Crepey skin is more than just fine lines. It appears thin, loose, and finely wrinkled, similar to crêpe paper, and typically affects areas like the under-eyes, neck, and arms. The good news is that there are sensible ways to treat crepey skin, even though ageing is inevitable.
This guide is aimed at both medical aestheticians and those seeking effective treatments.
What Is Crepey Skin and How Is It Different?
Treatment for crepey skin begins with knowledge of what crepey skin is. It describes skin that has become thin, loose, and delicately wrinkled, resembling the texture of crêpe paper. Usually affecting more places, including the inner arms, neck, chest, beneath the eyes, and stomach, this condition can be characterised by excessive dryness, drooping, and lost flexibility.
Crepey skin shows as widespread, delicate folds that feel fragile to the touch, unlike typical wrinkles, which are deeper and form in particular locations due to frequent facial movements. It also contrasts with skin laxity, which is essentially drooping or sagging but does not usually entail thinning or wrinkling.
Typical causes are aging, UV damage, collagen and elastin loss, and dehydration. If untreated, crepey skin frequently gets worse over time. The first step in selecting the best crepey skin treatment, depending on the degree and skin type, is knowing how it differs from wrinkles and laxity.
What Causes Crepey Skin?
Multiple factors contribute to this texture change:
- Ageing: Natural collagen and elastin levels drop, making the skin less firm.
- Sun damage: UV rays break down collagen and speed up ageing.
- Dehydration: Lack of moisture exaggerates the appearance of fine lines.
- Poor skincare habits: Skipping sunscreen or not moisturizing can worsen crepey skin.
- Rapid weight loss: This can leave behind loose skin with a crinkled texture.
Best In-Clinic Crepey Skin Treatments
Let’s walk through the top treatments professionals rely on. These aren’t just trendy, they're backed by science and proven to help.
🔹 Biostimulatory Injectables (Sculptra, Lanluma)
Biostimulators like Sculptra and Lanluma encourage the body to produce more collagen over time. They don't fill lines like traditional fillers but work deeper to restore skin firmness gradually.
Best for:
- Crepey skin on the face, neck, chest, and body
- Patients with mild to moderate laxity
Results:
- Visible in 2-3 months
- Lasts up to 2 years with proper care
🔹 Microneedling and RF Microneedling
Microneedling uses tiny needles to create micro-injuries in the skin, which trigger collagen repair. Add radiofrequency (RF), and you get even deeper stimulation for collagen tightening.
Best for:
- Under eye crepey skin treatment
- Fine lines and texture on the face and body
Results:
- Smoother, firmer skin in 3–6 sessions
- Minimal downtime
🔹 Chemical Peels
Chemical peels remove dead skin and boost cell turnover. Stronger peels like TCA (trichloroacetic acid) can target crepey texture by encouraging new, tighter skin.
Best for:
- Crepey neck skin treatment
- Arms, chest, and hands
Results:
- Noticeable improvement after 1–2 treatments
- Works well when combined with microneedling
🔹 Laser Resurfacing (CO2 and Fractional Lasers)
Laser resurfacing is powerful. CO2 and fractional lasers remove layers of damaged skin and boost collagen remodelling.
Best for:
- Deep crepey skin on face, neck, and body
- Severe sun damage
Results:
- Dramatic improvement in skin texture
- Downtime of 7–14 days but long-lasting results
Read our best skin tightening treatment guide for face and body.
🔹 Skin Tightening Technologies (RF & Ultrasound)
Devices like Thermage or Ultherapy use radiofrequency or ultrasound energy to heat the deeper layers of skin causing it to contract and stimulate collagen growth.
Best for:
- Crepey neck skin treatment
- Cheeks, jawline, arms, and thighs
Results:
- Gradual tightening over 3–6 months
- No downtime
Looking to learn these methods? Explore our Skin Tightening Training to stay ahead in clinical practice.
Topical Crepey Skin Treatment: What Works and When
Although in-clinic treatments produce better outcomes, every crepey skin treatment plan depends critically on topical therapies especially for maintenance and prevention. These products help the skin's texture, moisture, and general resilience over time; they cannot undo advanced creping.
🔹 Retinol and Retinoids
Among the most studied substances for skin ageing is retinol. It smooths out fine wrinkles, increases skin cell turnover, and stimulates collagen generation. Regular application helps crepey skin progressively thicken and enhance its tone and texture. On delicate regions like the under eyelids, especially, start slowly to prevent dryness or irritation.
🔹 Peptides
Short sequences of amino acids called peptides alert the skin to begin healing. They aid in increasing firmness and elasticity, two things crepey skin compromises. Often found in sophisticated anti-ageing serums, copper peptides or matrixyl should be sought for in goods.
🔹 Growth Factors
These are naturally occurring proteins meant to promote healing and skin renewal. Growth factors may improve suppleness, support collagen production, and contribute to stronger skin structure. After treatments like laser or microneedling, growth factor serums help.
🔹 Hyaluronic Acid
Though it greatly enhances appearance, hyaluronic acid cannot fix crepey skin. Acting as a potent humectant, it draws water and deeply hydrates the skin, resulting in a visible plumping effect. The neck, chest, and under the eyes are among the places vulnerable to dryness and thinning that might benefit significantly from this.
Note- All treatments mentioned in this article should only be administered by certified professionals working within their local scope of practice.
How to Combine Treatments for Best Results
The best treatment for crepey skin often isn’t just one thing. It’s a plan.
Here’s an innovative protocol:
- Start with RF Microneedling or Laser Resurfacing to boost collagen.
- Add Sculptra or Lanluma injectables for deeper stimulation.
- Use topicals like retinol and peptides to maintain results daily.
- Schedule annual skin tightening sessions to prevent regression.
For example, one effective combination for crepey skin on arms or thighs might be:
- 3 sessions of RF microneedling
- 2 Sculptra treatments
- Daily use of retinol body cream and SPF
Prevention Tips: Start Early, Stay Consistent
You can’t stop ageing but you can slow it down.
✅ Wear sunscreen daily (even on cloudy days)
✅ Use moisturisers rich in hyaluronic acid and ceramides
✅ Avoid harsh soaps and over-exfoliating
✅ Stay hydrated and eat collagen-rich foods
✅ Start preventive treatments in your 30s and 40s
What Patients Should Know: Setting Realistic Expectations
Medical aestheticians play a key role in guiding patients. Here’s how to align expectations:
- Crepey skin takes time to treat. Results are gradual, especially with injectables and RF.
- Maintenance is key. One treatment is rarely enough. Ongoing care matters.
- Combination works best. Single treatments have limited impact.
- The texture will improve, but the skin won’t look 20 again. Honest conversations build trust.
Patients appreciate transparency and progress photos. Keep documentation and review results together.
Final Thoughts
Crepey skin can be treated but it needs expert care, consistent maintenance, and patient expectations. From under-eye crepey skin treatment to tightening crepey neck skin, results take time but are achievable.
At HubMedEd, we offer advanced training for medical aestheticians to master the latest techniques in treating crepey skin and delivering the best skin-tightening treatment results. If you are a certified aesthetician looking to enhance your expertise, our training programmes offer advanced education in the latest crepey skin treatments.
Explore our aesthetic medicine training programs at HubMed Ed.
FAQs
1. Can crepey skin be reversed?
Crepey skin can’t be fully reversed, but treatments like RF microneedling and biostimulatory injectables can significantly improve texture and firmness.
2. Can you tighten crepey skin?
Treatments like radiofrequency, ultrasound, and Sculptra help tighten crepey skin by stimulating collagen and improving elasticity.
3. What protein are you lacking if you have crepey skin?
Collagen and elastin are the key proteins. Loss of these with age or sun damage leads to crepey texture and sagging.
4. What is the best treatment for crepey skin?
The best treatment for crepey skin combines in-clinic procedures like laser resurfacing with retinol and peptide-based skin care.
5. Does Vaseline get rid of crepey skin?
No, Vaseline only hydrates the surface. It doesn't boost collagen or treat the root cause of crepey skin.
References
- Cleveland Clinic. What’s Causing Your Crepey Skin and How Can You Fix It? Cleveland Clinic. Published July 25, 2022. Accessed April 21, 2025. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/whats-causing-your-crepey-skin-and-how-can-you-fix-it/
- Medical News Today. Crepey Skin: Causes and Treatments. Medical News Today. Published October 30, 2023. Accessed April 21, 2025. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320789
- American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. Skin Tightening: How It Works and When to Consider It. American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. Accessed April 21, 2025. https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/procedure-learning-center/non-surgical-procedures/skin-tightening/
- Laser Clinics Canada. Crepey Skin: Treatments, Causes & Prevention Tips. Laser Clinics. Accessed April 21, 2025. https://www.laserclinics.ca/blogs/crepey-skin-treatments-causes--prevention-tips/