Skin care can seem like an overwhelming topic if you don’t know what to look out for. Acne, wrinkles, and dryness are just a few of the skin conditions that commonly affect people, but there are many others as well. Knowing how to recognize these issues and how to treat them when they arise can help you avoid further complications down the road.
Healthy skin starts from within, but knowing what to look out for and what you can do about it can make a big difference to the health of your skin, even if you’re not making any changes to your diet or lifestyle. To ensure that your skin stays healthy, This article will help you learn what to look out for in your skin, so you can be prepared to treat issues as soon as they arise!
Sagging Skin & Wrinkles
If you’ve spent hours in the gym trying to lose weight or if your just had a beautiful bundle of joy, you probably know that saggy skin can be an all-too-common side effect. Saggy skin, on both the face and body, is often associated with the loss of fat.
The deterioration or reduction of collagen and elastin in the dermis are another cause of saggy skin. While anyone can get saggy skin, it’s more likely to occur in people as they age. People who have lost significant amounts of weight are also more susceptible. Certain medical conditions may also be the cause.
Sagging skin can be challenging to treat at home, but there are skin-tightening options that can help, from over-the-counter products to invasive and non-invasive surgical solutions. When skin loses it`s collagen and elasticity it can begin to sag but fear not here are some innovative solutions to help.
Exercise – Building and toning muscle can help to tighten the look of sagging in the skin
Supplements – Supplements containing collagen or hyaluronic acid can help to pump the skin giving it a fuller look. Can also be used by both men and woman.
Skin Cancer
The most common type of cancer is skin cancer, also known as Melanoma. Early detection of skin cancer warning signs is possible if you know what to look for. Skin cancer is significantly easier to cure if caught early, when it’s small and hasn’t spread. Failure to spot it early, can lead it to spreading to other organs in the body.
Melanoma is a cancer that is caused by abnormally developing skin cells.
Most melanomas are assumed to be caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, although there is evidence that some may be caused by sunbed use.
Melanoma is caused by a type of solar exposure known as abrupt strong exposure. For instance, while on vacation, which results in sunburn.
Certain factors can raise your risk of acquiring melanoma, such as:
- lots of moles or freckles
- pale skin that burns easily
- red or blonde hair
- a close family member who’s had melanoma
Take a look at the link below for further information of skin cancer and how to spot it.
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/skin-cancer/risks-causes
Topical Treatments
Creams, lotions, and serums that contain ingredients such as retinol may improve elasticity around the eye area and on facial skin. Both over-the-counter (OTC) products and prescription medications can help.
Prescription retinoids, such as tretinoin and retin-A, boost collagen production. These will usually produce more significant results than their OTC counterparts.
Non – Invasive Treatments
Non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments can improve the tone and elasticity of saggy skin. A wide range of non invasive treatments are available to help improve the look of sagging or wrinkled skin.
These procedures are done by a dermatologist and include:
- Laser therapy. Several types of laser therapy treatments can help boost collagen production and improve overall skin tone. Most people see the best results after multiple treatments. Laser therapy can be beneficial for firming the upper arms and stomach, as well as other areas of the body.
- Laser resurfacing. This highly effective procedure also uses a laser, but is more invasive and has a longer recovery time, typically around two weeks. Laser resurfacing removes the upper layers of skin and sends heat deep into the lower layers. It’s sometimes referred to as laser peeling.
- Micro Focused ultrasound (MFU). This technique sends heat deep into the skin’s layers, supporting collagen production and lifting saggy skin. It can take several months before you start to see an improvement in your skin’s firmness and elasticity. The results from ultrasound are not permanent and typically last about 1 year.
Invasive Options
Medical or surgical treatments are more invasive options to tighten loose skin after major weight loss. It is vital you do your research to find the best surgeon for your treatment and always look into previous patients reviews to take a look into past surgeries.
In body-contouring surgery, a surgeon makes a large incision and removes excess skin and fat. They then suture the incision with fine stitches to minimize scarring.
Specific body-contouring surgeries include:
- abdominoplasty (tummy tuck): removal of skin from the abdomen
- lower-body lift: removal of skin from the belly, buttocks, hips, and thighs
- upper-body lift: removal of skin from the breasts and back
- medial thigh lift: removal of skin from the inner and outer thighs
- brachioplasty (arm lift): removal of skin from the upper arms
Multiple surgeries are usually performed on different body parts over the span of 1 to 2 years after major weight loss.
Body-contouring surgeries usually require a hospital stay of 1 to 4 days. Recovery time at home is typically 2 to 4 weeks. There may be also some complications from the surgery, such as bleeding and infections.
