Protect the Neck
Wrinkles are inevitable. One day, a look in the mirror exposes the skin below the chin and between the shoulders imitating an elephant’s knee. Face it, skin sags and wrinkles from aging. On the neck they seem overly invasive. Neck skin responds with redness and furrowed wrinkles after exposure from a day at the beach, where harmful UV rays cause sun damage. Smoking and lack of hydration carve deep lines across the neck too. Neck wrinkles are classified as Static; wrinkles that arrive over time due to aging and gravity. Add in harmful environmental factors and bad habits and wrinkles become difficult to fight.
Neck wrinkles, unlike Dynamic wrinkles – mouth lines and crow’s feet developed from repetitive movements – stretch across the length of the neck and are very noticeable. Damaged neck skin appears loose and crepey, and appears to be sliding towards the floor. Daily skin care regimens include washing and moisturizing. Face and body tend to get pampered with vitamin-rich lotions, whereas the skin on the neck tends to miss out on the vital hydrating moisturizing skin craves to stay healthy. Why?
It’s cruel that the neck, or platysma muscle, which stretches from the chin to both clavicles gets neglected. It’s connections stretch to the mechanisms that controls muscle movements in the eyelids, and around the mouth. The area where the platysma muscle extends towards the clavicle, protects the larynx and the jugular vein. It does a lot of work and provides protection on the inside, so why not protect the skin cells covering the platysma muscle on the outside?
Collagen
Time, age, and exposure to the environment causes collagen loss. Collagen makes up one-third of the protein found in the human body. Collagen is responsible for elasticity; the stretch and bounce and fullness in the skin. Skin elasticity degrades over time due to genetics. The loss of elasticity causes the skin to become dehydrated, sag and fill with wrinkles.
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To combat the harsh effects of the sun’s UV rays, use an SPF of 30 or higher. Consider a chemical-free SPF, like Josie Maran Argan Oil Mineral SPF 47. Cold-pressed pure Argan oil is proven to soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and make skin fuller and more hydrated. Apply every 2-3 hours when actively outdoors.
Vitamin C is known to tackle wrinkles. It’s packed full of antioxidants. It works to reverse some damage caused by sun exposure. Vitamin C fights against free-radicals – unstable atoms which come in contact with cells and become damaged from environmental factors. Add a scoop of Philosophy Turbo Booster Vitamin C Powder to a favorite neck cream or nightly moisturizer.
Cold Plasma neck treatments combine antioxidants that minimize, firm and tone. Perricone Cold Plasma Sub-D. The secret is in the name: Sub-D, or subdermal. Below the skin’s surface. Powerful science combines Alpha Lipoic Acid (water- and fat-soluble enzymes), Acyl-Glutathione (Vitamin F skin smoother), and DMAE (anti-aging wrinkle reducers). Inside the jar? A formula packed with the power strong enough to hold hydration in the skin on the neck, and work to push wrinkles up and away from the surface of the skin.
Over the counter moisturizers applied regularly are shown to reduce wrinkles and keep new wrinkles from forming. Try a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid. It provides high levels of water retention to keep cells juicy and healthy. Neck skin can’t help but be more supple and smooth.
A Touch of Technology
Photodynamic therapy – A scientifically formulated lotion is applied to the neck. Only damaged skin cells absorb the lotion. Intense pulses of laser light are evenly dispersed across the neck. The cost is $600 per treatment for 3 sessions. After the sessions, consumers notice fading brown spots and hyper-pigmentation and smoother neck skin. Other laser treatments are available, however they require more appointments and can cost twice as much.
Injectable dermal fillers – The ever-popular Botox offer affordable and insta-plump solutions. Botox injection relax a protruding or thickened platysma muscle wallpapered with crinkles and lines.
Ultherapy – uses non-invasive ultrasound technology to stimulate collagen production. This treatment lifts and tightens the neck skin, as the collagen “fills in” the wrinkles.
SiO – This trending product is the latest and greatest home “neck lift” treatment. SiO stands for Silicone and Oxygen. The concept is medical grade silicone patches. The reusable serum patches firm and tighten wrinkles. Over time wrinkles stop staking claim across the neck. Patches for forehead, eyes and mouth are also available.
Tip & Tricks
Gravity is the enemy. It tugs at the corner of the eyes and mouth. It forces bodies to hunch forward. When applying any neck cream, skin oil or SPF, apply the product to the neck at the clavicle and pull the product in an upwards motion towards the chin. Avoid working the product in circles. Don’t apply creams and moisturizers to your neck from chin to clavicle, towards your feet. This motion only supports gravity’s evil plan.
Repetitive motion is a behavior that causes wrinkles. Looking down at the phone while texting, fondly called “Tech Neck,” creates horizontal wrinkles in the skin. Bring the phone up level with the nose and the creases and lines will discontinue embedding themselves in the neck. If sunglasses are a part of combating eye wrinkles, bringing the phone eye level shouldn’t be difficult.
Stop Bad Habits
Quit smoking. The toxins in cigarettes are harsh enough to permanently turn skin, teeth and lips yellow. Nicotine reduces blood flow. Blood vessels in the skin narrow, limiting oxygen delivery. Skin blocked from receiving important vitamins and minerals and lack of blood accelerates wrinkles and dryness, aging, discoloration and promotes acne.
Much like smoking, alcohol can wreak havoc on skin texture. Alcohol is dehydrating and deprives the skin of important nutrients and vitamins. When the skin is able to absorb vitamins, the following benefits are provided:
- Vitamin A: Prevents sun damage and promotes healing
- Vitamin E: Woks with C to strengthen cell walls & fight harmful UV
- Zinc: Stables healthy cells walls to stabilize skin growth
- Vitamin C: Fights free-radicals and promotes Collagen
- Selenium: Full harmful UV protection
Looking Ahead
A smooth face and a dry wrinkled neck is not a flattering combination. Keep the skin hydrated. After that, the war against wrinkles and caring for neck skin comes with many healthy cosmetic options at varying price points.
The point is: A wrinkled neck can make for a less-youthful appearance no matter how healthy, smooth and plump, hydrated a dewy face appears. The fight against time and aging is real. Take good care of the platysma muscle. And quit with the Tech Neck. Lift up your phone.
