How does weight loss affect our skin?

Maintaining a weight in a healthy range is beneficial for our health. Our internal and external health is also quickly appreciated. The skin, as another organ of our body, also benefits from this situation, reducing the appearance of cellulite , stretch marks , dermatitis , folliculitis, etc. But today we are not going to talk about this, but about the path we take when we want to lose weight and how this affects our skin.

Changes in our body when losing weight

When we undergo a period of intensive diet and/or exercise we also subject our skin to a process of rapid changes. For our skin it can also be a difficult change to assimilate.

Aggressive diets that lead to rapid weight loss can lead to a series of rapid changes in our metabolism, so levels of certain hormones can be altered. This can affect our skin, which may in turn become more oily, dry or with problems such as acne.

In addition to this, the rapid loss of fat and muscle volume under our dermis can be difficult for it to assimilate, since it is adapted to our previous body volume . This is why the dreaded sagging may appear. The skin is an elastic organ, with the ability to adapt to the size and shape of our body. But a very aggressive change in this aspect can exceed this capacity when it comes to “ shrinking, ” causing flaccidity to take over, especially in certain areas of the body such as the abdomen or the back of the arms. In significant weight gains and losses, collagen and elastin fibers end up losing their original structure and causing the skin to lose elasticity , similar to when we stretch a rubber band and it ends up giving way.

When weight loss is very great and especially if it is very rapid, flaccid folds can become a problem, not only aesthetic, but also functional, posing a disorder for the person. Therefore, in these cases, surgery is usually used to eliminate these “ excess ” folds. On the other hand, in smaller and gradual losses, the flaccidity does not become such, although it can be noticed on a small scale. Therefore, it is highly recommended that if you are doing any type of routine to lose weight or other dietary changes, do not neglect hydrating your skin with appropriate products .

Another effect of aggressive weight loss carried out through a very restrictive diet can be the weakening of hair and nails . Your hair may appear dull, brittle and even suffer loss, as well as nails that become matte, streaked and break easily.

How to take care of your skin when losing weight

• Hydration : it is the basis of almost any special skin care. Provide water and nutrients necessary for the skin to regenerate and maintain the structure of the elements that compose it in correct conditions. This is essential to help it adapt better to the rest of the body. We must focus on more prone areas such as the arms, chest, abdomen , buttocks and thighs . Almond oil or shea butter can be good allies in this.
• Nutrition : when we undergo a specific diet or make changes to our usual diet, we can generate some imbalance and/or shortage of nutrients. Consult a professional to make these types of adjustments to ensure that you are not missing anything. A nutritional imbalance can put your health at risk and can also cause your skin to be affected and become damaged. appear dry and flaccid .
• Exfoliation : Performing a gentle body exfoliation or dry brushing before showering will help remove dead cells and thus stimulate the skin's ability to regenerate. Avoid aggressive exfoliants and prefer a gentler and more constant exfoliation over time.
• Exercise : exercise is essential when it comes to maintaining a balanced weight. As for the skin, it also helps stimulate its activity, making it “breathe” and its cells become more oxygenated and receive more nutrients. Furthermore, if your muscles are toned, you will also avoid much of the flaccidity that may appear.

Benefits of a balanced weight for the skin

As we already said, people who are overweight or obese tend to have certain skin problems related mainly to alterations in their metabolism. Changing your habit to start having an adequate diet and a regular physical exercise routine may be difficult at first and your skin may notice some of the changes mentioned above that may be unpleasant, but what is certain is that the final balance will be beneficial for health and also for the skin.

Changing your lifestyle to a healthier one with a diet based above all on abundant and varied vegetables and fruits will ensure that your skin in the long run stays more hydrated and receives a large amount of nutrients and vitamins . Problems such as acne or oily skin may tend to regulate. In addition, both your skin and your hair will look brighter and more luminous. The latter will be strengthened, as will the nails, since they are great external indicators of our nutritional status.

As a final point we want to remember that losing weight is not always necessary, there are many types of perfectly healthy people in terms of sizes, volumes and heights . If your weight is within normal limits and your nutritional status is good and you do some physical activity, you probably don't need to do anything else. On the other hand, if there is any imbalance in these aspects, gradually changing towards a healthier lifestyle, guided by professionals and without drastic diets, is usually the most correct option. Very restrictive diets that seek rapid weight loss without taking into account the negative consequences for the body are not recommended and usually generate metabolic imbalances that can put our health at risk, in addition to being subject to the famous rebound effect once they end. . At theCosmethics we always defend a healthy lifestyle, in which beauty and health walk together and feed each other.