Having a double chin is common. We all have one to some extent, some more, some less. However, we all know how annoying it can be to have one and many of us will look for a way to make it disappear, if possible.
In this article we are going to see some simple tricks that you can do at home that can help you prevent and even reduce double chin. But first, let’s see what exactly causes the appearance of this unwanted part of the body.
Usually there is nothing to worry about and it is just a layer of fat that has formed under the chin. When this layer becomes substantial enough, it forms a wrinkle that creates the appearance of one or more additional chins.
Although double chins are not usually a sign of a health problem from a medical point of view, many people consider them unsightly. Double chins are often associated with being overweight, although there are countless causes why a non-overweight person might have a double chin.
For that reason, it’s important to know what causes a double chin in the first place. Jowls are just a bit of extra fat around the jaw. But its causes can become quite complex, since it depends on each individual.
Some of the most common reasons why a double chin can appear are: excess fat (probably the most common cause), aging skin, poor posture, our facial structure, and probably the most significant reason, the genetic.
Now yes, let’s see what you can do to prevent or reduce your double chin with the best advice from experts:
1. Hydrate regularly
Skin aging is one of the most common causes for which a person may have a double chin.
Around the age of 20, the amount of collagen our skin produces begins to decrease. This causes the skin to begin to lose elasticity, so it begins to sag. The older we get, the less collagen we have and the more elasticity our skin loses.
When the skin under our jaw begins to sag, it creates the same effect that happens when we have extra fat in the same space.
Another phenomenon that happens as the years go by is that we also lose muscle definition, which accentuates the effect.
Although skin aging is natural, there are certain factors that can accelerate the process, such as having bad habits such as smoking, poor diet, sun exposure, and lack of hydration.
Drinking water is essential to maintain good health. Our body needs to stay hydrated to do almost everything it does, from keeping us alive to producing more collagen and burning fat.
In addition to vital functions such as removing toxins, water helps digest food well, absorb nutrients, regulate body temperature, and keep skin healthy and hydrated.
According to a study published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, it was determined that increased water consumption can have a positive effect on skin hydration and can improve skin physiology.
2. Avoid constant sun exposure
The sun’s rays can accelerate skin aging. In fact, up to 90% of skin aging is due to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Specifically, UVA rays.
These rays not only damage the skin’s surface, but also penetrate deeper and break down skin proteins such as collagen and elastin.
These proteins help keep the skin firm and elastic. As they break down, the skin loses structure and flexibility, leading to aging skin, wrinkles, sagging, and spider veins.
A study from the Department of Dermatology at Boston University, Massachusetts ensures that exposure to UVA rays from the sun significantly accelerates skin aging.
Some advice from dermatology experts that you can put into practice to protect your skin is to never forget to use a good sunscreen every time you leave the house, an SPF greater than 30 is recommended.
If you want to look tanned without damaging your skin, choose a good self-tanner. Always consult with your dermatologist.
3. Perform facial exercises
One of the most common reasons why a double chin can appear is due to a lack of muscle tone. This can be due to two factors: aging that causes loss of muscle mass, or simply poor posture.
When we are immersed in the digital world, whether it is with a cell phone or a computer screen, we tend to crane our necks and let them drop. Taking this stance is one of the worst things we could be doing.
In addition to causing neck pain, this pose is bad for the platysma muscle, a muscle that connects the neck to the chin. When this weakens, the elasticity around the double chin is reduced and the sagging effect that accompanies it is produced.
In a study published in 2014 by the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, the effectiveness of facial exercises was analyzed. The study achieved positive results, however none of the studies used a control group. Therefore, the evidence is insufficient to determine if facial exercises are 100% effective.
In any case, the evidence indicates that they can be a great ally when it comes to eliminating double chins. Some exercises you can try are:
- Stick your tongue out as much as you can and take it to the tip of your nose, trying to touch it. Repeat 3 to 5 times per day.
- With a tennis ball under your chin, hold it tight against your chest. Repeat 10 times.
- Keep your jaw jutting out for a count of 10.
4. Eliminate smoking and regulate alcohol consumption
A study published in AORN Journal shows that smoking accelerates skin aging. This is mainly because smoking causes the blood vessels to constrict. This reduces circulation and the level of oxygen in the blood.
In other words, it’s like your skin can’t breathe, which leads to premature aging and the formation of wrinkles. Also, this causes the skin to become dry and dull and yellowish.
And as if that were not enough, it seems that all vices damage our skin. An article published in the prestigious medical journal, Web MD, points out that alcohol consumption has also been linked to premature aging of the skin.
This is because when we drink alcohol, we become dehydrated. This has an effect on the skin that makes it drier, making the skin thinner and drier and promoting intrinsic aging.
5. Eat a balanced and healthy diet
Excess body fat is probably the most common cause for which a young man may have a double chin.
When we gain weight, fat tends to be deposited all over the body, and it’s very common that one of the places most people store fat first is on the face and under the chin.
Depending on your body type, you may be genetically predisposed to store facial fat.
That is why diet plays a doubly important role: since the best way to lose weight is through a healthy diet and, in addition, a good diet can improve skin elasticity.
A study published by Cell Metabolism suggests that excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods is strongly related to obesity and weight gain.
Some recommendations that you should keep in mind to lose weight are:
- Avoid ultra-processed and high-sugar foods (pastries, fried foods, processed snacks such as nachos, mixed vegetable oils, fast food)
- Exercise regularly. Anything goes, you can run, weight lift, walk, dance, body pump, zumba, whatever you like, as long as you keep moving and burning extra calories.
- Work on your muscle mass. Weight lifting and resistance training are great for building muscle. This will help your body burn more calories naturally.
- Drink lots of water, many times we find ourselves visiting the kitchen more than we should thinking we are hungry, when in fact we are just thirsty.
- Increase your intake of vegetables and fruits, they are low in calories and rich in nutrients.
6. Exfoliate and moisturize the skin regularly
Using moisturizer helps nourish and hydrate the skin. This is because as we age, our skin becomes drier, making it more prone to wrinkles.
A study published in MDPI Nutrients showed that the use of a moisturizer containing vitamin C is very effective in preventing and treating wrinkles.
On the other hand, exfoliating the skin can be of great help to eliminate dead cells and, through massages, stimulate our body’s natural production of collagen.
7. Apply firming masks
As well as applying creams to hydrate the skin, masks are a great option to keep our face well moisturized.
A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology showed that masks can be a great help in firming the skin.
Especially biocellulose masks are very well tolerated. Two months of treatment with anti-aging masks was studied in a group of women and a significant decrease in the roughness and width of skin wrinkles was observed, as well as an improvement in dermal homogeneity and firmness.
A significant improvement in skin firmness and elasticity was also observed after 1 month of mask treatment. In addition, it promoted the production of new skin cells through an exfoliating action.
8. Maintain good body posture
Some factors associated with having a double chin are out of our control, mainly genetics and our face shape.
In particular, people with a cleft chin and weak jaw will be more susceptible to developing a double chin.
This is because your skin is stretched over a smaller area. This is the reason why some people are skinny but still have double chins.
However, regardless of your genetics, there is something everyone can do that will bring good results. An article published in the medical journal Medical News Today suggests that poor posture can accentuate or increase the size of a double chin.\
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If you notice that you frequently slouch or look down, this will cause the muscles in the chin area to tighten . weaken. Fixing your posture isn’t the ultimate cure for a double chin, but improving it can significantly diminish its appearance.
9. Avoid sudden weight changes
Sudden changes in weight can damage the elasticity of your skin. Have you noticed how fast weight gain can cause stretch marks on your skin? Well, that’s due to the damage that dermal tissue does when it suddenly stretches out with sudden changes in weight.
This same thing can happen with your double chin. Abrupt changes in weight, both losing weight and losing weight suddenly, cause the skin to become more flaccid.
A study published in 2010 in Springer Link suggests that in control groups that lost a lot of weight, skin stretched after weight loss had fewer elastin fibers and greater dermal vascularity.
To avoid these sudden changes and take care of the elasticity of our skin, it is important to try not to have sudden weight changes. Neither gain weight suddenly nor lose weight quickly, since this can cause the famous and unwanted flaccidity.
For this, simply make sure you eat a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet along with a good regular training program.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.