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.

[Altamisal]

However, best not to do inversions if one is very overweight or has high blood pressure.

[Altamisal]

Definitely get off sugar.  You can still have sweet treats in moderation, made with xylitol, stevia and raw honey.

I'd like to toot the gelatin horn again.  Powdered gelatin = collagen, and it stimulates collagen production in our bodies when we imbibe it. It can help our joints, bones, teeth and hair as well as skin.  It boosts metabolism and is thought to increase HGH.  Who needs to pay for expensive HGH treatments? As well as taking powdered gelatin in juice, tea, smoothies etc.,  we can also make bone broth, rich in nutrients including gelatin.

Many of us are estrogen dominant, and this is pro-aging. Gelatin has anti-estrogenic effects.

It also helps us to sleep well.  I take a couple of tablespoons of gelatin a day, and the second dose is in camomile tea right before bed.  It works. :-)

Also try inversion therapy.  The headstand is ideal, but we can also benefit from an inversion table, or simply lying on our back with our legs up against a tree or other support.  The benefits are multitudinous.  Google "inversion therapy benefits."

[Equitoriana]

What about trying bio-identical progesterone?

[ConnyMommy]

Checking back in to see if anyone has come up with a miracle. Looks like a big fat NO. Last dermatologist I went to see said without me even asking that I was experiencing the loss of elastin in skin. Add to that Florida, blue eyes, blond, way too much sugar most of life. Also two courses of Cipro after foot surgery which didn't help the skin any,for sure.I have been fit and trim my whole life. Now at 61 with arms of an 80 year old granny, and been this way starting at age 57. Did the amino acids, trying to raise natural levels of human growth hormone. Went up a whopping 3 points, and this with increased exercise, like riding my mountain bike like a crazed woman. I believe we are suffering from a combination of many things exacerbated by our inherited genetic makeup. I have spent hours(more like days) trolling the internet for answers. Any exterior treatments seems to focus only on the face with these tiny bottles of expensive ointments. I do believe Vit. C heavy doses do help some what, esp. those of us who bruise easy. More protein too. But the biggest thing is not to excessively focus on this new obstacle in our life. It ain't easy. Exercise improves the mental outlook and still does some improvement on muscle tone. Those women over there without the granny arms and legs-guess what? They got other problems we might not be in a hurry to trade for. Any of you with extra money and a willing doctor might try the HGH protocol. My doctor says it works wonders, but the FDA can make it a nightmare for doctors to prescribe. A trip to Mexico might be in order but now this fix gets pricey. I suspect most of us here are not that well off. Chin up, ladies. We will survive this, too.

[Altamisal]

I'm wondering if medication might have something to do with the rapid aging.
I'd be interested to know what meds people are on who are experiencing this.
Meds can have nasty side effects.

[HTSWFL]

I feel like I could have written your post.  I am 52, live in FL, 5'4 weigh 115 lbs, and try to stay in shape but my arms look like I am at least 80.  Now I notice the inside of my thighs are doing the same thing!  Do you think it is just genetics and there is nothing we can do?  I am getting very self conscious when wearing a bathing suit and this is new to me, I hate it.  There has to be something that will at least improve it.

[srmerrill]

I am very happy to have stumbled upon these posts, and have just spent a very long time reading them from over the past 3 years.  I am about to turn 52, and over the past two years I have been watching my arms literally wrinkle in front of my eyes.  I exercise regularly and, for the most part, can live with the rest of my body (well, okay, my knees are starting to bother me a bit also).  But my arms look like those of an 80 year-old woman.  And it has happened so suddenly, and so quickly, I just don't understand it.  I have been going through menopause, and I also have lived in Florida for the past 25 years and have had my share of the sun. But the rest of my body, as I stated, is holding up pretty well.  

I have also been severely depressed (like so many of you who have posted) and do not want to wear anything showing my arms, but that is very difficult in the 90+ degree temps here in Florida.  I have a great group of close friends my age, and I find myself comparing my arms to theirs when we're together - and they look so much better...I just feel like crying :(  

I am desperate for advice and would love to know what has worked the best for those of you out there who are suffering like myself.  I am planning to do more research on iodine deficiency and some of the other suggestions I have read throughout these posts...but would very much appreciate any other current advice/suggestions you may have.  Other than my terribly wrinkled arms, I physically feel like a much-younger person who thrives on being active, exercising and enjoying life.  

I plan to watch for posts, and thanks for any comments/advice!