Sudden onset of skin wrinkling and sagging in arms

[jnine1964]

Hi all. New to this. I am a 44 year old woman who is physically fit (gym 5 days a week) and eats pretty well.

Approx 5 weeks ago I developed veins showing on both hands. They have not gone away and infact they are bulging most times, and I can "feel them". They have increased and I can see some starting to climb up my forearm now. Before this, my veins barely ever showed.

Approx 2 weeks ago, I developed wrinkling (crepe paper look) on my forearms (near connection of elbow) and on my upper arms. My arms have gone from 44 years old to looking like those of a 60 year old woman.

Approx 5 days ago my skin started sagging and I have now developed that "flap" by my triceps. My arms have always been my pride and joy..I work so hard at them, and they have been so tone,..now they look flabby and sagging with wrinkles.
I am in a panic. Have a doctors appointment for Friday.

Yes, I am fair, Yes, I have been sunburnt many times over the years. My mother had wrinkles also, but to have this come on so very sudden, I don't know what to think.

As far as periomenopause, it sounds like this shouldn't happen so suddenly and usually the elasticity is after menopause. I don't have any symptoms yet, except for my period being early once in a while.

I am 44 years old, and have gone, in 2 weeks, from having 44 year old skin to skin of a 60 year old. Could someone please help? I'm very distressed.

[radicaldaisy]

I should have said how much I weigh.  I was 138 and 5'7" before all the stress began, about 10 pounds over my usual weight.  I lost the first 10 using a fitness app to count calories and noticed nothing. I lost the next 10 due to stress and maybe 5 months after that loss started to notice the veins and the crepeiness. It did not happen right away.  I am now about 118.

[mkh9]

Sounds like a lot of us had a lot of weight loss when this happened. So that may be the cause of some of our weight loss. I know that is the cause of the saggy skin or chicken skin that some people on our diet plan have too that lost 20 lbs or more. Since my husband has it too it isn't just menopause in all cases. So I'm pretty sure that is the case in all of us that lost weight. I think that the skin takes time to bounce back but it can. I am actually trying to gain a few pounds back (not too many but few) just to see if it helps.
mkh9

[mkh9]

Also, for those of you that might want to lift weights. I am trying to "bulk " out on my legs and see if that will help. LOL I would rather be muscular than have saggy skin.
mkh9

[radicaldaisy]

Hi people. Add me to bandwagon. I am 48 and very fit.  I had some VERY stressful life events last fall, lost 20 pounds.  I still have period. Blond, thin, have sunned in youth. My arms and hands got crepey suddenly over a few months time. And veiny.  I get that my low body fat might cause veiny but why so sudden.

I am trying gelatin and dry brushing. It's really freaking me out.

[Kendrabauser]

The common denominator is stress and hormones out of wack. count  me in too, Im 46 and noticed over the summer that my hands went from being pretty  to veiny and total loss of volume. That and meds seem to take thier toll. I was hopeing for a cure too but it *****, I just hope I can hold on to what I havefor a bit! My hormones are out of wack due to stress and I dont have a thyroid

[dvdm08]

I also have this problem only I am 40 now and have a premature menopause. Could hormones do this to your body. My hands have become wrinkly and all the volume is gone??? I cannot balance my hormones and dr. have no idea. I have hrt patches but it doesn't do a thing for my skin and most of my symptoms.

[old_before_my_time]

dvdm08 - Yes, loss of hormones can cause skin aging as well as aging of all tissues and organs. My female organs were needlessly removed at age 49 and I aged 10-15 years in just 4 months! And that's just the tip of the iceberg on the nightmare it's been.

Hormones have not improved the skin aging but they have helped most of my other symptoms. And they may be keeping the skin aging from worsening IDK. I only take estrogen.

I did not do well on the patch even at the highest dose. My symptoms were still horrendous despite what my doctor called a "therapeutic" blood level of estradiol. I think it was dropping too much when I was due to change it. Maybe a different delivery route would work better for you. Of course, if you have your uterus, you'll need to take a progestogen.

[Equitoriana]

Very very very strange. Something beyond "aging" is going on here.

[mkh9]

Equitoriana, for me I think I lost too much weight (20 lbs in the last 6 months or so). I guess that may have caused mine. My husband has the same problem since he lost weight.
mkh9

[Belfie42]

Wow! I love how similar all our experiences are sometimes. I made the mistake of looking at my legs while doing downward dog today and holy cow! My skin over my knees is hideous, and I also notice that my inner thighs are getting lumpy, it's not cellulite per se, I don't know how to describe it, it's just lumps.

[Ledax]

Please explain oil swishing.  I too have saggy arms.  

[mkh9]

Yes if it is menopause then it happened after I lost 20 pounds to me and my husband. So I think it may be weight loss for us and maybe also just aging? I am 54 and haven't officially gone through menopause but my FSH is high so probably any time now. So, I hate it too. My forearms, butt,legs upper knee area and calves. More lines in my face too. Just this year and last. I am thinking of going to a dermatologist for help. I am trying to Bulk up in my muscle mass at the gym to look better maybe it will expand the skin. But I don't know if that will work. I pile on the cream too. It works a little and very temporary.
mkh9

[birgy77277]

   My arms and forearms are doing the same thing. Seems like it happened almost overnight. I truly don't know whats happening.