When it comes to maintaining youthful neck skin, there's more to consider than just the aging process itself. Your neck's appearance is influenced by the quality of your skin and how it rests on the structures beneath it, such as fat, muscle, and bone. Even if you address neck contours through procedures, rough, sun-damaged skin can still make your neck look older. That's why any plan to combat neck aging should take skin quality into account.
Your neck is exposed to the same aging factors as the rest of your body, with UV radiation being the biggest culprit. Approximately 90% of aging skin changes, including roughness, dryness, deep wrinkles, sagging, uneven tone, and broken vessels, are caused by chronic sun exposure.
But here's the catch: the neck is often neglected when it comes to sun protection. This cumulative sun exposure can lead to unique issues in this area:
1. Poikiloderma of Civatte: This condition causes patchy hyper- and hypo-pigmentation and broken vessels on the sun-exposed sides of the lower face, neck, and chest. Perfumes and fragranced cosmetics can worsen it.
2. Cutis Rhomboidalis Nuchae: This is deep wrinkling on the back of the neck, forming a rhomboid pattern.
Additionally, the neck's repetitive movements, combined with sun damage and the pull of neck muscles and gravity, can lead to deeper wrinkles compared to the face.
Skincare for Your Neck
As you age, your neck's skin barrier weakens, making it more sensitive. This means you should take extra care when applying skincare products in this area. Rather than seeking quick fixes, consider skincare as a long-term investment. Regular use of active skincare products, such as melanin inhibitors and retinoids (Vit A), can produce significant results over time.
Preventing Premature Aging
Treat your face, neck, and chest as a single unit when applying skincare or treatments. Start using melanin inhibitors and retinoids early to repair UV skin damage. Always use SPF50 sunscreen, protective clothing, and wide-brimmed hats. Avoid fragranced products and perfumes on your neck to prevent skin reactions and pigmentation.
Some Neck Facts
Tech neck's horizontal folds can appear as early as your 20s, but they worsen with age. Pay attention to your posture when using technology or doing activities that require neck flexion, like reading a book. However, don't worry too much about technologies; the dose of blue light from screens is generally too low to impact pigmentation.
What If Damage Is Already Done?
It's never too late to start using topical treatments to address neck concerns. At CERA we provide advice on non-surgical treatments that effectively target signs of aging in the neck area.
Remember, your neck deserves as much care as your face in your skincare routine.