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The Impact of Rapid Weight Loss on Skin Health

by | Oct 10, 2024 | Aging Gracefully, Dermatology, Skin Health, weight management

Rapid weight loss, often achieved through extreme dieting, surgical procedures, or intense exercise regimens, can significantly affect various aspects of health, including the skin. While losing weight is generally beneficial for overall health, the speed at which weight is lost can determine whether the skin adapts smoothly or suffers adverse effects. This article explores the relationship between rapid weight loss and skin health, highlighting the causes, consequences, and preventive measures.

Understanding Skin Elasticity and Its Role

The skin is a dynamic organ that expands and contracts to accommodate changes in body size. Skin elasticity, determined mainly by collagen and elastin fibers, allows it to stretch and snap back. However, when weight loss occurs too quickly, the skin’s ability to retract might be compromised. Factors such as age, genetics, the amount of weight lost, and the duration of being overweight also play crucial roles in the skin’s response to weight loss.

Causes of Poor Skin Health After Rapid Weight Loss 

  • Loss of Skin Elasticity[i]:Rapid weight loss can lead to significant fat loss beneath the skin. When this happens too quickly, the skin doesn’t have enough time to adjust to the new body size, leading to loose, sagging skin. This is especially common in areas where fat is most concentrated, such as the abdomen, arms, thighs, and face.
  • Nutritional Deficiencies[ii]:Extreme dieting or restrictive eating can lead to insufficient intake of essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, E, zinc, and fatty acids, all vital for maintaining healthy skin. Deficiencies in these nutrients can impair collagen production, reduce skin elasticity, and slow the skin’s natural repair processes.
  • Dehydration[iii]:Rapid weight loss often involves significantly reducing water weight. Dehydration can lead to dry, flaky skin and diminish its elasticity, making it more prone to damage and slower to recover from the stretching caused by weight gain.
  • Hormonal Imbalances:Drastic changes in body weight can disrupt hormonal balance, particularly in women[iv]. Hormonal fluctuations can affect skin health by altering oil production, leading to acne, dryness, or other skin conditions.

Consequences of Poor Skin Health After Rapid Weight Loss[v]

  • Loose, Sagging Skin: The most noticeable effect of rapid weight loss is often loose, hanging skin, which can lead to physical discomfort and psychological distress. This is particularly problematic for individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery or lost a substantial amount of weight in a short period.
  • Stretch Marks[vi]: Rapid changes in body size can lead to stretch marks, scars that form when the skin stretches too quickly. They appear as streaks on the skin and can be red, purple, or silver, depending on skin tone and the stage of healing.
  • Wrinkles and Fine Lines: A sudden loss of the fat that supports the skin can increase wrinkles and fine lines, especially on the face. This can give a prematurely aged appearance, mainly if the skin is not adequately cared for during the weight loss.

Dietary Supplement Skin Support for Those Losing Weight

Amla- Amla is excellent for skin health due to its impact on the control of collagen metabolism.[vii]

Astaxanthin– Studies show that taking astaxanthin helps improve elasticity, fine lines, wrinkles, and skin moisture.[viii]  It also appears to increase skin tolerance to UV light.[ix]

Ceramides- Ceramides play a role in structuring and maintaining the water permeability barrier function of the skin[x].

Collagen Peptides– Collagen peptides have improved skin hydration and elasticity. [xi]

Hyaluronic Matrix (Dermial®)- Scientific data with Dermial® have shown it promotes hyaluronic acid, collagen (types I and III), and elastin production, improving hydration, elasticity, and firmness.[xii] [xiii][xiv]

Moro, tarocco, and sanguinello orange extract (Red Orange Complex)- a study showed that taking Red Orange Complex helped protect the skin against erythema and hyperpigmentation induced by sunlamp exposure.  It also increased skin moisture, elasticity, radiance, and improved wrinkle depth.[xv]

Probiotics- Recent studies have shown that intestinal microbiota homeostasis can influence skin health, demonstrating the existence of a gut–skin axis.  Research shows the potential for improving skin moisture, whitening, barrier integrity, anti-aging, photoaging, and wrinkles.[xvi]

While rapid weight loss can be an exciting achievement, it’s essential to be aware of its potential impact on skin health. By understanding the factors contributing to poor skin health and implementing preventive strategies, individuals can better manage the changes their skin may undergo during this process. Gradual weight loss, proper nutrition, hydration, and dietary supplements are vital to maintaining healthy, resilient skin while achieving weight loss goals.

References:

[i] 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 Jan 23;15:e4. PMID: 25671051; PMCID: PMC4311578.

[ii] Sharma N, Chaudhary SM, Khungar N, Aulakh SK, Idris H, Singh A, Sharma K. Dietary Influences on Skin Health in Common Dermatological Disorders. Cureus. 2024 Feb 29;16(2):e55282. doi: 10.7759/cureus.55282. PMID: 38562266; PMCID: PMC10982215.

[iii] Palma L, Marques LT, Bujan J, Rodrigues LM. Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015 Aug 3;8:413-21. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S86822. PMID: 26345226; PMCID: PMC4529263

[iv] Stolzenberg-Solomon RZ, Falk RT, Stanczyk F, Hoover RN, Appel LJ, Ard JD, Batch BC, Coughlin J, Han X, Lien LF, Pinkston CM, Svetkey LP, Katki HA. Sex hormone changes during weight loss and maintenance in overweight and obese postmenopausal African-American and non-African-American women. Breast Cancer Res. 2012 Oct 31;14(5):R141. doi: 10.1186/bcr3346. PMID: 23113944; PMCID: PMC3635052.

[v] 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 Jan 23;15:e4. PMID: 25671051; PMCID: PMC4311578.

[vi] Oakley AM, Patel BC. Stretch Marks. [Updated 2023 Aug 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436005/

[vii] Fujii T, Wakaizumi M, Ikami T, Saito M. Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) extract promotes procollagen production and inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human skin fibroblasts. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Sep 2;119(1):53-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2008.05.039. Epub 2008 Jun 6. PMID: 18588964.

[viii] Tominaga K, Hongo N, Karato M, Yamashita E. Cosmetic benefits of astaxanthin on humans subjects. Acta Biochim Pol. 2012;59(1):43-47

[ix] Ito N, Seki S, Ueda F. The protective role of astaxanthin for UV-induced skin deterioration in healthy people-A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrients. 2018;10(7). pii: E817

[x] Coderch L, López O, de la Maza A, Parra JL. Ceramides and skin function. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2003;4(2):107-29. doi: 10.2165/00128071-200304020-00004. PMID: 12553851.

[xi] Inoue N, Sugihara F, Wang X. Ingestion of bioactive collagen hydrolysates enhance facial skin moisture and elasticity and reduce facial ageing signs in a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study. J Sci Food Agric. 2016;96(12):4077-81

[xii] Galvez-Martin P, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Mar 1;24(5):4774

[xiii] Gálvez et al. Experimental Biology 2022 Meeting Abstracts

[xiv] Torrent, A et al. The FASEB Journal, 2013;1S:633.2.

[xv] Nobile V, Burioli A, Yu S, Zhifeng S, Cestone E, Insolia V, Zaccaria V, Malfa GA. Photoprotective and Antiaging Effects of a Standardized Red Orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) Extract in Asian and Caucasian Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2022 May 27;14(11):2241. doi: 10.3390/nu14112241. PMID: 35684041; PMCID: PMC9182634.

[xvi] Gao T, Wang X, Li Y, Ren F. The Role of Probiotics in Skin Health and Related Gut-Skin Axis: A Review. Nutrients. 2023 Jul 13;15(14):3123. doi: 10.3390/nu15143123. PMID: 37513540; PMCID: PMC10385652.