5 Things You're Doing That May Cause Sagging Skin on Your Arms

Do you have loose, sagging skin and don’t know how to firm it up? Alicia Jones is an accredited health expert who specializes in helping women after 50 “reclaim great health, increase energy, and lose weight through fun fitness and nutrition strategies.” In one of her viral YouTube videos, she discusses the number one way to firm up sagging skin. “Can you actually tighten loose skin? Well, if there's a way, in this video, I'm gonna show you how, and we're gonna do it in a way that I absolutely love by showing you an exact example,” she says in the clip.

Sue, 60, Came to Her Hoping to Firm and Tone Her Body

Alicia uses one of her clients, Sue, as an example. “When Sue first came to me at 60, she wanted to feel healthy and strong and to firm and tone her body. Sue had always been really active. She played volleyball. She was in a bowling league in the summer. She went boating and hiking, and she was even on a baseball team,” she says.

She Lost Weight Fast and Ended Up with Lots of Loose Skin

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“But even though she was that active, she got diagnosed with diabetes. So a combination of her new medication and change in nutrition, Sue dropped weight fast, and she was left with a lot of loose skin in her arms and her chest and her stomach, and she really wanted to firm up,” says Alicia. “That's when she came to me, and during our first assessment, I will never forget that she asked me the question that many of you asked me: Can you actually tighten loose skin?”

You Might Be Able to Tighten Loose Skin Without Surgery

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“So let's get honest about it,” she continues. “There are some ways that you might be able to tighten loose skin if you want to lose some weight, but you're not clinically obese. If you have lost weight suddenly, so there's a lot of weight really fast, or you lost weight through nutrition and through cardio alone, only one of those two ways, or maybe a combination of the two, then you may be able to tighten up loose skin,” she says.

The Secret Tool? Weight Training

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She then offers the secret solution to tightening up loose skin. “The power is in weight training. It's by doing weight training,” she says.

You Have to Be Consistent

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“Here's the thing, if you only lift weights every once in a while, or this is a tactic that you said you've been doing, but you haven't been consistent, that's where the issue lies. You've got to be consistent. You have to lift weights for a minimum of 12 weeks, if not longer in order to see those results,” she says.

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Sue Firmed Her Arms and Tummy with Weights

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“That was the exact plan for Sue. She had perfected cardio, but it was time to add a consistent weight training routine in order to firm her arms and tighten her tummy,” she says. “One year later, on a new low dose of medication, she feels confident and excited to wear tank tops that show off her beautiful arms. She's got her body back, and she is so proud, not to mention her strength and her energy, so she feels in control of her body and in control of her health.”

Tip 1: Start Slow

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Alicia offers a few tips to get “fabulous” results. The first? “You've got to start slow. So in order for you to tighten loose skin, it actually is heavier weight training that you would need to do. And no, I promise you won't bulk up,” she says.

Start with Lighter Weights and Slowly Go Heavier

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“But here's the thing: If you are just starting out, you can't jump right into a heavyweight training routine. You've got to work on adaptation, which means you gotta take it slow and do lighter weights at first. And if you're brand new and just starting out, never fear, you will still get that firming and toning effect to doing lighter weights at first because your body needs to adapt to that. So your body reacts by firming and toning,” she says.

Tip 2: Stick with the Same Workout

“Two, stick with the same workout. All too often, I see women jumping from one workout to the next workout to the next. The thing is, your body needs time to adapt in order to increase lean muscle,” she continues.

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Do the Same Workout But Up the Weights

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“More importantly, as I mentioned, when you want to tone and firm loose skin, then it is so important to be doing heavier weights. So instead of swapping out your workouts every single day or every few days, find a workout you love and focus on increasing the weight size. That way you are sure to be lifting a little bit heavier each and every time, which firms and tones the body weight,” she suggests.

Tip 3: Create a Consistent Plan

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“Number three, create a consistent plan,” she says. “You don't need to commit to every single day of weight training. In fact, I don't recommend that at first, but you do need to focus on getting in the same amount of weight training each and every week.”

Don’t Over Commit

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Also, don't over commit. “Don't give yourself five days a week. Just choose a number that you know you can do. If it was the busiest time of your life right now, how many days of the week could you really, honestly, truly, realistically commit to doing? If it's one day, great if it's two even better, but it doesn't really matter. The point is you've got to stay consistent,” she says.

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Tip 4: Work Your Whole Body

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“Point number four, you've gotta work out the whole body. So all too often I see women just working that one area that they wanna tone. They only do arm exercises. They only do crunches, hoping to get their abs tight or the skin on their tummy tight or on their arms tight, when in reality, that's not the way to do it,” she says.

You Can’t Spot Reduce

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“You can't spot reduce. In order for you to really firm up and tone, you've got to work the whole body, especially if a part of the reason that you feel that you have loose skin is because you need to lose some weight,” she says.

Whole Body Weight Training Revs Up Metabolism

“This is because whole body weight training revs up your metabolism. You burn fat even at rest throughout your whole body. The more lean muscle you create, the more you're going to be able to create a fat burning system and rev up your metabolic rate. And I promise you will not bulk up,” she says.

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The Longer You Have Been Carrying Excess Weight, the Harder It Is To Tighten Loose Skin

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She also points out that “the longer that you've been carrying excess weight, the harder it is to tighten loose skin. And that's because of the elastin and collagen fibers within the skin,” she says. “They become damaged the longer they've been stretched out. So you'll want to start your weight training as soon as possible. So if you haven't started already, start now.” And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 20 Superfoods for People Over 50.

While there is no way to prevent your skin from aging, there are ways to slow it down – and, on the flip side, speed it up. “There are quite a few skincare mistakes I often run into among clients in my treatment room,” Varuni Palacios, esthetician and founder of Studio Varuni in Los Angeles, tells Body Network. “Below, a few of the most common,” she tells us.

Skipping SPF

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The first mistake is skipping SPF. “Sun damage via constant and prolonged exposure to the sun’s harmful rays is the #1 cause of aging in the skin and in the body. On the skin, sun damage can look like hyperpigmentation, melasma, skin complexion irregularities, and premature fine lines and wrinkles. The #1 most effective way to prevent/avoid / combat sun damage is by using SPF. It’s important to use it every single day, rain or shine, and in winter or summer. And always apply to the neck, decollete, and back of the hands,” she says.

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Not Properly Removing Makeup

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Next up, not properly removing makeup. “Proper makeup removal is crucial for maintaining healthy skin, yet it is often overlooked or inadequately performed,” says Palacios. “At the end of a long day, we want to remove dirt, pollution, sunscreen, makeup, and debris from our skin to prevent clogged pores and maintain healthy, balanced skin. The most effective way to do this is via double cleansing. First, start with a micellar, cream, or oil cleanser, and then follow up with a thorough gel or foaming cleanser for best results.”

Skipping Moisturizer

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Are you skipping moisturizer because you think your skin is oily? Don’t, says Palacios. “I often hear my clients say that they avoid using moisturizer because they think it makes their oily skin feel oilier. When we skip moisturizer, our skin goes into panic mode and overproduces oil to compensate for what it’s missing. It feels counterintuitive, but hydration and moisture are so important for our skin, which is a hydro-lipid biome. It craves moisture and hydration. Without it, premature aging caused by dehydration will occur and look like dull, lackluster, dry, sagging, and wrinkled skin,” she explains.

Not Getting Enough Sleep

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Your skin may be suffering at the expense of your sleep. Not prioritizing sleep hygiene is a mistake, according to Palacios. “Our body and brains reset with sleep. It’s the best, most important thing we can do to function well and feel good. Our body secretes human growth hormones during sleep, which help repair and regenerate skin cells, maintain collagen production, and reduce the effects of acute and chronic stress. Without restful and intentional sleep, we experience sleep deprivation, which is linked to increased cortisol, a prominent trigger of inflammation, breakouts, and premature aging.”

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Ignoring the Neck, Decollete, and Hands

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Are you ignoring the neck, decollete, and hands when it comes to skincare? “Aging shows in the face first, but also on the neck, decollete and hands——places where our skin is thinnest and most exposed to the sun (driving!) I always direct my clients to treat these areas just like they would the skin on their face and apply cleansing, hydrating, and rejuvenating products and treatments to these areas,” Palacios says.

Getting Too Much Sun

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Ignoring sun exposure is another faux pas. “Wearing SPF is important, but even better if we can avoid the sun altogether. It isn’t cool to suntan anymore because we know that the effects are so harmful. If you’re going to be out in the sun (hiking, at the beach, driving, etc.), take other preventative measures to avoid the sun (wear a hat, stay in the shade), especially at times of the day when the sun is harshest,” says Palacios.

Using Poor Quality Skincare

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Using poor-quality skincare can age your skin faster. “I have a few rules when it comes to good skincare: 1: You get what you pay for. 2: Consistency is key. And 3: Clinical studies are everything,” says Palacios. “Clinical studies are one of the most critical ways to understand effectiveness; however, they’re expensive for brands to conduct, and they are often a factor in product price points. Additionally, modern formulations come with better delivery methods for ideal penetration into the deeper layers of the epidermis and dermis——another price point factor. It’s up to us to be conscious consumers and do our research so that we see beyond fancy packaging and cheap price points. When it comes to skincare, quality is key and an important investment.”

Skipping Exfoliation

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Skipping exfoliation is another mistake you don’t want to make. “Exfoliation, also known as desquamation, is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. It is a natural part of the epithelial process and happens naturally in cycles synced with our metabolism. As we age, the desquamation process slows (alongside our metabolism), and so exfoliation using exfoliators becomes important for maintaining healthy, ageless skin,” Palacios says.

There are three types of exfoliators: physical (through the use of scrubs, brushes and tools), enzymatic (through the use of enzymes which work on the superficial levels of the epidermis to break down keratin——enzymes literally digest the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin), and chemical (use alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids and other chemical compounds to work at every layer of the skin.)

“To maintain healthy-looking, glowing, even-toned skin and tackle problematic concerns like acne and pigmentation, I recommend a gentle exfoliation routine for almost every single one of my clients, through a combination of physical, enzymatic, and chemical exfoliation both at home and in the treatment room. However, it’s important not to overdo it, and we must replenish the skin whenever we exfoliate to prevent irritation and damage to the skin barrier. Hydration is a key partner in exfoliation,” she adds.

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Eating Too Much Added Sugar

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Lastly, eating too much-added sugar can prematurely age your skin. “If you invest in anti-aging treatments and skin care and eat a lot of processed, added sugar, you’re missing the point,” says Palacios.

“When your blood sugar spikes, your body releases inflammatory chemicals called cytokines, which can lead to skin issues like acne, redness, puffiness, rosacea, and psoriasis. When your blood sugar spikes, your body can't handle the excess, and a chemical reaction called glycation occurs. Glycation weakens the collagen and elastin in your skin and leads to wrinkles, sagging, and a dull appearance.” And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss 40 Health Symptoms That Can Be More Serious Than You Think.