Why Is My Skin Sagging When I'm Still Young?

Few things can be more discouraging than seeing a loss of firmness on the face and neck, especially when still young. Unfortunately, many factors can speed up the process of aging. Some people may have skin elasticity issues due to their genetic makeup. However, there are solutions regardless of the reason behind these unwanted changes.

Our expert at SafiraMD Medical Aesthetics and Wellness Center, Dr. Andrea Volk, shares what the main causes of collagen loss earlier in life are, and what treatments are available for tightening the skin. With the newest technologies, you no longer have to go under the knife to tighten your skin. Non-invasive treatments using ultrasound energy can raise collagen levels and tighten the neck and face skin with no downtime. 

Factors that could accelerate the rate at which you lose skin elasticity 

Skin aging is partially genetic, and while you can’t control what genes you’ve inherited, external factors also play a big role in how you age. Sun exposure, for example, is shown to have one of the biggest impacts on aging, causing fine lines, pigmentation, and loss of skin elasticity. 

However, some sun exposure is vital to good health, as it doesn’t only impact vitamin D production but also has an impact on immunity. Fortunately, there are ways you can boost your skin’s tolerance to the sun’s rays from the inside out. Omega 3 increases your skin’s ability to tolerate the sun’s rays. 

Other factors that may impact skin aging include:

• Excessive caffeine consumption
• Excessive alcohol consumption 
• Diets high in sugary foods
• Sudden weight loss 

Caffeine may cause early signs of aging by dehydrating the skin and by interfering with collagen production. Alcohol dehydrates the skin, and excessive sugar increases skin glycation. Glycation is when excessive sugar binds to collagen, making it stiff. 

Fixing skin laxity with non-invasive treatments 

Making lifestyle changes can prevent early signs of aging, but unfortunately, if the skin is already sagging there isn't much you can do on your own. However, there are non-invasive ways to stimulate collagen locally.

One of these methods involves using acoustic waves which penetrate the skin and heat the tissues lying underneath. Heat is perceived as a stressor in the body, causing an increase in collagen, as this protein is often produced when healing is needed. 

If you do experience skin laxity, don’t despair. Contact us to schedule an appointment to determine if you are a good candidate for one of our skin laxity treatments.