Close Banner Beauty Crepey Skin On The Legs: Causes, Treatments & More Author: Hannah Frye March 13, 2026 Beauty & Health Editor By Hannah Frye Beauty & Health Editor Hannah Frye is the Beauty & Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including beauty, women’s health, mental health, sustainability, social media trends, and more. She previously worked for Almost 30, a top-rated health and wellness podcast. In her current role, Hannah reports on the latest beauty trends and innovations, women’s health research, brain health news, and plenty more. Image by Eloisa Ramos / Stocksy March 13, 2026 We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links. Aging is a privilege, and just because a few wrinkles pop up over the years does not mean that fact should be overlooked. It's easy to get caught up in how your skin should or shouldn't look at a certain age, but as experts will tell you, there's no hard-and-fast rule stating when skin aging is normal. That being said, it's equally important to feel confident in how you look, for the sake of your mental health. So if crepey skin has you down, this might help you make sense of what's going on and encourage firmer skin naturally. What is crepey skin? You may have heard the term crepey skin before, but do you actually know what it is? If not, picture streamers that are strung around as birthday or celebration décor. They're crinkly, thin, and wispy. There's not much solid structure, which is why they're so bendable and literally wave around in the wind. This is where the term crepey comes from. Though your skin isn't as thin as a streamer, similar wrinkles and lack of structure can occur, especially as you age. Besides being thin and wrinkly, crepey skin may also sag or feel loose, board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. , tells mbg. Summary Crepey skin has a thin, wrinkled surface that resembles streamer paper. Can you get crepey skin on the legs? Yes, you can certainly get crepey skin on your legs—though it's important to first distinguish it from cellulite. "Cellulite occurs when fat deposits push through the connective tissue beneath the skin," King says. This can appear dimply, rather than wrinkly. "The exact cause of cellulite is unknown, but it appears to result from an interaction between the connective tissue in the layer that lies below the surface of the skin and the layer of fat that is just below it," King explains. Cellulite can be genetic, meaning you can have it no matter what you use on your skin, how old you are, and how much you weigh. A gentle reminder: Cellulite is not a bad thing. While it's very normal to feel insecure about it—thanks to the unfortunately significant perfectionism culture around body image and Photoshop—cellulite is quite common, especially for women. Now, on the other hand, crepey skin can be prevented to a certain extent with skin care. Like cellulite, there's nothing wrong with having crepey skin, and everyone will get it eventually as it's a natural part of skin aging. But if you want to delay the process, there are a few things you can do—more on that in a bit. RELATED: Crepey Skin: Causes, Treatments & The Best Product Other common places to get crepey skin Your skin can get crepey anywhere on the body, but thinner skin is more susceptible, including the eyelids, upper arms, neck, chest, under the eyes, and the tops of the hands. Because these areas are thinner, they might be more sensitive to harsher treatments like retinol or strong exfoliants, so tread lightly. These are areas that are often exposed to the sun as well (particularly the neck, hands, and eyes), which can mean premature aging, as we'll get to in a second. Causes of crepey skin There are a few specific factors that can cause crepey skin, as King notes. These include: Genetics  Skin type Sun exposure  Smoking Lifestyle factors such as limited movement and dietary considerations  Gaining or losing weight  All of these factors can contribute to crepey skin on the legs, but a few are more common in this area. For example, if you have crepey skin on your legs but nowhere else, you may want to think about the last time you applied SPF in the affected area. Losing weight is also a frequent cause of crepey skin, so if you noticed specific slimming in your legs lately, then that could be why. The skin post-weight-loss has been previously stretched, so it may be thinner once the fat underneath has decreased. Smoking, diet, and exercise are all factors that contribute to general skin health, so it's not surprising that they can lead to crepey skin. We'll get into specifics next. RELATED: How Moisture Loss In The Skin Leads to