What is crepey skin and what can you do about it?
Crepey skin, a visible thinning and wrinkling of the skin, is a key concern for many individuals. In this post, we will delve into the underlying causing behind crepey skin and explore effective treatment options. By understanding the factors that contribute to crepey skin, we can develop a targeted skincare routine to improve its appearance and boost overall skin health.
What is crepey skin?
Crepey skin is just a descriptive word for thinning skin that wrinkles quickly, especially with movement. It tends to happen on thinner areas of skin first such as the eye area, the neck area, and the hands, before affecting the rest of the face and body.
What causes crepey skin?
Degradation of collagen happens with ageing. Starting at age 21, your body loses 1% of its collagen every year, which decreases production of new proteins and compounds that keep your skin healthy. Crepey skin happens faster if you don’t protect the skin from UVA radiation, which is why it is important that you purchase broad spectrum sunscreen SPF50+ with maximum UVB/UVA (PA++++) protection+, such as Inzincable SPF50.
Crepey skin also happens in the winter due to dehydration. As the seasons change from summer to winter, the skin will have to work harder to maintain its moisture, as cold weather and central heating can dry out the skin. From this, you can get eczema flare ups, dry scalps become worse, and also crepey skin can develop.
Weight loss can also cause loose skin to develop, which wrinkles much quicker. Crepey skin can also appear on areas of the body that are particularly sensitive to stress, including the eye area and neck. Finally, smoking is another cause of crepey skin, as it leads to poor skin health.
Can crepey skin be prevented?
When it comes to prevention, you want to reduce glycation – which means that we want to have less sugar in our diet. Opt for a low GI diet i.e. the Mediterranean diet, with minimum amounts of sugar.
Ensure you’re wearing a broad spectrum SPF50+ daily and don’t forget the neck area and hands, which often gets overlooked. Every time you wash your hands, any sunscreen that you have applied will come off, so it is necessary to reapply. When UVA rays hit the skin, it penetrates right down into the dermis and affects your DNA, which is why in some cases UVA rays can lead to skin cancer.
What ingredients should I look for in a good lotion for crepey skin?
Look for ingredients and products that stimulate collagen such as Dr V Collagen Boost and consume daily- either as a gel shot or powder dissolved into your morning smoothie. This collagen is broken into peptides, which are recognised by fibroblasts as collagen fragments, which ‘tricks’ the fibroblasts to produce more collagen in response.
Vitamin A is also a key ingredient to add into your skincare routine to target crepey skin. I do prefer retinaldehyde over retinol, as it is less irritating and works 11x faster. Especially around the eyes, where the skin is thinner, non-irritating formulations are essential. For this, I’ve formulated Triple Action Eye Cream, which targets helps with fine lines, dark circles & puffiness in just 4 weeks. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please avoid products with Vitamin A content.
I would also look for the ingredient Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, a fat-soluble Vitamin C which also stimulates collagen and peptides. I’ve included this power ingredient in our Antioxidant Power Serum.
You also want to make sure that you have humectants in your skincare such as glycerin (allows the skin to retain moisture) or sodium hyaluronate (a skin-replenishing ingredient hyaluronic acid). Opt for ‘fatty skincare’, especially in the winter, in order to trap water in the top layer of skin and refresh the skins surface. Our Cera Pep Moisturiser is a great option for this.
By Dr Vanita Rattan, Oct 2024
Back to Dr. V's Skin of Colour Blog
Popular ranges
Our customers speak for us
I'm obsessed with this sunscreen. I can only use mineral sunscreen because I'm allergic to chemical, so I've been using another mineral brand (suggested by Dr. V) for years, and although it did the job, it was pigmented. I don't mind the pigment under makeup, but for everyday use when I'm in the house i don't want to have to worry about getting "makeup" on my clothes, so i decided to try Dr. V's Inzacable and I'll never go back. The fact that it melts into my skin being a black woman without any white cast, immediately 5 stars, but it also feels moisturizing and gives me a beautiful healthy glow, I'm just obsessed. My new favorite product! I'll be suggesting it to all my friends.
Strand strengthening oil is the best product I've used. It's lightweight and non-greasy. I use it daily and notice my hair getting stronger every day. No more breakages and more frizz.
Love love this product and all Dr V products . On my 3 or 4 th bottle . Thank u for formulating such lovely products fir us . Love . Jaya💕
I used this as a makeup remover and it takes off ALL my makeup. I can’t say I’ve had this experience with other oil cleansers.
Amazing Amazing and Amazing..inzincable is the best sunscreen I have ever come across..I can visibly see vast improvement in my pigmentation and has helped to breakdown the pigmentation..so grateful to Dr v for making this amazing sunscreen 🙌🏻🙌🏻 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
My daughter has suffered from eczema which has left some dark marks on her arms. This cream has been so effective in clearing the marks after thirty days of using it. I would definitely recommend it as it is mild and there was no side effect from using it. Only drawback is I wish it comes in a larger tub.
I’ve been using the Hair Anagen Boost Tonic for several weeks now, and the results have been impressive! My hair feels noticeably thicker, healthier, and more resilient. The tonic has a lightweight formula, so it doesn’t leave my scalp greasy, which I really appreciate. It absorbs quickly and making it easy to use daily without any hassle.
After consistent use, I’ve noticed a reduction in hair fall and a visible improvement in hair growth, particularly in areas where my hair was thinning. My scalp feels more nourished, and the new growth appears stronger and healthier than before.
If you're dealing with thinning hair or just want to boost your hair growth, I highly recommend giving the Hair Anagen Boost Tonic a try. It’s become a key part of my hair care routine, and the results have been worth it!
This is the best gel moisturiser I’ve used and has cleared my black marks. I have also now been using the exfoliator on my spots and has dried them up.
I was gifted this suncream by my sister 2 years ago, all I can say is wow. I haven't looked back since. I love the?texture and the fact it doesn't leave a white mark.
This is a perfect moisturiser for me. It has a fantastic texture that leaves my skin feeling comforted and hydrated. I can’t use anything else now!
I love the way it hydrates and brightens my skin leaving it squeaky clean!🩷 I have been using it for almost 4months now and I am thrilled with happiness!
My skin has never looked better - I’m so thrilled I’ve stumbled into Dr V’s skincare products. I have seen noticeable results within weeks. Been recommending the products to all my family and friends.
Admittedly I was a tad skeptical about this line but I am pleasantly surprised! Finally a system for dark skin that addresses our needs holistically. Bye, bye Cerave! Thank you Dr. V. Please don’t change the formulas because your skincare ingredients are wonderful!!!
I’ve been using this product for about 3years. I’ve been hesitant to write a review because my skin issues are hormonal. However, I do believe that this facial wash has helped me to reduced the malasma on my cheeks.
My skin took to it straight away very good moisturiser leaves skin plump
