How To Tighten Loose Skin After Weight Loss

You are working out and eating right for quite a time. Those extra kilos you’ve been carrying around for years have finally started to melt away. However, the unexpected aftermath of losing weight is loose skin, which is generated after losing oodles of weight.

Since the smaller and newer version of you is still living under your older surface area, it leads your skin to sag. You will notice some folds in your stomach, legs, and arms, and even some loose skin on your face. So, here in this article you learn what causes loose skin and how to tighten loose skin.

What Causes Loose Skin?

Our skin is like an elastic balloon. When you blow it for the first time, it is really, very tight. However, as you begin to stretch it and it becomes inflamed. So, when you remove all the air from the balloon, it is still not able to return to its original state. Our skin is somewhat like that; it is made up of collagen and elastin protein. Collagen protein gives structure to our skin and elastin gives our skin its elasticity which helps in keeping it firm and tight. However, when you gain weight or you remain overweight for the longest time, your skin expands itself to meet the growth of your body. This leads to the destruction of elastin and collagen protein due to overstretching and when your body is overweight for a longer duration it causes our skin to lose its ability to retract. Hence it leads to loose skin after weight loss. 

How do Identify Loose Skin?

The first thing you need to do is identify whether you have loose skin or a layer of pesky stubborn fat. Pinch your skin, if it feels a few mm thick then it is a stubborn fat and you need to continue exercising to lose that fat. However, if you feel that skin is very thin like the skin at the back of your hand, then it is the loose skin you are dealing with. 

Tips to tighten loose skin on your body:

1. Lose Weight Slowly

This is the best thing you can do to prevent loose skin. When you lose weight rapidly, it doesn’t give your body an ample amount of time to adjust accordingly. So when you lose weight slowly at a gradual pace, it allows your body and skin to shrink and adjust at a healthy pace. It is recommended to lose one to two pounds per week to maintain the health of your skin and overall body.

2. Practice Strength Training

Engaging in strength training is probably the best way for young and adults to how to tighten loose skin as it helps in building muscle mass. Generally, people indulge more in cardio to lose fat, which also leads to losing muscle mass along with the fat that makes your skin sag. Include strength training along with cardio that helps in building lean muscle along with losing fat which helps you to get that toned physique. So do not shy from those weights.

3. Take Care of Your Diet

Make sure to indulge in a diet that is rich in protein, healthy fats (omega-3 fatty acids), and vitamin C. As our skin is made up of protein i.e., collagen and elastin, it is necessary to eat a protein-rich diet. Vitamin C also helps in building collagen protein and acts as a barrier to protect our skin from UV rays. Omega-3 fatty acids present in nuts and seeds keep our skin soft and supple. 

You can include these foods in your diet:

• Citrus fruits
• Beans
• Tofu
• Leafy greens
• Cottage cheese
• Nuts and seeds

4. Keep Yourself Hydrated

Keep yourself hydrated throughout and after your weightless journey. It is the most effective and easiest way to keep your skin tight and firm. If you are not drinking ample amounts of water, it can severely affect the elasticity of the skin. Water helps in delivering the nutrients to your skin and also improves its flexibility and makes it healthy.

5. Take care of Your Skin

Your skin is very delicate; hence it is necessary to take care of your skin throughout the journey of losing weight. Even a simple skincare routine can be very effective. Apply a generous amount of moisturizer to your skin. You can use oils such as extra virgin coconut oil and olive oil to lock in that moisture in the skin. It also helps in preventing stretch marks on your skin. You should avoid using coconut oil on your skin if your skin is oily. Make sure to exfoliate your skin every other day to improve blood circulation and remove dead skin cells. Use dry brushing before showering and use lukewarm water for bathing as it improves your skin tone. However, avoid too much hot water for bathing.

6. Avoid Smoking

Try to avoid smoking as much as you can as tobacco smoke hinders collagen formation in your body. It also damages the existing collagen in the body which leads to loose skin after weight loss.

7. Massage

Massaging improves the blood circulation on the skin surface which promotes the formation of new skin cells. It also reduces muscle tension. Warm oil massages are considered as best however, you can also go for cream massage which contains shea butter and vitamin E to massage loose skin. If you think it is too slippery then after applying the cream you can dry your hand and then massage.

8. Continue Exercise

Even though you get saggy skin after losing weight, don’t let it stop you from exercising. Try to exercise at least three to five times a week to remain fit and in shape. Exercise is the best way to give you that toned body and tighten loose skin.

Bottom Line

It is normal to get saggy skin after losing weight, but don’t let it stop you from living your life to the fullest. There are ways to prevent it and before opting for a skin tightening procedure follow the above-mentioned tips to prevent and reduce it.