Crepey Skin: Causes and Treatment | Radiant Secrets
Last updated: 9 September 2026 | Reading time: 9 minutes
A calm, doctor-led guide for women in Johannesburg who want firmer, smoother skin without anything harsh
Written by Tholofelo Makgeledise | Medically reviewed by Dr Steffani Ovadia
What is crepey skin, and why is it suddenly showing?
Crepey skin is thin, finely wrinkled skin that looks a little like crepe paper, and it happens when the skin loses collagen, elastin and hydration faster than it can replace them. You may have noticed it first on your neck, under your eyes, or on the inner arms, often in a photograph or under bright bathroom light. It is not a sign that you have done anything wrong. It is simply what skin does when its support structure thins, and it can be improved.
At Radiant Secrets in Illovo, Johannesburg, we treat crepey skin the gentle way: rehydrate it, rebuild its collagen, and protect it, without burning or over-treating. This guide explains what causes crepey skin, where it tends to appear, which doctor-led treatments actually help, and the mistakes that quietly make it worse.
Key Takeaways
This is a collagen, elastin and hydration problem, not just a surface dryness problem.
Sun exposure and the oestrogen drop at menopause are the two biggest drivers in women over 45.
Creams soften the look, but only collagen-building treatments such as skin boosters and microneedling restore firmness.
Gentle, controlled treatment holds its results; harsh resurfacing tends to fatigue thin skin.
A Doctor-Led Aesthetic Consultation should always come before any treatment plan.
Tired of crepey skin on your neck, eyes or arms? There is a gentle, doctor-led answer.
Leave your number and we will call you back to talk through what would genuinely help your skin. No pressure, just honest guidance.
Why crepey skin matters more than a wrinkle
A wrinkle is a single line, but crepey skin is a change in the whole quality of the skin, which is why it can make a rested face look tired. Because it reflects thinning collagen, treating it early protects the structure your skin will rely on for years.
1% a year – Roughly how much skin collagen declines each year from our mid twenties
30% – Collagen women can lose in the first five years after menopause
80% – Visible facial ageing attributed to sun exposure in published skin research
The numbers explain why this texture can seem to arrive overnight in your late forties and fifties: the collagen loss was gradual, but menopause and the Johannesburg sun bring it to the surface.
What causes crepey skin? The key elements
Understanding what causes crepey skin matters, because the cause decides the treatment.
Collagen and elastin loss: these two proteins give skin its thickness and bounce. As they thin, skin folds into fine, crepey lines instead of springing back.
Sun damage: Highveld UV breaks down collagen directly. This is why crepey skin on the arms, chest and neck is so common in sun-loving Johannesburg.
Menopause and hormones: falling oestrogen reduces collagen production and skin hydration, which is why so many women first notice it between 45 and 55.
Dehydration and dry air: the dry Highveld winter and heated rooms pull water out of the skin, making the fine lines far more visible.
Weight changes: rapid weight loss, including on newer weight-loss medications, can leave skin that has lost its underlying support looking loose and crepey.
Smoking and poor sleep: both reduce the blood flow and repair the skin needs to keep its structure healthy.
Types of crepey skin and where it shows
The texture behaves differently depending on where it appears, so each area needs a slightly different, tailored approach.
Area | What you notice | Gentle treatment options |
|---|---|---|
Crepey neck skin | Fine horizontal lines and a papery texture, often visible in photos before the face shows change | Profhilo Skin Booster, Microneedling Treatment, daily SPF to the neck |
Under eye crepey skin | Thin, finely creased skin that makes concealer sit badly and eyes look tired | Under Eye Rejuvenation, Nanoneedling Treatment, a gentle eye-area retinoid |
Lower face and jawline | Sagging and crepey skin together, with early jowling and a softer jawline | Liquid Facelift, Juvelook Skin Booster, Profhilo Structura Cheek Lift |
Crepey skin on arms and hands | Loose, finely wrinkled skin on the inner upper arms, elbows and backs of the hands | Profhilo body protocol, Microneedling Treatment, medical-grade body hydration |
Chest and decolletage | Sun-linked crepey texture with pigmentation, often worse on the side you sleep on | MesoResurfacing + Exosomes, Profhilo Skin Booster, strict SPF |
How to get rid of crepey skin, step by step
The most reliable way to improve it is a calm sequence: assess, protect, rehydrate, rebuild and maintain, rather than one dramatic treatment.
Assess: a Doctor-Led Aesthetic Consultation works out whether yours is mainly collagen loss, dehydration, sun damage or hormonal, and what you do not need.
Protect: daily broad-spectrum SPF on the face, neck, chest and hands stops further collagen breakdown. Medical-grade skincare with a retinoid and peptides supports repair at home.
Rehydrate: a Profhilo Skin Booster (R4,900) spreads pure hyaluronic acid through the skin to restore deep hydration and remodel thin tissue from within. Two sessions a month apart is the usual start.
Rebuild: a course of Microneedling Treatment (R2,497) or Juvelook Skin Booster (R7,000) prompts the skin to build new collagen, which slowly thickens and smooths the texture.
Maintain: one refresh every six to twelve months keeps the collagen you have rebuilt. Think plan, not panic.
You still feel vibrant. Your skin should show it.
If it has started to change how you feel about your reflection, a private, unhurried consultation with Dr Stef is the calm first step. We would love to welcome you to the clinic in Illovo.
Common crepey skin mistakes and how to avoid them
Most of the women we see have already tried to treat it at home, and a few well-meaning habits quietly make it worse.
Mistake | Why It Happens | How to Fix It |
|---|---|---|
Relying on a firming cream alone | Creams hydrate the surface and look like they work for a few hours | Keep the cream, but pair it with a collagen-building treatment such as a skin booster |
Harsh peels or aggressive resurfacing | Thin skin is pushed past what its cells can repair, so it rebounds and looks more fragile | Choose gentle, controlled treatments at a depth your skin can recover from |
Skipping SPF on the neck, chest and hands | Sunscreen stops at the jaw for most of us | Apply SPF to every area that shows the texture, every morning, all year |
Adding volume filler where skin quality is the issue | Filler is often suggested for any loose skin | Treat the texture with hydration and collagen first; add structure only where a doctor confirms it is needed |
Expecting one session to do everything | Collagen takes eight to twelve weeks to rebuild | Follow a short course, then maintain, and judge results at three months |
Dr Stef's tip: Treat your neck exactly as you treat your face. Whatever serum, retinoid and SPF you apply in the morning, carry it down to the collarbone. A crepey neck is far easier to prevent than to correct, and this one habit costs nothing.
A real example from the clinic
A 54-year-old professional from Hyde Park came to see us after a video call left her unsettled by the crepey skin on her neck and under her eyes. She had been using an expensive firming cream for a year with little change, and she was worried that the only answer would be something obvious or harsh.
After a consultation, Dr Stef recommended two Profhilo Skin Booster sessions a month apart for the face and neck, followed by a short course of Microneedling Treatment, with SPF and a retinoid added at home. At her three-month review her neck skin was visibly smoother and better hydrated, the under-eye area held concealer properly, and nobody could tell she had done anything except, in her words, sleep well. Results vary from person to person, and this is a typical rather than a guaranteed outcome.
Crepey skin FAQ
What causes crepey skin?
Crepey skin is caused by a loss of collagen, elastin and hydration in the skin. Sun exposure, the drop in oestrogen at menopause, weight changes, dry air and smoking all speed it up.
Can you reverse crepey skin?
Crepey skin can be improved noticeably, though not fully reversed. Treatments that rebuild collagen and restore hydration, combined with daily SPF and medical-grade skincare, make skin visibly firmer and smoother.
Does microneedling help crepey skin?
Yes. Microneedling creates controlled micro-channels that prompt the skin to build new collagen, which gradually thickens thin, crepey skin. A course of three to four sessions is usually recommended.
What is the best crepey skin treatment for the neck?
For crepey neck skin, hydrating skin boosters such as Profhilo combined with microneedling tend to give the most natural improvement. A doctor should assess the neck first, as it is a delicate area.
Why has my skin become crepey all of a sudden?
Sudden crepey skin is most often linked to perimenopause or menopause, rapid weight loss, or a period of illness or dehydration. The collagen loss was gradual, but a hormonal or hydration shift makes it show.
Does crepey skin at 40 need treatment?
Crepey skin at 40 is early and responds well to prevention. Daily SPF, a retinoid, and a hydrating skin booster once or twice a year are usually enough to keep the skin firm and supported.
Can a cream fix crepey skin on the arms and legs?
A good cream improves surface hydration and softens the look of crepey skin on the arms and legs, but it cannot rebuild lost collagen. For lasting firmness, in-clinic collagen-building treatments are needed.
How Radiant Secrets helps
This is one of the concerns we understand best, because it is one of the most common reasons women aged 45 to 65 come to see us in Illovo, Johannesburg. Every plan starts with a Doctor-Led Aesthetic Consultation, where Dr Stef examines your skin quality, explains what is happening and why, and tells you honestly which treatments will help and which you can skip. From there we build a gentle, personalised sequence, usually a skin booster to rehydrate, a collagen-building course to rebuild, and simple hydration and glow support at home, so your skin looks firmer, fresher and unmistakably still you.
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About the writer
Tholofelo Makgeledise
Skin Expert & Front of House
Tholofelo is often the first voice you will hear, and the reason so many women feel looked after from the moment they arrive. She is a trained skin expert who has completed her pHformula foundation training and the advanced Expert MD course, with focused skills across the A.C., MELA, C.R. and AGE resurfacing ranges for concerns such as breakouts, pigmentation, and mature or changing skin.
Beyond her facials and skin work, Tholofelo looks after the part women remember most: the aftercare. Her thoughtful follow-up messages, gentle education, and genuine attention are what turn a single visit into a lasting relationship.
Medically reviewed by
Dr Steffani Ovadia
Founder & Medical Doctor
Steffani qualified as a medical doctor through the University of the Witwatersrand, holding a Bachelor of Health Sciences and an MBBCh. She has spent more than seven years in medicine with a deep focus on aesthetics, and has completed eight aesthetic training courses, including advanced courses covering anti-wrinkle treatments, advanced dermal filler, lip enhancement, cannula technique, Profhilo and more. She trains regularly so that your care always reflects current, considered practice, and in 2026 she was invited to speak at AMCSA, the Aesthetic Medicine Congress of South Africa.
What matters most to Steffani is simple: to restore and protect a woman's confidence. She treats every face with patience and restraint, guiding you honestly toward what will genuinely help, and telling you just as openly what you do not need.
