There are many reasons behind weight loss motivation. Some are concerned about maintaining good health, while others are more concerned about their appearance. And usually, most people who lose weight do reap these benefits. However, sometimes weight loss can yield less-than-ideal effects for your skin. When you lose a lot of fat, sagging skin and stretch marks can appear as your skin has difficulty shrinking down with your body.

So how exactly does this happen? Most people rely on calorie deficits to lose weight; this is when you eat and drink fewer calories than you burn. While it’s effective, plenty of challenges can make weight loss difficult. For one, your set point weight can make you feel as if there’s a limit to how much weight you can lose. The set point forces your body to keep tabs on the amount of fat and adjust factors like your appetite in response to weight gain or loss. Behavioural changes and consistent calibration of eating habits can help overcome set point weight and other mental challenges — but extreme measures to go below the set point can lead to adverse effects, especially if you lose too much weight too fast.

In severe cases, some people undergo surgery to remove excess skin after losing weight, but practicing skin care is usually sufficient for most people. Today, we’ll discuss how to manage skin health during weight loss:

Mind your nutrients

Maintaining a calorie deficit is essential for weight loss; you must also have a good balance of nutrient-rich foods. Consuming foods that have nutrients like vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids can keep your skin looking thick, moisturised, and soft. Furthermore, proper nutrients can boost collagen production, the main structural protein that keeps your skin firm and healthy. Here are some recommended foods to eat for amazing skin:

• Fatty fish – Salmon, mackerel, and herring are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are important in keeping skin supple.
• Avocados – High in healthy fats, as well as vitamin E and vitamin C, both of which are important for protecting against oxidative damage and creating collagen, respectively.
• Sweet potatoes – Contains beta carotene, which can serve as a natural sunblock and be converted into vitamin A.

Aside from eating your nutrients, your skin will also benefit from vitamins and supplements that are applied directly. In our previous post, we visited the super oil from the Baobab Tree, which contains plenty of nutrients such as vitamins C and B, collagen, potassium, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids, which support skin health.

Stay hydrated and moisturise

Staying hydrated is a vital part of keeping your skin healthy looking. While some experts debate on whether there is a direct link between drinking water and skin hydration, maintaining optimal hydration is vital for the body’s health. Water first goes to the essential organs, hydrates the cells, and flushes the system. Some researchers also theorise that hydration can improve collagen synthesis— helping your skin stay elastic to adjust easier to fat loss.

Make sure to choose drink options that are not sugary to ensure you don’t add unnecessary calories to your diet. In addition to consuming water, it helps to keep your skin moisturised by using body oil or lotion. This keeps your skin healthy while reducing stretch marks caused by weight loss.

Engaging in exercise

Exercise can go a long way in weight loss and avoiding sagging skin. In most cases, fat cells shrink which leads to additional space in the skin. The best way to replace the lost fat is to build muscle through weight training exercises, helping the skin look tauter. Do note that facial exercises have not been proven effective in helping tighten loose skin, so it’s better to stick to known methods.

Having loose skin due to weight loss can make people feel conscious of their body. But if you’re significantly losing weight healthily, having loose skin is a normal process. As long as you perceive it positively and take the precautions above, you can keep your skin health at its peak.