When people refer to skincare, they often think of their faces. But they can forget about their necks, which have very thin and delicate skin. When ensuring your skin remains hydrated and rejuvenated, it’s easy to overlook your neck because you think it’s covered by your chin. In addition, if you wear scarves, turtlenecks, or sweaters often, your neck doesn’t seem exposed. However, it’s one of the areas that develops wrinkles the quickest. The neck and upper chest area, the decolletage, can get wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and redness.

Neck wrinkles are caused by:

·         smoking

·         sun exposure

·         low collagen

·         clogged pores

·         air pollution

·         genetics

·         applying perfume directly to the neck

·         poor hydration

·         text neck

Text neck happens because of the stooping position people adopt when using their phones. It can also lead to headaches, muscle tension, and stiffness.

Applying anti-wrinkle cream on your neck can help slow down the development of lines. However, you need lifestyle changes to slow down any ageing signs in your neck. For example, you can’t avoid going out in the sun, but you can apply sunscreen on your neck and decolletage.

How to reduce neck wrinkles

1.      Better posture

Repetitive motions like text neck can cause neck lines. Wrinkles always form because of aging, decreased collagen in the skin, and repeated motions. This is why most people form wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. Avoid constantly looking down to use your phone or laptop. If you are already seeing neck lines, starting to use a device that raises the sight line of your device will help the grooves not get any deeper or longer.

2.      Respect the sun

Excessive exposure to UV rays leads to wrinkles, sunburn, and an increased risk of skin cancer. You have to wear sunscreen correctly to reduce these risks. The most at-risk areas are usually the face and the hands. Black people wrongfully assume that they are at lower risk because they have melanin. However, they are still at risk of skin cancer with prolonged exposure. It’s important to apply sunscreen on the face, the tips of the ears, the neck, hands, and legs. When working in the sun, reapplying sunscreen after every three hours can also reduce neck wrinkles.

3.      Extend your face routine to your neck

Your skincare routine includes cleansing, moisturising, applying rejuvenation creams, or colour correction products. Whatever you do for your face to reduce wrinkles, you should also do for your neck. Dehydration can lead to more lines on your skin because the skin lacks elasticity.

One of the most popular anti-ageing products is retinoid cream. This is derived from vitamin A. Apply a small amount each time you have your routine. Overdoing it can lead to dryness and peeling.

Vitamin C serums can also help reduce neck wrinkles when used for at least three months. They’re often used to reduce the effects of sun damage.

4.      Neck cream

There are products with peptides specifically designed to help increase collagen production. Some peptide serums also contain multivitamins and sunscreen to perform multiple roles for the skin. It’s applied at night to help the skin reduce ageing and deal with inflammation. They include ingredients like peptides, glycolic acid, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, antioxidants, alpha lipoic acid, and sunscreen. They help with collagen production, correcting hyperpigmentation, and thickening the skin.

5.      Avoid smoking

Smoking leads to premature ageing. Smoke impacts the body’s ability to produce collagen, and nicotine narrows blood vessels, which reduces moisture in the skin. Studies show that stopping smoking reverses the damage it does to the skin.

6.      Injectables

Products like Botox can help you reduce neck wrinkles. This is an injection of botulinum toxin that makes the skin stiffen and gives it a youthful appearance. However, this product should only be used by people with wrinkles at a more advanced stage. It can last up to four months. Young people should avoid these products as they don’t prevent wrinkles; they just reduce existing lines.

7.      Devices

There are some devices designed to help the skin achieve a specific look. Neck patches are one way to help reduce neck wrinkles. They are like sheet masks that are used for the neck. It can reduce fine lines, smooth the skin, and make it look healthier. Cellulose masks contain ingredients that hydrate and rejuvenate the skin. It is also more effective when used with other skincare routines.

According to Vogue, an LED wand is one of the devices that can reduce neck wrinkles. It uses light and heat therapy to lift the skin in the face and neck. A facial massager is a two-pronged device that contains balls on the ends. It’s made of stainless steel or platinum. The facial massager improves the circulation of blood and nutrients to the skin. You should use it for at least seven minutes each day.

Remember to consult with your dermatologist before trying specific products. It’s important to know which products you need before investing too much money in products that are useless for your skin. However, neck wrinkles can grow at a naturally slow rate if you’re willing to make a few adjustments for your skin’s health.