The Truth About Premature Aging and Your Neck

Your skin is your largest organ, and it has a lot of roles to fill. It’s responsible for keeping you protected from the elements, filtering toxins from entering your body, regulating your temperature through sweating, and countless other functions as well. So it should come as no surprise that certain areas of your skin behave differently, and require unique solutions to keep it in its best possible shape. 

One area of the body that many men and women struggle with is the delicate skin of the neck. It’s also one of the areas that people tend to overlook in terms of care until they become dissatisfied with its appearance. Caring for the neck area as early, and as diligently, as you care for your face is key when it comes to preventing early signs of aging. We’ll discuss how later in this post, but first, let’s discover why the neck seems to age so much faster than the rest of your skin. 

Why your neck seems to be aging faster than the rest of you…

The features that make your neck so beautiful, like thin, delicate skin, are unfortunately the same features that make it prone to early signs of aging. Because the skin around the neck is so thin, it’s less capable of retaining moisture, which leads to dryness. It doesn’t help that it also contains fewer oil glands than other areas, which provide areas like your face and back with a natural layer of lubrication. Thin, dry skin, left untreated, tends to take on that “crepe-y” texture that so many people, especially women, start to see as early as their thirties.

Another unavoidable truth is that our skin becomes lax and develops wrinkles simply through use. Think about how many times you turn your head every day, or look up or down. Each one of these movements pulls, stretches, and creases the delicate skin under your chin, leading to fine wrinkles and sagging. Other areas of your body are under similar conditions and are where you often see the first signs of aging. These are the skin around the eyes, the backs of the hands, and for women, the décolletage.

… And what to do about it

The good news is, there are steps you can take to preserve and recapture the youthful appearance of your neck. Start by following the advice any good dermatologist will give you, by moisturizing and wearing sunscreen daily. The addition of serums and other anti-aging products to enhance your skin care routine is something you can discuss with your dermatologist as well. If topical applications aren’t delivering the results you’re looking for, there are still plenty of non-surgical options, like skin tightening and skin resurfacing.

Modern skin tightening and skin resurfacing treatments can address neck troubles in two ways. Skin tightening treatments use radio frequency energy to address areas where the skin has started to sag. This modern technology revives elastin and collagen fibers, regenerating the neck’s appearance of firmness. Skin resurfacing treatments work to reduce the look of deep wrinkles and reverse textual damage, bringing delicate skin back to its former, more youthful aesthetic. In both cases, the treatments are non-surgical and require no downtime whatsoever. There’s little to no discomfort—some people even fall asleep during the treatment—and most people return to work immediately after.

Safe solutions with visible results

Keep in mind that the neck area can also take on an unflattering appearance from causes other than aging. Weight gain and genetics play their role as well, meaning that even young people can experience that "double chin" look that comes from loose skin or stubborn subcutaneous fat that diet and exercise won’t get rid of. Take heart, because these issues can benefit from non-invasive aesthetic treatments as well. If you’re ready to see a visible improvement in the overall appearance of your neck and other delicate skin that’s showing signs of premature aging, find a certified treatment provider in your area today using our search field below.