When you lose weight, your skin automatically adjusts. Losing weight can be healthy for your skin! You may be asking yourself, “What happens to my skin when I lose weight?” Here’s a short guide to answer that question.
Your Skin Adapts
When you lose weight, your skin gets tight. This is because your body is no longer carrying around a lot of extra weight and has to make adjustments to work within its new parameters. This is a good thing! Your body is trying to protect you by getting you to eat healthy foods and move more, so you can stay slim and continue to enjoy the benefits that come with a slimmer physique.
Some people refer to this adaptation as skin hunger. When you lose weight, your body goes through a period of skin hunger, where it needs more nutrients from the food you eat. Your body needs energy to fuel this process, so make sure you eat plenty of food during those first few weeks after you start losing weight.
You May Experience Changes In Your Skin
As you lose weight, you may experience changes in your skin that are both good and bad. The good news is that these changes are indicators that your body is working to adjust and become healthier. The bad news is that, like any other process, this one can go wrong.
Here are some of the things that may happen to your skin as you lose weight:
- Your skin may become dryer. As you lose weight, your skin becomes drier and needs more hydration.
- Your skin may become irritated. Losing weight can cause your skin to become irritated and prone to outbreaks of eczema, psoriasis and other skin diseases.
- Your skin may appear bloated. When your skin gets tight, it also gets bloated. You may feel like you need to eat more to feel satisfied, but in fact, you may not be digesting the food as effectively as you could because of the bloating.
- Your skin may appear stretched. As you lose weight, your skin will appear to stretch, causing you to look and feel younger. However, this is a very temporary phenomenon and will only last as long as you continue to lose weight. Once you gain a few pounds back, you will start to notice a difference in how your skin looks and feels. It also takes longer before you start seeing results, so you may have to wait a while before you can really start enjoying the benefits that come with slimmer pants.
- Your skin may lose some of its elasticity. As you lose weight, your skin gets tighter, and therefore, less elastic. To start with, you may not even be aware of the difference, but over time, you will start feeling the effects of this decrease in elasticity. The good news is that this too is a temporary phenomenon and is something your body goes through as it adapts to the new weight it is carrying around. Once you start gaining weight again, you will notice that your skin elasticity returns and improves.
- Your skin can become more susceptible to diseases. Losing weight can cause chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease to be aggravated. If you are already suffering from any of these diseases, losing weight may aggravate your condition. Talk to your doctor about this before you make any changes to your diet or exercise regimen.
- Your skin can become more sensitive. As you lose weight, your nerve endings get more sensitive. This means that the little feelings you have when someone touches you or kisses you can become more prominent. Your skin can also become more sensitive to smells, so if you have ever been exposed to tobacco or strong alcohol, you may start experiencing odor flashbacks once you start losing weight. These can be very distressing and make you feel as if you are constantly struggling against a strong wind whenever you use these substances. If this is making you feel unsafe, uncomfortable or judged, stop using them or try to limit your exposure as much as possible. Your skin is your largest organ and is therefore crucial to your well-being. Make sure you care for it by drinking plenty of water and eating vitamin-rich foods.
Your Body Is Changing
When you lose weight, your body goes through a process of change. However, this is a good thing! Your body is trying to protect you and get you to eat healthy foods and move more, so you can stay slim and continue to enjoy the benefits that come with a slimmer physique. Here are some of the things your body goes through as it adapts to the new weight it is carrying: