One day you notice it — sagging skin around your knees and stubborn dimples creeping up on your thighs. It can be frustrating to understand what has changed and even more frustrating to figure out what to do about loose, sagging skin on your legs
Don’t worry. There are plenty of options for toning and tightening your skin at any age. The secret lies in retraining the muscles and using product ingredients that help support firm-looking skin.
What Happens to Skin as It Ages?
The skin on the body changes as you age. While you might only think about the skin on the face showing signs of age, the skin covering your entire body ages. Age-related changes include free radical damage, loss of collagen and elastin, and loss of muscle tone in the muscles that support the fascia.
Free Radical Damage
Free radicals, unstable molecules with unpaired electrons, can wreak havoc on the skin. When exposed to factors like pollution, UV radiation, and toxins, the skin generates an excess of free radicals. These reactive molecules attack healthy skin cells, including lipids, proteins, and DNA. The process is known as oxidative stress.
Free radicals cause collagen and elastin fibers to break down, leading to a loss of elasticity and firmness in the skin. Additionally, free radicals can disrupt the skin's natural barrier function, leading to increased moisture loss and dryness. Furthermore, these unruly molecules contribute to the formation of wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, and other visible signs of premature aging. Overall, free radicals create a hostile environment within the skin, accelerating the aging process and compromising its overall health and appearance.
On legs, free radical damage can look like dimpled, wrinkly texture and loose, crepey skin. Antioxidants help support skin health during free radical exposure, and you can find them in many of NuFACE Microcurrent Skincare products.
Loss of Collagen and Elastin
Two proteins that are responsible for giving skin its fullness and resiliency are collagen and elastin. These proteins are produced less with age. Collagen loss starts at age 20, and the skin produces less collagen each year after age 20.
With less of these two proteins, skin loses its ability to snap back into place when stretched quickly, and it also appears thinner and looser than it used to. So if you’re experiencing loose, papery skin around the knees - blame collagen loss!
Muscle Tone Loss
With age, the muscles underneath the skin lose their tone. The muscles support the skin and help give it its structure, so when muscle tone begins to decline, the skin naturally loses some of its tightness and support. Muscle loss is also common with age, which is why it might seem like you aren’t gaining muscle as quickly in the gym, or why you can’t seem to keep your muscles as toned as you once could.
All these factors may make legs look less sleek and taut than they once did. The solutions for supporting your skin can help you restore and rejuvenate the skin on your legs and recapture their youthful look. Be sure to continue a healthy diet and exercise regimen, of course, to amp up muscle tone and enhance the look of your legs!
How To Tighten the Skin on the Legs
There are numerous ways to support your skin as it ages, and you aren’t limited to invasive and surgical procedures.
1. Exercise
Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to support the health of your muscles and skin. Exercise helps burn calories which can reduce body weight and may make dimples less apparent.
You don’t need a fancy gym membership or pilates classes to tone your legs. Regular walks, simple squats, and step-ups are effective leg-toning exercises that require zero equipment.
2. Massage Therapy
At your next massage appointment, ask your therapist to target your legs. Massage helps stimulate blood flow and may even help support the proper production of collagen and elastin. Research also suggests that using anti-aging ingredients in conjunction with a massage can be beneficial.
If professional massages aren’t your thing, try giving yourself a simple at-home massage with your favorite body oil or lotion. Use firm, upward motions to massage the skin on the legs. For added benefits, consider adding a dry brush or massaging roller into your routine for added circulation!
3. Stay Hydrated
Dehydrated skin will look thinner and have less support than well-hydrated skin. Aim to get plenty of water during your day, and drink even more if you work out or sweat a lot. The standard goal is 8 cups of water daily for proper hydration.
Keeping skin hydrated can be challenging, but using products that contain hyaluronic acid, as you’ll find in NuFACE skincare products, can help. Hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, which can help keep your skin hydrated longer.
4. Eat a Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet will help you maintain a healthy weight, which can translate into less visible dimples on the skin. Aim to eat lean proteins, plenty of fruits and vegetables, and complex carbohydrates to maintain a healthy wait, improve muscle mass, and nourish your body.
5. Microcurrent Technology
Microcurrent technology is one of the easiest and most proven ways to tighten the skin on your legs.
Microcurrent mimics your body’s natural current, stimulating the skin and MUSCLE beneath — effectively retrains it and helps tighten and tone areas of concern. The best part is you can do it in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
What Is Microcurrent for Legs?
NuFACE doesn’t just create microcurrent devices for your face. The NuBODY® Body Toning Device was designed to target areas of your body that need a little TLC (tone, lift, and contour).
Using it helps smooth away the appearance of dimples on stubborn spots like:
- The backs of the arms
- Buttocks
- Abdominal area
- Thighs and calves
You can tone and tighten your skin in as little as five minutes daily, with zero downtime.
1. Cleanse
Before you begin, cleanse your skin thoroughly with an oil-free cleanser. Lightly mist Supercharged IonPlex® Facial Mist on the area you want to treat to keep it hydrated and prepare it for treatment. Make sure to give it a good shake before you use it to ensure proper distribution of the ions and glacial water.
2. Activate & Lift
Before you use your device, apply a mask-like layer of Aqua Gel Activator to the section you want to lift. Only apply to one area at a time to prevent it from drying. The Microcurrent Activator ensures proper microcurrent conduction and helps keep skin ultra-hydrated for up to 24 hours after treatment.
Using your NuBODY, glide and hold over areas you want to treat as directed. To smooth away stubborn dimples on the legs, hold NuBODY on the target area for up to five minutes or until the device powers off automatically. For the best results, use NuBODY for five minutes daily, five times weekly, for the first 60 days.
Give Your Legs Some Support
The skin on your legs ages right along with the skin on your face. You already have a skincare routine for your face — now it’s time to think about the rest of your body. You can quickly restore the youthful appearance of your legs by making a few lifestyle changes that help keep your portions in great shape.
Another solution is finding beauty in the current with NuFACE. Microcurrent therapy is an easy, non-invasive way to rejuvenate your skin. Wear shorts this summer, and be confident in your skin.
Sources:
Muscle tissue changes with aging | PMC
