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SINGAPORE : You went on a crash diet and lost several kilos.
But even before you begin rejoicing at your newfound waistline, you may just end up worrying about your sagging skin.
According to skin and nutrition experts TODAY spoke to, extreme weight loss can damage the skin.
So, don’t be too surprised to find loose bits of skin or extra wrinkles on your face after a crash diet.
Yoyo dieters - those who gain and lose large amounts of weight through repeated episodes of dieting - are especially prone to skin damage, said the experts.
Dr Lawrence Khoo, a consultant dermatologist at Dermatology Associates, explained: “As a person loses weight, he or she loses subcutaneous fat (fat under the skin) and, in extreme cases, even the supporting structures of the skin. Therefore, the originally stretched skin from an overweight person can become lax or sag.”
Ms Nehal Kamdar, a dietitian at Raffles Hospital, said that yoyo diets tend to “wreck one’s metabolism” because the dieter tends to “drastically reduce caloric intake” while trying to lose weight.
“The body reacts by going into a starvation mode, and starts to conserve energy. With each dieting episode, the body’s metabolism becomes less efficient and the severe calorie restriction causes further loss of muscle tone,” said Ms Kamdar, explaining why such a dieting method can cause “loose skin”.
To avoid skin damage, lose weight slowly, she advised.
“Gradual weight loss allows you to maintain muscle mass while you lose fat, and it also allows your skin to adjust as you lose weight,” added Ms Kamdar.
Other factors such as sun exposure, smoking and genes can also cause skin to age prematurely.
According to Dr Khoo, wrinkles start appearing in Asians in their late 30s to early 40s.
While they are a part of the skin’s natural ageing process, “maintaining a healthy lifestyle” through a balanced diet, not smoking and sensible sun protection can be helpful in delaying the onset of wrinkles.
“Moisturising the skin using creams, especially those with retinoid (Vitamin-A derived creams), are also helpful,” saidDr Khoo.
Including foods in your diet that are rich in antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E and B complex (found in wholegrains, fruit and vegetables) and minerals such as zinc and selenium (found in wheat, oats and seeds) can also help to keep skin supple and elastic, said Ms Kamdar.
“Antioxidants help to remove free radicals, which gobble up collagen and elastin, from the body,” she said.
Collagen and elastin are fibres that support the skin structure.
Adequate hydration - drinking at least two litres of water daily — can also help keep skin supple.
Alternatively, if you already have wrinkles, Dr Khoo said procedures such as Botox, fillers, laser procedures or infrared light sources may be useful. - TODAY/ar
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