Losing a lot of weight is a notable accomplishment, not to mention, it translates to a healthier lifestyle.
If you have lost weight or are looking to lose weight, one of your concerns may be loose skin. Like excess weight, sagging skin can be just as frustrating and have an impact on your self-esteem.
Fortunately, there are various ways to tighten loose skin, which we will be discussing in this article.
So what causes loose skin after weight loss? How do you get rid of the excess skin? Read on to find out.
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Causes of Loose Skin after Weight Loss
Loose skin is caused by losing a considerable amount of weight, i.e., 100 pounds or more, within a short period. Why? Weight gain causes your skin to stretch. And if your skin remains in this state for an extended period, its collagen and elastin fibers get damaged.
Consequently, when you drastically lose weight, your skin does not have enough elasticity to contract back down to your new, smaller body.
Most people who are obese or overweight carry excessive pounds for years. As a result, when they undergo massive weight loss, they are left with loose skin.
Note: collagen and elastin are proteins in the dermis, i.e., the innermost layer of the skin. Collagen gives your skin strength and firmness, while elastin provides elasticity and helps keep your skin tight.
Factors That Influence the Loss of Skin Elasticity
Several factors before and after weight loss contribute to loose skin. These include:
Length of time overweight: the longer you have had excessive body fat, the looser your skin will be after shedding off those extra pounds due to elastin and collagen loss.
Amount of weight lost: losing 100 pounds (46 kilograms) or more within a short time typically results in more pronounced loose skin.
Age: Older people, i.e., 50 years of age and above, tend to have more loose skin following weight loss since their skin has less collagen and elastin than younger people’s skin. Consequently, their skin is less able to retract to their new body size.
Smoking: if you smoke, you are at a higher risk for sagging skin than a non-smoker. The reason being, smoking causes reduced collagen synthesis and damages existing collagen.
Genetics: your genes may determine how firm and elastic your skin will be after weight loss.
Sun exposure: prolonged sun exposure results in reduced collagen and elastin production, resulting in loose skin.
Nutrition: your skin needs the right balance of nutrients to remain healthy.
Problems Related to Excess Loose Skin
If you have lost significant weight, having loose skin is a normal and common side effect. Common locations you may experience loose skin include the:
- Abdomen
- Upper arms
- Thighs
- Buttocks
- Face
- Neck
Loose skin following significant weight loss is not only frustrating but may also lead to physical and emotional challenges, such as:
Decreased physical activity: a study of the impact of excess skin on the practice of physical activity in women found that 76.9% of the 26 women studied reported limited mobility due to loose skin. Moreover, 45.2% avoided exercising altogether because the excess skin would flap, causing people to stare.(1)
Physical discomfort: excess skin can cause discomfort to the point of interfering with everyday physical activity. In a study of 360 adults (110 men and 250 women), this problem was mostly experienced by patients who had lost 110 pounds (50 kilograms) or more. (2)
Poor body image: loose skin in patients who have had massive weight loss can cause body image dissatisfaction. A study of 20 massive weight loss patients aged 29 to 63 years found that negative body image, in turn, caused depression, s e x u a l and intimacy difficulties, and a feeling of being socially excluded. (3)
Skin irritation and breakdown: in a study of 138 patients that had previously undergone weight loss surgery, 89.9% wished for plastic surgery for various reasons, including problems due to excess skin. These problems include skin pain, skin infections, or skin ulcers. (4)
How to get rid of loose skin after weight loss
Depending on the amount of weight you’ve lost, loose skin can be tightened or removed through natural remedies or medical procedures.
Below is how you can get rid of sagging skin either by using natural remedies and surgery.
To Be Continue - Part -2
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