As we age, our skin naturally loses collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin firm and supple. This causes skin to become thin, wrinkled and crepey. Crepey skin is most common on the upper arms, thighs, neck and décolletage.
While crepey skin is a natural part of aging, there are ways to reduce its appearance and tighten loose, sagging skin on the upper arms. With the right skin care routine and procedures, you can smooth and firm crepey arm skin for a more youthful look.
What Causes Crepey Skin on Upper Arms?
There are several factors that cause the crepe paper-like texture and sagging associated with crepey skin on the upper arms:
- Aging: As we get older, skin produces less collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin firm and elastic.
- Genetics: Some people are just prone to looser, thinner skin.
- Weight fluctuations: Losing and gaining weight can accelerate loose, sagging skin.
- Sun damage: Years of sun exposure breaks down collagen and elastin in the skin.
- Lifestyle factors: Smoking, not staying hydrated and poor nutrition can impair collagen production.
While aging is the biggest culprit, sun damage, yo-yo dieting and unhealthy habits also degrade your skin’s support structure over time. This allows skin to hang loose rather than snap back into place.
How to Tighten Crepey Arm Skin
Getting rid of crepey arm skin takes diligent skin care and in some cases, professional treatments. Here are the most effective ways to tighten loose, sagging upper arm skin:
Moisturize Daily
Keeping arm skin well-hydrated improves elasticity and plumps up crepey skin. Look for a rich moisturizer formulated for mature skin that contains ingredients like:
- Hyaluronic acid: This powerhouse hydrator attracts and binds moisture to the skin.
- Ceramides: These lipids reinforce the skin barrier to lock in moisture.
- Shea butter: Deeply moisturizes while softening and smoothing skin.
- Peptides: Amino acid complexes that stimulate collagen production.
Apply moisturizer to clean, dry skin daily, massaging it in with upward strokes until thoroughly absorbed. For added hydration, apply a hyaluronic acid serum before moisturizer.
Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliating removes dead skin cells that dull the complexion and make skin look crepey. Use a chemical exfoliant containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) 2-3 times per week. AHAs like glycolic and lactic acids loosen the bonds between dead skin cells, while BHAs like salicylic acid penetrate clogged pores.
Look for an exfoliating cleanser, toner or serum with 5-10% AHA/BHA. After exfoliating, always follow up with moisturizer. Over time, regular exfoliation improves skin texture and reduces crepiness.
Use Retinoids
Retinoids, derivatives of Vitamin A, are unmatched for improving signs of skin aging like wrinkles and crepiness. Retinoids boost collagen production, thicken the dermis and stimulate cell turnover to reveal smoother, firmer skin.
Over-the-counter retinol is gentler than prescription retinoids. Start by using an OTC retinol cream or serum 2-3 nights per week, gradually increasing to daily use. When using retinol, always wear sunscreen in the daytime.
Eat a Nutritious Diet
A diet full of antioxidant and collagen-boosting foods can improve crepey skin from the inside out. Focus on eating:
- Fruits and vegetables: Rich in antioxidants that fight skin-damaging free radicals.
- Foods with omega-3 fatty acids: Fatty fish, walnuts and chia seeds hydrate and nurture skin.
- Protein: Essential for collagen production. Get protein from fish, poultry, eggs, beans and Greek yogurt.
- Vitamin C foods: Citrus fruits, peppers, broccoli and kiwi help produce collagen.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water to keep skin cells plump. Limit sugary foods and processed carbs that can degrade collagen.
Quit Smoking
If you smoke cigarettes, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your skin’s health. Smoking restricts blood flow to the skin, robbing it of oxygen and nutrients. This accelerates skin aging. Within months of quitting smoking, your skin will look and feel firmer.
Protect Skin from the Sun
Sun exposure is public enemy #1 when it comes to crepey skin and other signs of aging. UV radiation degrades collagen and elastin in the skin, leading to wrinkles and sagging.
Be diligent about applying broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen daily. Seek shade between 10am-2pm when UV rays are strongest. Wear sun protective clothing and a wide-brimmed hat when spending time outside.
Try Skin-Firming Creams
Look for body creams containing ingredients specifically designed to firm and tighten mature skin. Here are some effective options:
- Caffeine: Constricts blood vessels to firm skin.
- Peptides: Signal the skin to ramp up collagen production.
- Retinol: Stimulates collagen and thickens the dermis.
- Vitamin C: Essential for collagen synthesis to strengthen skin.
- Niacinamide: Builds keratin to improve skin elasticity.
Apply skin-firming creams to the arms, massaging in an upward direction until fully absorbed. Look for formulas containing several of the actives above for optimal tightening effects.
Try Ultrasound Skin Tightening
Ultrasound skin tightening is a non-invasive, no downtime treatment that uses focused ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production beneath the skin’s surface. Popular devices include Ultherapy, Ultrashape and Thermage.
During the 30-90 minute treatment, a technician applies ultrasound gel and glides an applicator across the arms delivering pulses of ultrasound energy. This heats the tissue beneath the skin, causing minor collagen damage that stimulates new collagen growth.
It typically takes 2-3 months to see optimal skin tightening and lifting results. Most people need 1-2 annual touch-up treatments to maintain results. Mild redness may occur after treatment.
Try Radiofrequency Skin Tightening
Radiofrequency (RF) skin tightening is another popular non-invasive treatment that uses radiofrequency energy to heat tissue and stimulate collagen remodeling. Devices like InMode BodyTite and Thermage deliver RF energy to firm and tighten arm skin.
A thin applicator tip is passed over the treatment areas, delivering heating into the dermis and subcutaneous fat. This causes gentle wounding that induces collagen contraction and production for tighter, smoother skin on the arms and body.
You may need a series of 6-8 treatments every 4-6 weeks to achieve desired results. Mild swelling and redness can occur but subsides within a few hours.
Try Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing treatments remove outer layers of skin to promote skin tightening and collagen growth. Non-ablative fractional lasers create microscopic wounds, while ablative lasers remove thin layers of skin:
- Non-Ablative Lasers: Examples are Fraxel and Clear + Brilliant. These stimulate collagen without much downtime.
- Ablative Lasers: Such as CO2 lasers. Ablative lasers have longer downtime but produce dramatic results.
A series of 4-6 treatments is usually needed for optimal tightening, performed a month apart. Some redness, swelling and dryness occurs temporarily after treatment. Avoid sun exposure between treatments.
Try Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
PRP therapy uses concentrated growth factors from your own blood to rejuvenate skin. A blood sample is drawn and spun to isolate the plasma containing platelets and growth factors.
PRP is then injected into skin of the arms causing mild inflammation that stimulates collagen regeneration. PRP injections can be done every 4-6 weeks to improve crepey skin texture and sagging. Minimal downtime is needed.
Try Body-Firming Devices
At-home radiofrequency and electromagnetic energy devices are available that help temporarily firm and tighten arm skin and improve its texture. Consistent use is needed to maintain results. Options include:
- NuFACE Trinity Body Toning Device
- Silk’n Titan
- Project E Beauty Galvanic Body Spa
- NORLULLI Elasticity Boosting Arm Bands
Try Arm Compression Sleeves
Compression garments apply gentle pressure that helps tone arms and may temporarily reduce crepey appearance. Wear elastic compression sleeves during exercise or while going about your daily activities.
Look for sleeves sized to fit snugly without restricting circulation. Compression garments boost circulation and may help flush out excess fluid that contributes to crepey-looking skin.
Perform Arm Strengthening Exercises
While exercise alone won’t eliminate crepey skin, staying active helps tone arm muscles which minimizes sagging. Try incorporating:
- Strength training: Use free weights or resistance bands 2-3x per week.
- Yoga: Poses like plank, upward dog and downward dog strengthen arms.
- Pilates: Works upper back and arms.
- Swimming: An all-over strengthener.
Focus on building lean muscle mass with bicep curls, tricep dips and push-ups. Moving and working your arm muscles provides firming and toning.
Medical Procedures for Crepey Arms
More dramatic results for crepey arm skin require medical procedures performed by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Options range from minimally invasive to surgical procedures.
Injectable Fillers
Dermal fillers add subtle volume under crepey skin, smoothing its appearance. Hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane, Juvederm and Belotero are injected just under the skin. Results typically last 6-12 months.
Fat grafting involves liposuction from another area to harvest fat that is then injected under crepey skin. This has longer-lasting, natural looking results compared to HA fillers.
Microneedling
Microneedling creates punctures in the skin using fine needles on a roller or pen device. This stimulates wound healing that generates new collagen. Topical PRP or growth factors can be used along with microneedling for enhanced results.
Numbing cream is applied for an hour before the 30-60 minute procedure. Downtime is 2-4 days. Most patients need a series of 4-6 treatments for significant improvement in crepey skin texture.
Thermage
Thermage uses monopolar radiofrequency energy to deeply heat collagen in the dermis and subcutaneous layers. This stimulates collagen remodeling and new growth to tighten skin.
Local anesthetic is applied before the 45-90 minute outpatient treatment. Mild redness and swelling can occur for several days after. Optimal results emerge over 2-6 months as collagen regenerates.
Body-Jet Liposuction
Body-jet liposuction uses a thin water jet to loosen fat before vacuum suction. This allows for very precise fat removal to contour the arms. The heat from the water stimulates skin tightening.
Swelling is milder compared to traditional liposuction. Compression garments are worn for 2-4 weeks to aid skin retraction. Exercise and a healthy diet maintain results.
Brachioplasty
For significant skin laxity, brachioplasty surgically removes excess loose skin from the upper arms. An incision is made on the inner arm, and underlying fat tissue can also be reduced.
Recovery takes 2-3 weeks with restricted arm mobility and swelling. Results are dramatic but scarring is permanent. Often combined with liposuction for optimal contouring.
Preventing Future Crepey Skin
Once you’ve improved crepey skin texture, maintaining results requires diligent skin care and sun protection. Preventing future skin laxity also relies on a healthy lifestyle.
- Moisturize daily and exfoliate 2-3 times per week.
- Use retinoids and skin-firming creams with peptides, antioxidants.
- Always apply broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen to arms.
- Stay hydrated by drinking water and eating fruits/veggies with high water content.
- Maintain a healthy weight since fluctuations can worsen crepey skin.
- Do regular strength training and cardio exercise to keep arm muscles toned.
- Don’t smoke, which accelerates skin aging.
- Manage stress levels through yoga, meditation, massage.
Your dermatologist can offer personalized advice on maintaining youthful, taut arms as you age. With diligent self-care and professional treatments as needed, you can smooth crepey skin for good.
Conclusion
Crepey skin on the upper arms is a frustrating sign of aging. But with the right skin care products and procedures, you can significantly improve the appearance of loose, sagging arm skin.
Using rich moisturizers, skin-firming creams with retinol and peptides, staying active and protecting skin from sun damage will help tighten arm skin. For more dramatic results, consider ultrasound, radiofrequency and laser treatments to stimulate collagen.
In some cases, injectable fillers, microneedling or surgical procedures provide longer-lasting correction of severely crepey arm skin. Combining professional treatments with diligent at-home care lets you smooth and tighten skin for toned, youthful looking arms.