Skin thinning is one of the common signs of aging that few people tell you about. You may not even know that what’s happening to your skin is a result of thinning, and you may be instead focused on how to make visible veins disappear under concealer or how to minimize wrinkles using whichever skin cream has made that claim today.
But our skin gets thinner as we age and lose estrogen, collagen, and elastin. As a result, movement in skin that might have remained hidden beneath thicker skin, like wrinkles around the mouth and eyes, are more front and center. Your skin may seem like it’s no longer toned or like a pimple you get sticks around for months or stays red and inflamed long after it has healed.
Dr. Anil Rajani is letting us in on some of his top tips for helping to address thinning skin and help make it thicker.
That’s right: instead of putting your attention on concealing issues, here are seven tips for tacking some of the reasons for skin imperfections: thinning skin.
AHA Creams
AHA stands for alpha-hydroxy acids and this is one of the most effective ingredients you can look for in your creams and serums. Studies have shown that using a cream with 25 percent AHAs for six months can lead to a 25 percent increase in skin thickness. AHAs also effectively and gently exfoliate skin and help brighten and tone it for a more radiant complexion.
Platelet-rich Plasma Treatment (PRP)
As Dr. Rajani explains in his video, many doctors are going to push fillers and botox before PRP treatments because there’s more money to be made from the former. PRP, instead, using your own body’s plasma and injects it into key points in your face to naturally boost collagen production and thicken skin. Also known as the “vampire facelift,” this in-office procedure won’t provide instant results like filler, but when used consistently, can give you more natural and long-lasting results.
Creams That Contain Estrogen
This one remains a bit controversial and misunderstood. As our bodies lose estrogen, we can suffer from some side effects like hot flashes and skin changes that we may not be thrilled to see. Hormone replacement is an option for many women, though not all, and it’s important to visit your doctor to find out if it’s something you can look into. If so, there are creams on the market that contain topical forms of estrogen that can help change the texture and integrity of your skin.
Retinol
Perhaps no skincare ingredient is as studied and proven effective for signs of aging as retinol. Retinol can be found in prescription creams and OTC products and it actually helps boost your body’s own collagen production so that, over time and with continuous use, your skin becomes thicker and smoother.
CO2 Laser Treatments
There are a few laser treatments that can help build collagen in your skin, but CO2 is the mother of them all. This intense laser removes layers of upper skin tissue to essentially vaporize them and create a controlled injury. The cells then respond to this injury by spurring the body to create more collagen and elasticity in the skin. If this sounds good to you, remember that the downtime can be up to three weeks for many patients — this isn’t a lunchtime procedure, but it’s one that many swear by for more youthful skin.
Exercise
Don’t forget that low-tech lifestyle choices are also important for your skin and keeping it thicker. Not only does regular exercise boost blood flow to the skin and make it look more radiant in the short-term, but it can also promote mitochondrial biosynthesis and affect hormone secretion, according to one study.
Sculptra
Sculptra is an injectable dermal filler that is made from an FDA-approved surgical stitching material called poly-L-lactic acid . It will add volume and thickness to the skin, but not in the most obvious way, as you can get from other dermal fillers. It helps signal to your body to create its own collagen, and can help your skin look thicker over time.
