|  | Diet Nutrition | Weight Loss

Loose Skin Alternative Medicine

Loose, saggy skin is common after major weight loss. Loose skin is often associated with weight loss after bariatric surgery, but anytime you lose a significant amount of weight quickly, you run the risk of loose skin. One solution for dealing with sagging skin is cosmetic surgery, in which excess skin is cut away, but if you want to avoid going under the knife, there are some natural remedies for loose skin that you can try.

  1. Prevention

    • The best way to deal with loose skin is to not develop it in the first place. If you are about to start a diet, or even if you are in the middle of a weight-loss program and have already developed some loose skin, plan your weight loss with an eye toward retaining your firm skin. When you lose weight too fast, your skin elasticity can't keep up. Total Body Fitness website founder and weight-loss book author Johnnie D. Jackow Sr. recommends avoiding low-carbohydrate diet plans because they encourage weight loss that is too fast. He also suggests drinking ½ oz. water for every pound of body weight, since dehydration can decrease your skin elasticity. Weight loss of more than 4 lbs. per week put you at risk for saggy skin.

    Skin Care Solutions

    • According to Louis Dorman and Bodybuilders.com, improving skin circulation can improve skin elasticity. Exfoliating in the shower using a scrub brush (scrub in a circular motion) can encourage skin circulation. Applying skin-tightening creams can also help. Creams with soy, aloe and yeast extract can be helpful, as these ingredients support the production of collagen, which improves elasticity. Hyaluronic acid, a hydrating ingredient, can help with elasticity that is caused by dehydration.

    Exercise

    • Weight training exercises that build up your muscle mass can help your skin appear tighter. Muscle mass will help you keep burning fat while "filling out" some of your loose skin. Note that exercise alone cannot cure all of your loose skin.

    Realistic Expectations

    • You cannot control certain factors associated with loose skin. As you age, your skin loses elasticity, which will decrease its ability to stay firm as you lose weight. This loss of elasticity will also dampen effect of alternative treatments. Your skin may regain some firmness after a year or two, but if nothing else works, speak to your doctor about surgery and other options.

Weight Loss - Related Articles