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Depending on the severity of the condition, you may be able to tighten your skin with simple lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise and skin care. However, most conditions, especially those caused by age, are too severe for simple home remedies. Instead, they will require a skin-tightening treatment such as prescription creams, laser surgery, ultra-sound surgery or cosmetic surgery. If home treatments don't work, consult your doctor about the best option for your condition.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet that includes plenty of vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc and polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats. These nutrients encourage the production of collagen, which keeps skin elastic. Drink plenty of water as well; hydration is key for healthy skin.
Moisturize and exfoliate the skin of your neck and chest regularly. Use a strong moisturizer such as shea butter or cocoa butter. Exfoliate while in the shower with a loofah sponge or a liquid scrub and apply lotion right after.
Perform a strengthening and toning routine two or three days per week that includes chest exercises. Adding a layer of muscle will help fill out the skin.
Apply over-the-counter skin-tightening ointments, such as vitamin A cream, vitamin E oil or vitamin C serum. Aloe vera may also have skin-tightening properties.
Consult your doctor about a cosmetic treatment or a prescription ointment. Plastic surgery is one of the most obvious choices, but there are non-invasive procedures, which have certain trade-offs and limitations. Laser and infrared treatments can stimulate new collagen growth by heating the skin on its deepest levels, but they aren't always predictable and you may need several sessions. Ultrasound treatments work in the same way; they just use a different type of energy, namely sound instead of light. If your skin doesn't need much treatment, you may be able to apply a prescription cream such as Retin-A.
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References
- "LA Times"; Sagging Skin in the Way of Six-Pack Abs? Here's Some Advice; Jeannine Stein; April 22, 2009
- "Natural News"; The Top Five Nutrients for Healthy Skin; Mike Adams; April 4, 2007
- "Good Housekeeping"; Sagging Skin -- What You and Your Doctor Can Do; Holly Crawford
- Healthy Skin Portal; Ultrasound Skin Tightening Information; Vanessa Day
Writer Bio
In 2008 Amanda Gronot began her professional career as a writer for a research company. She helped ghostwrite a book for a prominent CEO and has had essays and translations published in the prestigious classics journal "Helicon." Gronot graduated with a four-year Master of Arts/Bachelor of Arts in classics from Yale University.
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