Do I have crepey skin and what can be done to address it? (photos)

Thank you for your detailed question. Based on your age (26), skincare habits, and the concerns you’ve shared, it’s unlikely that you're developing true crepey skin—but you may be noticing early signs of skin thinning, texture irregularities, or dehydration-related changes that can mimic crepiness, especially under certain lighting or facial expressions.

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser. Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.
Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Hello! My name is Jessica, I am a physician assistant, and one of the providers at Aesthetic Skin in Winnetka and Chicago. This is a great question. If you're noticing crepey skin at 26, CO2 laser resurfacing could be an effective treatment to consider. This procedure can help tighten the skin, improve texture, and promote collagen production, addressing the crepey appearance effectively. In addition to CO2 laser treatments, maintaining a consistent skincare routine with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid is beneficial. You might also explore adding retinoids or peptides to your regimen, as they can further support skin renewal and elasticity. I hope this helps and best of luck!

You appear to be a good candidate for SkinPen. This minimally invasive treatment promotes collagen formation without causing scar tissue. It can improve overall skin texture and is safe for all skin types. It will work best if combined with a medical grade skin care regimen like Transform MD and wearing sunscreen every day.