Why does my neck look so old?
Necks are just different. The skin here is thinner than on your face, which means that it collapses more easily into wrinkles and folds, particularly given the way we twist and turn and stretch and compress our necks the whole time. Then there’s the fact that there are precious few oil glands in neck skin to keep the skin supple. It all gets much worse for women when we hit the menopause and, thanks to the reduction in oestrogen, the skin gets drier and loses elasticity.
Is my phone making my neck look old?
Hmm, possibly. First, there’s the way that we spend so much time with our heads bent forward looking at our devices, which presses the wrinkles in the neck more firmly into place. (This can also cause upper-back problems and a hunched posture.) It’s what some people call ‘tech neck’. Next, there is the fact that devices such as phones, TVs and computer monitors give out blue light, also called high energy visible (HEV) light, which has the potential to age the skin in a similar way to UV light.
What are the surgical options for neck wrinkles?
You could always have a neck lift, which will tighten the skin and will help to redefine the jawline as well as reducing the crepey look of older, loose skin.
Can toxins help with neck wrinkles and sagging?
Yes, toxins can also help with the appearance of neck wrinkles and can help to redefine the jawline, too. Some practitioners call this procedure the ‘Nefertiti neck lift’, which is described below.
Does the Nefertiti neck lift help with neck wrinkles?
Yes, the Nefertiti neck lift – named after the Egyptian queen famous for her sculpted jawline and beautiful neck – can improve the appearance of neck wrinkles, though it depends what sort of neck wrinkles you have. The procedure is better at softening tight bands of muscle down the neck, the ones that make the neck look stringy, rather than softening the horizontal ‘necklace lines’.
How the Nefertiti neck lift works is that the practitioner injects small quantities of toxins or other wrinkle-relaxing toxin into muscles around the neck and jaw. Releasing the ‘pull’ of these muscles enables the skin tissues to move back into a more flattering shape around the jaw.
What’s the best treatment for a crepey neck?
The best tweakment I have tried for a crepey neck is an ‘injectable moisture’ treatment called Profhilo, which places a lightweight hyaluronic acid gel into the skin. The gel spreads to cover the treated area and because it is lightly ‘crosslinked’ it remains in the skin for 30 days. During this time the gel hydrates the skin by holding water inside the skin tissues and stimulates the growth of new collagen and elastin. You need two treatments, 30 days apart, in order to see results, which kick in about 8 weeks after the first treatment. The results you can hope to see include stronger, firmer skin which is more resilient and which springs back into place more swiftly when you pinch it. And if you are lucky you will see a certain amount of skin tightening, too. All these elements help reduce the crepey appearance of ageing skin on the neck.
What are the best home remedies for neck wrinkles?
I wouldn’t advise any particular home remedies for neck wrinkles but I’d suggest you get going with a decent skincare regime that includes active skincare products that are able to make an improvement in the skin (see below for the types of products to use). You could also consider trying home-use beauty devices to improve the quality of the skin on your neck.
Can any home-use beauty devices get rid of neck wrinkles?
Nothing is going to get rid of those wrinkles completely, but yes, some home-use beauty devices are able to improve the appearance of neck wrinkles. The only secret to getting the best results from these home beauty devices is to use them as frequently as recommended. They offer lower-powered versions of the technology that you find in clinics, so repeated use is the key to success.
- The Tripollar Stop uses radiofrequency energy to stimulate the growth of new collagen in the skin. This will strengthen and tighten the skin, and soften the appearance of wrinkles.
- The Current Body Skin LED mask uses red and infrared light to regenerate the skin. Studies have shown that it can improve skin hydration and firmness and reduce wrinkles measurably. Because it is a flexible sheet of a mask, it is easy to drape it over the neck and will give results if used as directed.
Will edible collagen supplements help my neck wrinkles?
It is well worth trying one of the collagen supplements that has decent data to show that it can improve the firmness and elasticity of the skin from the inside out. There’s a whole factsheet on collagen supplements here.
What are the best exercises for neck wrinkles?
There are exercises that you can do for the neck but they will help more with the neck muscles than with the quality of the skin that lies above them. Here is one that will tone the band of muscle that runs from your jaw down the front and sides of your neck:
- Wrap your lower teeth over your upper lip and push your lower lip forward
- Press your tongue against the back of your teeth and hold for a count of five. Repeat five times.
- Do this four times a week.