How to Avoid Loose Skin_Health_Common Sense of Life

Method 1 Method 1 of 4: Keeping Skin Firm

1 Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet high in protein and antioxidants. Eat fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meats instead of processed foods. Protein contains collagen and elastin, which both make your skin firm. Antioxidants, meanwhile, can help heal aging caused by sun damage.
- Good sources of protein include eggs, dairy, beans, tofu, seeds, and fish.
- Antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and biotin (Vitamin B7) are found in fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, carrots, oranges, and leafy greens. You can also take supplements, although your body may absorb them better from food.
- Lean meats, like turkey, chicken, and fish, are a good source of both protein and antioxidants like selenium.
- For example, you might eat scrambled eggs and an orange for breakfast, a spinach salad and cottage cheese for lunch, and grilled salmon with salsa for dinner.
2 Drink plenty of water every day. Water will keep your skin elastic and plump. Men should drink about 15.5 cups (3.7 l) and women should drink about 11.5 cups (2.7 l) of water per day. To make sure you get enough water, carry a bottle with you throughout the day.
- Remember to drink water both before and after exercising.
- If you're dehydrated, your body loses both water and electrolytes, both of which can help keep your skin tight and smooth. Try eating a banana with a glass of water for a healthy boost in electrolytes. Do not drink sports drinks, which are high in sugar.
3 Exfoliate your skin. Exfoliation can improve circulation, which may keep your skin healthy and firm. In the shower, scrub your body with exfoliating gloves or a boar brush. For your face, use a facial scrub after washing it with a cleanser.
- Ask your doctor for a referral to a dermatologist or look for one through the American Academy of Dermatology: https://www.aad.org/find-a-derm.
- Exfoliating too often can cause skin damage. Start by exfoliating once a week. After a few months, you can exfoliate 2 or 3 times a week.
- For more dramatic results, visit your dermatologist for a chemical peel or microdermabrasion. These should only be done once every few months.
4 Quit smoking. Smoking may make your skin less elastic, contributing to looser skin. If you are a smoker, talk to your doctor about quitting. Your doctor may recommend a nicotine patch or medication to help you quit.

Method 2 Method 2 of 4: Plumping Skin During Weight Loss

1 Lose weight slowly. If you lose too much weight at once, you might have more excess skin than you would if you lost weight slowly. Aim to lose no more than 1–2 pounds (0.45–0.91 kg) per week.
- To lose 1 pound a week, you must burn 3,500 calories a week. You can reach this goal by cutting out 500 calories from your diet every day.
2 Keep your total body fat between 14-22%. This is a healthy range of body fat. Keeping a little bit of fat on the body will help plump up any skin left over from weight loss. Visit a doctor or personal trainer to learn your body fat percentage.
3 Build muscle to fill out skin. Building muscle will also improve your chances of losing more weight. To build muscle most efficiently, you can either do fewer reps with heavier weights or more reps with lighter weights.
- Good weight lifting moves include deadlifts, bench presses, and bicep curls.
- Body weight exercises can also be useful. You can do crunches, leg lifts, and flutter kicks.

Method 3 Method 3 of 4: Preventing Signs of Aging

1 Wear sunscreen with at least 30 SPF every day. Apply the sunscreen to your face and body 15 minutes before going outside. Reapply after 2 hours of sun exposure. To provide extra protection against the sun, wear a hat with a brim. Avoid spending too much time outside between 10 am and 3 pm, when the sun is the brightest.
2 Apply a moisturizer to your face and neck twice a day. Moisturizing is essential to keep skin firm and smooth as you age. Put on a cream or gel every morning and night after you wash your face. Look for moisturizing ingredients, such as:
- Aloe vera
- Hyaluronic acid
- Soy protein
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin A
3 Massage body lotion into the rest of your body daily. You do not need to moisturize your body as often as your face, but it will keep the skin around your stomach, arms, legs, buttocks, and back tight and smooth. Look for lotions with Vitamins A, B5, C, or E.
- Oils and butters, like avocado oil or shea butter, are also great ingredients for your skin.
- The best time to put on body lotion is right after a shower because hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils. Apply the lotion over your arms, stomach, legs, and back while your skin is still slightly damp.
4 Do facial exercises to reduce jowls. Some facial exercises may be able to prevent sagging skin around your face. Do these exercises every day after you have applied moisturizer. The moisturizer will prevent you from pulling or tugging your skin.
- To exercise your jaw, smile without moving your cheeks. Hold it for a few seconds, then release. Do this 10 times. Once you get good at it, you can try just smiling with one side of your mouth.
- To massage your cheeks, smile as broadly as you can. Then place your fingers on the tops of your cheekbones. Push down for 10 seconds before releasing. Do this 5 times.
- To prevent neck wattle, hold your neck straight and lean back your head as far as it will go. Once you are in this position, try placing your lower lip over your upper lip. Or, say the letters “O” or “E.” Hold this for 10 seconds. Repeat once a day.

Method 4 Method 4 of 4: Getting Medical Treatment

1 Visit a dermatologist to talk about laser skin tightening. Laser treatments make your skin contract around your face, leading to a tighter appearance. Laser treatments can also boost collagen and elastin fibers in the skin. You may need to get 2 or 3 treatments about a month apart to see results. Find a local dermatologist who offers laser treatments to get a consultation.
- Laser treatments can cost anywhere from $500 to $3,500. Your dermatologist may charge per session.
2 See a plastic surgeon to prevent a saggy neck. Liposuction and Botox can both be used on your neck to prevent loose folds from developing. If you want a non-surgical option, you may be able to get ultrasound treatments to firm up your neck. A plastic surgeon will be able to walk you through your options.
- Neck liposuction usually costs between $2,000 to $4,000.
- Botox treatments usually cost between $350 to $500.
- Ultrasound therapies, such as Ultherapy, can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000.
3 Plan for body contouring if you want to lose a significant amount of weight. If you will be losing more than 50 pounds (23 kg), understand that you may have loose skin afterwards. While little can be done to stop this, you may get body contouring surgery (sometimes known as a tummy tuck) afterwards to remove the skin. Start talking to your doctor early if you worry this will be an issue for you.
- It can cost up to $30,000 to contour the entire body. Insurance sometimes covers the surgery, as extra skin can carry health risks, but not always. You may want to start saving money just in case.
- You may not be allowed to get body contouring until you have maintained your weight for at least 6 months.

How to Avoid Loose Skin

Related