Can I Reverse the Signs of Aging on My Neck? – Essence

Contrary to popular belief, the face ends at the chest. In other words, remember to take care of your neck as you’d a canvas. More than supporting your head (the average adult head weighs as much as 11 kilos), “the neck makes it easier to move, breathe, chew and laugh, which over time affects the quality of the skin,” says the beautician, creator and founder Black Leather Catalog Dia Ayodele says ESSENCE. “Repetitive movements will eventually lead to a loss of tone, and the skin will have more fine lines and wrinkles.”

In this text, Ayodele explains the best way to reverse the signs of aging on your neck and shares the best neck care routine to assist you to take care of your skin.

Do the neck and décolleté age faster?

While the beauty industry is all about anti-aging, the neck and décolleté are sometimes missed. “So many people forget that the neck is an extension of their face,” says Ayodele, relegating it to a secondary role in targeted skincare routines—a giant mistake. Wrinkles appear faster on the neck than on the face. “The skin on the neck is naturally thinner and has less collagen, elastin, and sebaceous glands,” she says. “This degradation can happen quite quickly—faster than on the face.”

Early signs of aging in the neck

“Early signs of neck aging are related to weakening of the neck muscles over time, which causes vertical and horizontal lines to appear more prominent and deeper,” she says. “They can also be darker than the surrounding skin.” “Muscle loss also means changes in skin texture, the development of jowls (sometimes unkindly called ‘turkey neck’) and less jawline definition,” she continues.

While some may experience neck aging of their 20s, others may not notice it until they’re 40. Luckily, “Black skin is protected by melanin, so it can sometimes mask any skin damage on the neck,” she says.

Can the signs of aging in the neck be reversed?

Although neck wrinkles are a traditional part of the aging process, and are influenced by aspects like genetics, skin quality, and environment, prevention is far easier than reversing them. “While you can’t naturally reverse neck wrinkles, there are things you can do to prevent them or soften their appearance,” she says. From a neck care routine to skilled rejuvenation treatments (try microneedling, laser, microcurrent, and radiofrequency), using proven collagen-stimulating methods can tighten your skin.

“Injectable skin enhancers like Profilo and Polynucleotides improve skin quality; fillers restore volume; and wrinkle-relieving injections like Botox temporarily smooth out and reduce the appearance of sagging skin,” she says. “The key to maintaining the results of in-office treatments is to keep them coming back, because once is never enough to achieve lasting results.”

What should neck care consist of?

“You should always extend your facial skincare routine from your hairline to your upper chest,” she says. Hydration is vital to neck carewhich suggests using ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane is a must. This, in addition to antioxidants like vitamin C, help prevent environmental damage from pollution and UV rays.

While sunscreen is an ingredient it’s best to always remember in your routine, you is likely to be surprised to learn that perfume is a giant no-no. “I know it’s an ingrained habit, but perfume should also be avoided on your neck,” says Ayodele. “Alcohols and essential oils can irritate and result in visible discoloration, in addition to weaken the integrity of the skin [which means] folds.”

Are neck firming and massage techniques helpful?

“Some people swear by facial yoga to help keep the muscles firm and toned, which in turn improves the appearance of the skin,” she says. “In places like Japan, brands like Shiseido use a lot of massage techniques that are designed to firm and tighten the skin.” With recent tools on the market like Sculpt 02 Body Sculpting Tool by Isamaya Ffrench AND NuFace Toning DeviceYou can incorporate firming and tightening techniques into your skincare routine on your face, neck and body.

What must you avoid when caring on your neck?

“People tend to unconsciously treat their necks, pulling and tugging, sometimes scrubbing with a loofah,” she says. “The skin needs exfoliation, but you can use gentle acids like lactic acid to do that.” She recommends using a retinoid along side sunscreen to take care of skin quality, or a peptide-wealthy cream like Lancome Renergie HPN 300 Peptide Cream, SkinCeuticals Tripeptide-R Neck Repair CreamAND Olay Collagen Peptide Max Moisturizing Cream.