1. What causes a saggy neck?
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a. What is tech neck?
2. What can I do to prevent wrinkles?
- a. How to improve skin elasticity after menopause
3. How to firm up neck and chin skin
Unless you have a pain in it, how often do you really think about your neck? If you’re like most women, probably not often enough. As a society, many of us are committed and diligent about looking after the skin on our face with serums, moisturizers and sunscreens, but that focus usually drops off at our chin. This lack of TLC, combined with aging and the fact that the skin on the neck is drier and thinner, translates to a crepey texture, wrinkles, skin laxity and eventually turkey neck.
Fortunately, this inevitable damage is treatable in a number of ways. Discover how to help your neck be more of an extension of the youthful skin you strive for with products, treatments and techniques to firm up neck and chin skin.
1. What causes a saggy neck?
With nicknames like “turkey neck” and “double chin,” how can we love the skin below the chin? Well, the reality is that most of us don’t. Loose skin and thick banding of the platysma muscle (which runs from chin to clavicle) create the look. It’s caused by a weakening of the neck muscles, along with skin losing its elasticity—both of which are a normal part of the aging process.
While we’re born with a massive amount of collagen, our body’s natural collagen production starts to slow. After age 20, our collagen levels drop by about 1% each year. This means the underlying structure of our skin starts to break down, which leads to sagging skin and turkey neck.
Another contributor to loose neck skin is the fact that the skin on the neck is much thinner than the skin on the face. It has a different cell composition, and the skin’s dermis, the layer that contains collagen, is very thin, making it age faster than other parts of the body. It also doesn’t create natural moisturizer, or at least not much of it because it has fewer sebaceous glands.Additionally, an important factor that causes saggy neck skin is years of not applying sunscreen to this area. One of the main environmental factors that ages skin is ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. In fact, it’s estimated that 90% of premature aging signs are due to the effects of the sun!
Additionally, an important factor that causes saggy neck skin is years of not applying sunscreen to this area. One of the main environmental factors that ages skin is ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. In fact, it’s estimated that 90% of premature aging signs are due to the effects of the sun!
a. What’s tech neck?
If you’re guilty of spending hours hunched over your laptop or iPad or staring down at a smartphone, you’ve probably fallen victim to tech neck. It’s a modern contributor to turkey neck and refers to pain and loose skin that plagues your neck and chest.
Skin laxity is often seen in people in their 40s and 50s because of a combination of less collagen and gravity, which starts to take its toll as we get older. Also, skin changes during menopause, becoming dryer due to hormonal changes. However, this phenomenon of tech neck is affecting younger people—in their 20s and 30s—and giving them a fuller-looking jaw and lax neck skin because of how often they’re out of proper alignment.
2. What can I do to prevent neck sagging?
The number one thing you can do is apply sunscreen to the neck daily. Just because you have an SPF in your moisturizer doesn’t mean you can skip it. The reason? Your moisturizer will likely only protect your skin from UVB (burning rays) and not UVA (aging rays). Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30.
In addition to sunscreen and skincare, it’s all about limiting the range of motion so you don’t further stretch the skin. Try to bring your cellphone up toward your face instead of moving your neck to look down at it.
a. How to improve skin elasticity after menopause
We already know about the slowdown of collagen that contributes to loose skin after menopause, but there are other factors at play that cause a saggy neck. As we age, skin on the face loses elasticity, and fat pads between the muscle and skin become even thinner. That, combined with dryness caused by hormonal changes, can cause sagging skin, especially around the neck, jawline and cheeks.
To help tighten lax skin and improve skin elasticity after menopause, liberally apply a rich moisturizer to help improve hydration. Vichy’s Neovadiol range can offset the impact of menopause on skin, restoring comfort while increasing elasticity.
3. How to firm up neck and chin skin
You might be asking yourself: “Do neck creams really work?” and “Is neck cream necessary?” In short, yes. Contrary to popular belief, neck creams are different from your average anti-aging moisturizer. They are thicker than facial creams and have ingredients that help lift and tighten skin on the neck and chin.
Your follow-up question might be: “What is the best neck-firming cream that really works?” Like any signs of aging, the long-term goal when reversing sagging is to increase collagen production. Look for a firming neck cream that has ingredients that boost collagen production, like Vichy Neovadiol Phytosculpt. It fights sagginess and the lack of firmness with an ingredient called Tensing Phytosterol, which stimulates collagen production and improves elasticity and firmness. It’s also formulated with a densifying complex comprising ProXylane and hyaluronic acid—together, they help tone and firm the skin.
Finally, if you’re wondering how to apply neck cream properly, it’s pretty simple:
- Cleanse your skin with your favorite face cleanser
- Warm neck cream in your hands
- Press your hands on each side of your neck, working down toward your décolletage
- Finish your routine by applying a broad spectrum sunscreen of your choice
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