Protect your neck!
Why you shouldn’t leave your neck out of your skincare routine.
Ahhh the neck, a tricky area to treat and often, the desired outcome is difficult to achieve. This is why prevention is 100% better than cure in this area.
The neck has less sebaceous glands (oil producing glands) compared to the face and it is this, combined with other factors such as loss of collagen and elastin in the skin, sun exposure, weight fluctuations and the pull of the Platysma muscle (neck muscle) that can lead to the appearance of crepiness, sagging skin, and the dreaded ‘turkey neck’.
So what can be done I hear you ask? Well often a multifaceted approach is required in order to treat the ageing neck at all the levels i.e. skin and muscle. In some cases surgery will be the best option but if that isn’t for you then here are my recommendations for non-surgical treatments to help tighten the neck and improve skin elasticity.
Skincare
First of all I encourage all of my patients to treat their neck as an extension of their face (which it is) and to take their skincare all the way down the neck and even to the décolletage. This includes topical retinoids (Tretinoin, retinal, retinol) and also hydrating serums, vitamin c, moisturisers and most importantly SPF. If they are using a hydrating toner then this can also be applied but I suggest avoiding the use of acids on the neck.
Neck exercises
Something that can be done at home and for free. Neck exercises help strengthen and tighten the muscle and whilst they will build a stronger neck and jawline which can prevent further sagging, they will not remove excess or loose skin. It is recommended to do neck exercises on a daily basis to increase muscle tone and improve the overall appearance of the neck and prevent further signs of ageing.
Collagen stimulating treatments
In clinic treatments to stimulate collagen production such as micro needling, polynucleotides and Profhilo. Profhilo will also plump and hydrate the skin as it contains a high concentration of Hyaluronic Acid and Polynucleotides also have added benefits of skin rejuvenation, wrinkle reduction and anti-oxidant properties. For more severe skin laxity, energy devices may be required, like radiofrequency microneedling such as Morpheus 8.
Toxin
When assessing the neck I always assess the neck muscle. If this is strong and I can visibly see the ‘bands’ of the neck then this is likely contributing to the appearance of sagging skin. By treating this muscle with toxin we can relax the pull and tighten the appearance of the skin.
Choosing the right treatment for you
Choosing what treatment, or combination of treatments, is completely down to personal preference and what feels like the right choice for you. Sometimes surgery may give the best results but not everyone wants to go down that path and non-surgical treatments can be great starting point. They are particularly beneficial in the preventative setting. So if you are starting to notice the early signs of ageing in the neck, don’t leave it until it is too late before you seek treatment advice.
Sources:
Healthline.com- Cirino, E. (2023). Can you treat turkey neck?
