthy; they also help in building up muscles and tighten the skin.
- Eat verities of vegetables (dark green) and fresh fruits daily (USDA recommends 5 servings per day) to provide the body with vitamins and nutrients required for the health of the skin.
- Avoid junk foods and beverages that contain a lot of refined sugar and unhealthy fats.
- Avoid direct exposure of skin to the UVA and UVB rays of the sunlight, chlorinated water, heat, and dust as they gradually damage the skin tissues.
- Do 45 minutes of physical exercises or workouts daily to build muscles, tighten the skin, and sweat out the toxins.
- Ensure to have 7 hours of sound sleep every night.
- Get rid of prolonged mental stress and tension through recreational activities and yoga; for a stressed person gets skin wrinkles faster.
Skin Tightening Treatments
The modern medical systems have evolved and advanced a lot to provide us with excellent cosmetic makeover treatments that can give us the youthful look again.
The modern skincare solutions have a non-invasive approach to skin tightening and rejuvenation that are safe with fast results.
The three most common and efficient methods used are laser skin tightening, radiofrequency skin tightening and ultrasound skin tightening.
Besides these, cosmetic surgery (plastic surgery), aesthetic injunctions, and skin-care creams are also used to remove wrinkles, loose skins, and stretch marks.
Laser Skin Tightening
Ablative Fractionated Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Laser is used since the mid-1990s to vaporize the deepest wrinkles that lead to the tightening of the skin in a specific area.
This method is particularly very effective and safe for tightening the skin around the eyes. It gives a fast result that is as good as traditional plastic surgery.
However, the patient may have to undergo multiple sessions of laser treatment to get the desired effects; however, the result usually won’t last more than a year.
Radiofrequency Skin Tightening
Monopolar Radiofrequency (also known as the Thermage) is a non-invasive procedure usually used to tighten face skin, tighten neck skin, and stomach skin tightening. It is also effective for the removal of wrinkles around the eyes.
Radiofrequency treatments are used to treat skin laxity by remodeling collagen in the skin. This is most suitable for treating mild to moderate sagging of facial skin.
The result of the radiofrequency procedure is not as good as facelift surgery, yet it can produce a significant effect in tightening the skin that gives a natural appearance.
The entire procedure needs to be repeated every 1-3 years for the continual result.
Ultrasound Skin Tightening Procedure
The Ulthera non-invasive treatment is a very advanced technology that makes use of focused ultrasound to visualize through the skin to target and treat deep layers of the skin.
This treatment involves controlled heating of deep skin layers which stimulates the growth of collagen that can lift and tighten the skin in a 3-4 months period.
It is very suitable for tightening the delicate skins on the face and neck. Unlike plastic surgery, it does not involve a cutting or recovery period; and the effect of this treatment comes forth gradually and naturally; results can last up to 3 years.
Skin Firming Collagen Creams And Cosmetic Injections
The most popularly used skin tightening solution is the use of collagen creams especially meant for getting rid of wrinkles and stretch marks.
You will find a large number of anti-wrinkle and skin firming creams sold by different companies.
I shall not recommend here any specific brand of these expensive creams as these products may not work for all to produce the desired results.
Cosmetic injections of botulinum toxin (Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin) are quite commonly used as a temporary fix to lift the sagging or wrinkled skin.
DIY Solutions For Skin Tightening
The mainstream skin enhancement treatments that we discussed above are quite expensive and not convenient for most individuals.
The majority of people prefer to follow natural remedies that are affordable, effective, and free of side effects.
I have come across a large number of self-care methods that have proven results in skin firming and the removal of wrinkles. Most of these remedies will also enhance the beauty and texture of the skin too.
Here are the best ones I have handpicked for you.
1. Egg White Mask
One of the easiest and most efficient home remedies for tightening loose skin is the ‘egg white mask’ therapy.
The egg white is filled with natural astringent properties and a glue-like texture that can instantly make the facial skin tight and smooth.
The hydro lipids present in the egg white helps to lift the loose skin tissues.
It has other added beauty enhancement benefits like oil reduction, pores’ tightening, healing and removal of blemishes, and exfoliation of dead skin cells.
Procedure
Apply the egg white directly onto your face and all around the neck; leave this mask untouched and let it air dry for the next 20 minutes. Then thoroughly rinse it off with lukewarm water; if needed, you could use a mild organic face wash to remove the mask.
For the best results, you can repeat this procedure once every three days.
2. Olive Oil Massage
One of the oldest and most traditional skin beauty enhancement therapy is the olive oil massage.
Olive oil is rich in antioxidants and skin Vitamins A and E that helps to tighten the loose skin and brighten the skin complexion.
Besides making the skin firm, it also moisturizes and smoothes the outer layer of the skin.
Procedure
Take 4 teaspoons of ‘extra virgin olive oil’ and mildly warm it up in the microwave or over a burner lamp. Gently massage the oil over the skin with your fingertips in a circulation motion for few minutes or till the oil is fully absorbed by the skin. Leave it on the skin overnight and gently rinse the skin in the morning.
This simple treatment could be repeated daily or every other day for the best results.
Note: In place of olive oil, you could also use coconut oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, or grapeseed oil. Oil massage therapy could better be avoided by persons suffering acne and pimple attacks and those with oily skin.
3. Cucumber Juice Scrub
Cucumber contains natural astringent properties that have multiple beautifying effects on the skin, especially, skin firming, smoothening and moisturizing. Cucumber is also used as skin rejuvenation toner, especially when the skin has turned dry and pale.
Procedure
Extract the cucumber juice with the help of a juice presser and apply the juice on your face and neck. Let the application get fully absorbed by the skin, and after 15 minutes rinse the skin with water.
For another method, you could cut the cucumber into round slices and scrub the slices over the facial skin for a few minutes. Allow the juice to get naturally dried on the skin and after that rinse the skin with water.
It is more effective to use the cucumber juice and egg white mixture for this treatment for the best results.
4. Honey Lotion
Organic honey is excellent for skin beauty enhancement as it has multiple benefits for the skin.
Organic honey contains medicinal properties, antioxidants, and moisturizing elements. Daily application of honey lotion helps to smoothen and tighten the skin. It is also good for scar removal and skin complexion lightening.
Procedure
There are various ways to use honey for loose skin tightening.
- Honey is directly applied onto the face and neck; allow it to air dry and then rinse it off after 30 minutes.
- Make a mixture of 3 teaspoon honey with a few drops of lemon juice and olive oil, and apply this mixture on the skin and wash it off after 30 minutes.
- Honey mixed with turmeric powder or sandalwood powder is another solution to rejuvenate the skin. Apply this mixture of lotion to the skin and wash it off after an hour.
5. Aloe Vera Gel
I am sure you have already heard a lot about Aloe Vera’s effects on skin rejuvenation. The Aloe Vera gel is also excellent for skin firming and lifting. The malic acid present in Aloe Vera helps to lift the sagging skin by reversing the lost elasticity of the skin.
The gel-like extract from Aloe Vera is also popularly used for skin moisturizing and complexion lightening.
Procedure
Apply the extracted Aloe Vera gel on the skin and wash it off after 30 minutes. For best results, this procedure is to be repeated every day.
Aloe Vera gel also could be mixed with honey and mayonnaise for still better results.
6. Lemon Juice Massage
The organic lemon juice extracts contain astringent elements that can tighten the loose skin and remove wrinkles.
By the way, lemon juice, rich in Vitamin C, could also be drunk to increase the production of collagen internally. This would help to rejuvenate the skin from within the body.
Procedure
Extract the fresh lemon juice and massage it over your face and neck. Wash off the application from the skin after 20 minutes.
A mixture of lemon juice and honey works even more efficiently for firming the loose skin.
7. Yoga And Exercises For Face Skin Tightening
You can try out different types of facial and neck yoga exercises that not only relax the mind and body but also tighten the facial skin and muscles. Some of the best ones include rotation of jaws and neck in a circular motion that stretches the neck muscles.
There are also several types of yoga asanas that help to activate the nerve endings in the face, increase the blood flow to the skin tissues, and strengthen the muscles.