Weight Management Weight Loss What to Do About Loose Skin After Weight Loss By Nicole LaMarco Nicole LaMarco Nicole LaMarco is a health writer for Verywell Fit. She's also written for Health Digest, Livestrong, and Insider. Nicole earned her first-degree black belt in Taekwondo and a diploma in medical billing and coding. She's passionate about health, fitness, and medicine. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 30, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Tyra Tennyson Francis, MD Medically reviewed by Tyra Tennyson Francis, MD LinkedIn Tyra Tennyson Francis, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician and currently serves as the medical director of an outpatient clinic. Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Elaine Hinzey, RD Fact checked by Elaine Hinzey, RD LinkedIn Elaine Hinzey is a registered dietitian, writer, and fact-checker with nearly two decades of experience in educating clients and other healthcare professionals. Learn about our editorial process Print Getty Images / Peatheegee Inc. Table of Contents View All Table of Contents How You Get Loose Skin Prevention Coping With Loose Skin After Weight Loss Frequently Asked Questions A fairly common side effect of losing a notable amount of weight is loose, or "saggy," skin. In fact, over 70% of people who have weight loss surgery experience it. While this is very normal, it does provide a unique set of discomforts. Loose skin can be painful because it can tug at you or irritate your skin by rubbing against you. It can also wear on you mentally and increase your self-consciousness. Excess skin can even interfere with exercise and any physical activity. So, while weight management encourages people to exercise, a result of loose skin is not exactly desirable. Getting rid of excess, loose skin may involve surgery, but there are some other, less invasive methods you can try as well. How You Get Loose Skin Loose skin can be a side effect of a few lifestyle habits—it's not strictly associated with weight loss. Here are the main reasons individuals may find themselves with "loose" skin on their body. Smoking: Tobacco smoke causes the skin to lose elasticity, resulting in loose, saggy skin.Sun Exposure: The sun damages the skin, considerably reducing the skin's collagen and elastin. It also reduces cutaneous carotenoids, which protects the skin.Weight Loss: One study found that people with massive weight loss had thinner collagen and less elastic fibers, resulting in thinner and weaker skin.Aging: Your skin, like many other parts of your body, changes as you get older. Skin becomes thinner and loses elasticity, causing sagging or loose skin. Prevention There are a few ways you can prevent loose skin, and they directly coincide with reasons listed above. First, if you smoke, quit. Make your home a smoke-free zone, so you're not exposed to it. Consult your healthcare professional about quitting. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15 to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays, even if it's cloudy outside. Apply 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours. We've tried, tested, and reviewed the best sunscreens. If you're in the market for sunscreen, explore which option may be best for you. Coping With Loose Skin After Weight Loss Excess, loose skin after weight loss is prevalent. However, there are some things you can do to cope with it. Exercise There are no scientific studies on humans that prove exercise can reduce loose skin. However, an increase in muscle could help improve the appearance of excess skin. Studies have also shown that physical activity has the ability to positively impact individuals' self esteem, which may help decrease any feelings of self consciousness regarding loose skin. Compression Garments You may have seen athletes wearing compression garments while playing sports or at the gym. However, they can help after weight loss, too. Compression clothing prevents rashes and infections by making the loose, excess skin isn't rubbing against other skin. Try powder to help with chafing, as well. Do Compression Garments Work for Muscle Recovery? Supplements Studies have shown that skin proteins decrease after weight loss. These proteins include collagen, which helps keep skin firm and elastic. A collagen supplement can help improve the skin's collagen production, improving hydration and firming sagging skin. Look for a collagen peptides supplement, which can be found in pill or powder form. Vitamin C helps with collagen production and is essential for skin health. The best way to get more is to take a supplement with vitamin C and vitamin E. One study showed that fermented papaya extract, taken with a supplement containing vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and trans resveratrol, improved overall skin health. Radiofrequency Treatment Radiofrequency treatment or RF treatment is a non-surgical way to treat loose skin. It uses heat from a high-frequency alternating current to stimulate collagen production. RF treatment has become popular because there is no downtime and no scarring. In addition, you could see an improvement in the skin's tone and firmness. But just because the treatment is growing in popularity doesn't mean you should immediately jump to schedule one. Consult a medical professional before agreeing to the treatment, and choose a certified provider who uses an FDA-approved device. A Word From Verywell Excess skin after weight loss is incredibly common, but there are ways to treat it. Ultimately, what's important is how you feel in your body; consult a medical professional before embarking on any treatment plan. Frequently Asked Questions How much weight loss causes loose skin? Loose skin is typically caused by massive weight loss, which is defined as 50 percent or more of total body weight. How can I tighten loose skin after weight loss? Loose skin can be tightened with collagen supplements, bariatric surgery, or radiofrequency treatments. What causes loose skin after weight loss? Skin gets stretched from weight gain and doesn't tighten back up after weight loss due to a reduction of the skin's proteins. 15 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Baillot A, Asselin M, Comeau E, Méziat-Burdin A, Langlois MF. Impact of excess skin from massive weight loss on the practice of physical activity in women. Obes Surg. 2013;23(11):1826-1834. doi:10.1007/s11695-013-0932-0 Biörserud C, Olbers T, Staalesen T, Elander A, Olsén MF. Understanding excess skin in postbariatric patients: objective measurements and subjective experiences. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. 2016;12(7):1410-1417. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2016.01.033 Olsén MF, Gren S, Sundberg SH, Biörserud C. Physical activity with hindrances: a qualitative study of post bariatric patients’ experiences of physical activity in relation to excess skin. Journal of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery. 2020;0(0):1-6. doi:10.1080/2000656X.2020.1777144 Yazdanparast T, Hassanzadeh H, Nasrollahi SA, et al. Cigarettes smoking and skin: a comparison study of the biophysical properties of skin in smokers and non-smokers. Tanaffos. 2019;18(2):163. Darvin ME, Richter H, Ahlberg S, et al. Influence of sun exposure on the cutaneous collagen/elastin fibers and carotenoids: negative effects can be reduced by application of sunscreen: Sunscreens prevent the destruction of cutaneous carotenoids and collagen. J Biophoton. 2014;7(9):735-743. doi:10.1002/jbio.201300171 Sami K, Elshahat A, Moussa M, Abbas A, Mahmoud A. Image analyzer study of the skin in patients with morbid obesity and massive weight loss. Eplasty. 2015;15. National Institute on Aging. Skin care and aging. Zamani Sani SH, Fathirezaie Z, Brand S, et al. Physical activity and self-esteem: testing direct and indirect relationships associated with psychological and physical mechanisms. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016;12:2617-2625. doi:10.2147/NDT.S116811 Penn Medicine. How to tighten loose skin. Gallo JRB, Maschio-Signorini LB, Cabral CRB, et al. Skin protein profile after major weight loss and its role in body contouring surgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2019;7(8). doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000002339 Asserin J, Lati E, Shioya T, Prawitt J. The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network: evidence from an ex vivo model and randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical trials. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2015;14(4):291-301. doi:10.1111/jocd.12174 Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. The roles of vitamin c in skin health. Nutrients. 2017;9(8):866. doi:10.3390/nu9080866 Araújo AR de, Soares VPC, Silva FS da, Moreira T da S. Radiofrequency for the treatment of skin laxity: mith or truth. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia. 2015;90(5):707. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20153605 American Board of Cosmetic Surgeons. Are Radiofrequency treatments safe? Aldaqal SM, Makhdoum AM, Turki AM, Awan BA, Samargandi OA, Jamjom H. Post-bariatric surgery satisfaction and body-contouring consideration after massive weight loss. North American Journal of Medical Sciences. 2013;5(4):301. doi:10.4103/1947-2714.110442 See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit