After many years, I was finally able to overcome past trauma, reverse my autoimmune disease, and shed some pounds (more than 50 of them actually!). As many of us moms know though, weight loss can come with an unfortunate downside… stretched out, loose, or sagging skin.
For the most part I’ve learned to become comfortable with the skin I’m in (consider it part of the glory of motherhood!), but today I’m sharing my post-weight loss skincare plan — what helped, what didn’t, and what the experts say.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, as we age the elastin and collagen that make skin plump and firm starts to decline. Certain stressors, like sun damage and smoking, speed the process up.
Weight loss is another prime reason for loose skin. After weight gain, skin stretches to accommodate for the extra body mass. When we lose that weight, especially a lot at once, the skin can’t keep up with the changes fast enough.
So how do we give skin a boost naturally?
Collagen makes up a whopping 75-80% of our skin and keratin, which makes up hair and nails, helps our skin have some rigidity and protection. Fibroblast cells in the dermis synthesize collagen and elastin that give skin its plumpness.
This is one of the reasons you’ll hear me rave about grass-fed collagen, gelatin, and bone broth. With a collagen-rich diet and some good skincare practices, we can nourish our bodies from the outside… and from within!
The best way to solve a problem is before it happens! This isn’t always possible, but here are some tips to lose weight in a healthy way that also supports skin health.
Now that we’ve covered some of the basics for preventing and addressing loose skin, let’s look at helpful therapies.
Red light therapy (RLT) penetrates deep into the skin, affecting blood vessels, lymph pathways, and nerves. It reaches down into our dermal layer to rejuvenate skin and smooth tone. RLT increases circulation and fibroblasts, which in turn stimulate collagen and elastin.
I’ve seen great results with red light therapy, even in just 5 minutes a day. My skin is firmer and I have fewer wrinkles and post-baby stretch marks.
While jumping into an ice bath may not be everyone’s idea of a good time, it has its benefits. Hydrotherapy, or cold water therapy, has been used for centuries to restore and maintain wellbeing. Cold baths or showers increase circulation, improve metabolism, and boost weight loss. It also transforms harmful white fat into healthier brown fat for better insulin sensitivity and heat retention.
Like hydrotherapy, dry brushing is known to increase circulation in the skin. This low-cost and easy method is exactly how it sounds. I use a dry body brush and gently rub it in circles over my skin. It’s invigorating and I found it helped tighten my skin and lessen stretch marks during pregnancy.
Dry brushing is one of the main ways to increase lymphatic flow to aid in nutrient transport and waste detox. Another way to get the exfoliating benefits is with a body scrub. This refreshing body scrub features grapefruit essential oil to help with cellulite, but it may also help with sagging skin.
The 2002 article Inhibition of elastase activity by essential oils in vitro found that lemon, grapefruit, and juniper essential oil helped inhibit elastase. The elastase enzyme destroys the elastin in our dermal layer and contributes to aging, sagging skin. Lemon performed best out of the three, however, caution should be used because it is phototoxic.
Protein, protein, and more protein. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and are responsible for many processes in the body. We need enough protein to build muscle mass, increase collagen, repair tissue, and even oxygenate red blood cells.