Many don’t realize that the skin on the neck is actually thinner than the skin on the face, which is why neck wrinkles often make an appearance earlier on in life than facial fine lines. Either way, those neck lines probably aren’t something that you’re happy about, so here’s what you need to do to get rid of them and tighten up any loose skin on your neck.
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What Causes Neck Lines?
Just like when it comes to fine lines on the face, wrinkles on the neck are one of the signs of skin aging. Although inevitable to an extent, especially since genetics play a role in how your skin ages, sun damage is usually the biggest culprit when it comes to neck lines.
The sun destroys the collagen and elastin content in your skin, the two proteins that are responsible for how smooth, firm, and tight your skin is. Combined with a natural decline in collagen production due to skin aging, the skin soon takes on a saggier and looser appearance.
Interestingly, millennials have been finding neck lines to be more of an issue than previous generations. This can be attributed to what is now coined as “tech neck” – a term that describes the wrinkles that have been caused by repeatedly looking downwards at a phone or computer.
How to Prevent & Get Rid of Neck Wrinkles
In addition to taking you through some of the many neck wrinkle treatment options available, we’re also going to talk about prevention. After all, there’s no point working hard to get rid of those wrinkles if you’re still doing things that are causing new wrinkles to appear.
Sun Protection
As mentioned, sun exposure is one of the biggest causes of neck wrinkles. UV rays damage delicate neck skin, making sun protection so important if you’re looking to banish those lines.
Ideally, look for a product that offers an SPF of at least 30. Pay attention to sunscreen application, ensuring that you apply your SPF products to every exposed inch of your face and neck. Reapplication is essential too, since your sunscreen will stop being effective after a few hours.
Of course, there are other ways to limit sun exposure as well. Clothing that keeps your neck covered provides a physical barrier between your skin and the sun, while staying in the shade during the hottest hours of the day (usually between 11am and 4pm) can really help too.
Start Using Retinol Products
Just about every expert would agree that retinol is one of the best anti-aging skincare ingredients out there. It speeds up collagen production and thickens the skin, and, with consistent use, has been shown to minimize fine lines and wrinkles.
As you can imagine, retinol is an ingredient that your neck would really benefit from. One popular product that targets the neck, as opposed to the many other retinol creams out there that are designed for the face, is the Tripeptide-R Neck Repair from SkinCeuticals. The Tripeptide-R cream has a high retinol and peptide content, with both ingredients having transformational effects when used together.
If you’re using retinol on your neck for the first time, start off slowly. Although powerful, retinol can cause side effects, namely skin irritation, so introduce it into your beauty routine gradually.
Find a Good Vitamin C Serum
Just like retinol, vitamin C is another must-have anti-aging ingredient, no matter your skin type. It’s a great one for neck repair and reducing wrinkles, but is also loved for its brightening and rejuvenating effects. Since it’s an antioxidant, it prevents oxidative stress in your skin cells, which helps to reduce other signs of aging.
Vitamin C is used in a variety products, but serums are what you need. These penetrate deeper into the skin, where they can have a bigger effect on elasticity and collagen production.
Keep Your Neck Moisturized
Moisturized skin not only looks plumper and smoother, but the extra hydration allows skin cells to function to their full potential. This means increased collagen production, enhanced blood flow, and slower skin aging.
Go for a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid – this has proven to be extremely effective at reducing and preventing wrinkles.
Be Aware of Your Posture
How many times a day do you look down at your phone, or any other type of screen?
Chances are, that number is too high to count. Sadly, whether you’re using your phone to catch up on social media news or you sit at a desk all day for work, those repeated downward motions cause the neck muscles to contract, leading to the appearance of lines in this area.
Try to be more mindful of your posture, keeping your head straight as much as possible.
Give Gua Sha a Try
If you’re interested in alternative healing, gua sha is an ancient Chinese therapy that many people have had success with. Gua sha involves scraping the skin on the face, neck, and body with a special tool to boost circulation and skin cell function.
Spend some time learning this beauty technique so that you don’t end up causing any unnecessary damage.
Professional Treatments for Wrinkles on the Neck
If you need some extra help, it’s always wise to turn to the professionals. The following treatments can help to tighten and smooth both the face and neck – you could even use them on your chest and body too! If any of the following interest you, speak to your dermatologist for more information.
Microneedling + Radiofrequency
Microneedling on its own is great for stimulating collagen production, but combine it with radiofrequency and you get even more noticeable skin tightening results.
Adding PRP to a Microneedling Treatment
Platelet-rich plasma is another treatment that’s used on its own to treat fine lines. However, add it to microneedling to really enhance the growth and repair processes in your skin.
Laser Treatments
There are more laser treatments to choose from now than there ever have been, but Fraxel is still one of the most popular for erasing wrinkles, not just on the neck but on the body too. Lasers also have a significant resurfacing effect, making them a good choice for patients needing a deeper transformation.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
Fillers are a great way to temporarily reduce lines on the neck. However, patients find that they work best with softer and newer fine lines, rather than deeper and more ridged wrinkles.
Botox
Botox, a treatment that makes use of the botulinum toxin, is more commonly used to treat the face, rather than the neck. This is because neck muscles are significantly larger than facial muscles, requiring more Botox to be used and therefore raising the cost of the treatment. However, if you’re able to splurge, your dermatologist will likely agree that this is a great option, both for prevention and treatment.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle factors have a huge impact on your skin.
Take smoking, for example. It destroys collagen and elastin, dehydrates the skin, and fills it with toxins – it’s no surprise that smokers will develop neck wrinkles and other skin aging signs at a much earlier age. The good news is, quitting the habit now, no matter what your age may be, will still be hugely beneficial to your skin.
A healthy diet is another must. Many often opt for collagen supplementation, but this hasn’t been proven to actually help. On the other hand, a well-balanced diet has been linked to healthy skin countless times.
FAQs
What is the best treatment for neck wrinkles?
Going down the professional route, such as with a laser treatment or neck fillers, is usually the most effective way to treat neck wrinkles.
How can I remove neck wrinkles at home?
Use products that are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, while also focusing on sun protection.
Do neck firming creams really work?
Some people find that they do, while others say that they don’t. It all depends on the content of the firming cream you’re using, so always read through and research ingredient lists.
Conclusion
With the skin on the neck being so different from the face and body, properly caring for this area can be tricky. One thing to remember is that prevention is always better than cure – even if you already have a few neck wrinkles that need to be dealt with, make sure that you’re also taking preventative steps to ensure that new lines don’t form!
