Why the neck ages faster than the face – 04/19/2023 – Equilibrium

Why does my neck seem to be aging twice as fast as the rest of my body and what can I do about it?

Neck skin tends to age faster than almost any other part of the body, says Theodora Mauro, professor of dermatology at the University of California San Francisco. She is especially vulnerable to damage. Bad posture, insufficient skin care, sun exposure and the natural weakening of neck muscles can all lead to accelerated aging.

Another issue is that the skin on the neck doesn’t heal as well as other parts of the body because it’s less durable and has fewer stem cells and other structures that help repair it, says Katie Given, San Francisco-based dermatology surgeon. Francisco, who has written about aging skin on the neck and lower face. According to her, to slow down the aging process of the neck skin “the secret is prevention, prevention, prevention”.

The neck needs to be protected from the sun.

“The sun is the enemy of the neck”, points out Mauro. Many signs of neck aging can be attributed to sun exposure. She points out that when the skin is exposed to sunlight, even just a little, ultraviolet A rays reach the dermis – the inner layer of the skin – and damage the cells responsible for the production of collagen and elastin.

These are two essential proteins to keep the structure of the skin intact, indica. Oma Agbai, clinical professor of dermatology at UC Davis Medical Center. “Collagen helps keep the skin firm. Elastin helps it bounce back to its original shape after it’s been stretched.” The dermis, which contains these proteins, “tends to be thinner in the neck than in other areas of the body, such as the face and arms.”

According to Agbai, prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to a more wrinkled appearance, not to mention skin discoloration and blemishes.

People often forget to apply sunscreen to their neck, but, according to Mauro, protecting this area is just as important as protecting the rest of the body. She recommends daily use of a moisturizing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply generously all over your neck and, if you’re outdoors, repeat the application periodically throughout the day.

Treat your neck as well as you treat your face.

For Agbai, people tend to pay a lot of attention to their face, with regular use of serums, moisturizers and more. The neck is usually forgotten. We should include this area in our daily skin care routine, applying the products up to the neck.

As we age, says Mauro, our skin loses some of its ability to retain moisture. The skin on the neck becomes dry, dull and less smooth. Therefore, recommends the dermatologist, apply moisturizer on the neck morning and night and avoid using alcohol-based products in this area, as they are likely to dry the skin even more. Many soaps contain ingredients called surfactants that also dehydrate the skin, and there are products that contain alkaline ingredients, such as sodium sebum, that disrupt the skin’s pH level and moisture barrier. If a product leaves your skin feeling and looking dry, it may be a sign that you should switch to something else.

Avoid the “tech neck”

Another contributing factor to an aged-looking neck is the so-called “tech neck” — the tendency to hunch over and look down when using a laptop or mobile device, says Agbai. In addition to causing pain and tension in the neck, this posture “crumples” the skin. If you spend hours and hours curled up this way, you’ll develop horizontal lines on your neck and under your chin, she says.

To prevent the formation or deepening of these lines on the neck, recommends Mauro, position your computer and phone so you don’t have to spend a lot of time with your neck curved. But she points out that changing your posture won’t improve lines that are already present.

In addition to adopting the good practices recommended above, it is important to avoid smoking, which can damage the skin, and to maintain good health in general, says Mauro.

For Given, if you want to repair the signs of aging in your neck, you should consult a dermatologist or other professional. Some cosmetic procedures like botox and fillers can help firm and plump the skin, giving it a more youthful appearance.

More intense procedures require more time for recovery. This is the case with laser treatments or microneedling with radiofrequency ablation (which works the skin with specific wavelengths to encourage collagen production), which can help fight skin discoloration, sagging, texture and fine wrinkles. But these treatments are expensive and more cosmetic than medically necessary, says Given. In addition, they usually need to be repeated so that the results can be maintained.

At the end of the day, she points out, an aging neck is part of the aging process, that’s all.

Translation by Clara Allain