How is Your Neck Affected by Aging?
“How can I restore my neck skin?” Our Philadelphia area team does hear this question, but not as often as you may think.
Since skin care efforts are often focused on the face, the neck tends to be forgotten—even though it has delicate skin prone to showing signs of aging. People who focus their attention on changes that occur on the face—like wrinkles—but neglect this other dominant feature may actually end up calling attention to the results of their treatments because of the contrast between the face and neck.
Before you know it, the neck can develop loose skin, muscle banding, and a double chin. The neck skin is thinner than the skin on our face and body, but it’s subjected to the same stresses from the environment. Over time, it also loses collagen just like rest of the skin, causing it to become even thinner. Aging also results in a loss of support from connective tissues and muscle, resulting in a “turkey neck” appearance under the chin.
Considering all of these changes, sagging skin on your neck is one of the telltale signs that can give your age away. Dr. Kevin Cross recommends a surgical neck lift as a reliable and highly effective strategy for creating more youthful neck contours. In addition to neck lifts, which provide the most dramatic and long-lasting results, there are some in-office and at-home strategies for taking better care of your neck.
Use Retinoids on the Skin
Retinoids are products that are derivatives of vitamin A. These are powerful anti-aging ingredients that are beneficial for the neck, just as they are for the face. They correct sun damage and soften fine lines and wrinkles on the neck, while also making the overall skin texture and tone more even. They work by promoting an increase in collagen and speeding up skin cell turnover.
Sun Protection
Sun damage is one of the leading causes of aging of the neck. Remember to apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to your neck every day.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Depending on what your specific concerns are, non-surgical cosmetic treatments can also be helpful. Intense pulsed light (IPL) clears up dark spots. Laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, and Ultherapy® are other examples of in-office treatments that can tighten the skin and reduce wrinkles or uneven pigmentation. Ultherapy®, for example, uses ultrasound energy to prompt collagen generation that improves the skin’s structure and lifts sagging tissue. Remember, however, that surgical results are the most comprehensive and longest-lasting.
Our team at Cross Medical Group can explain everything you need to know about addressing age-related changes to the neck. Call us at (215) 561-9100 or submit a contact form to request a consultation.
