Your neck often gets neglected in your anti-ageing beauty regime but it ages just as fast as your face.
Here’s what you need to know about skincare for your neck and décolletage, and our favourite creams for younger-looking skin.
When the neck ages the skin loses its elasticity and collagen, it’s also very thin with very little fatty support so is one of the first areas to show UV damage.
“We have a muscle group called the Platysmal bands, which are responsible for holding the overlying skin and fat taught against the underlying neck structures. This, along with the fat that sits just below the skin – which is responsible for supporting the skin, begins to thin out and lose its ability of support,” explains Dr Alek Nikolic, an aesthetic medical practitioner and founding member of the SA Allergan Medical Aesthetics Academy.
The skin on your neck and décolletage is typically thin and ageing changes include a loss of collagen and elastin, increased vascularity (veins) and pigmentation.
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What is tech neck?
A new concern with an ageing neck is called ‘Tech Neck’. It is thought that with the constant bending forward of our necks, while we work on laptops, tablets and even using our smart phones, we excessively stress the skin and underlying support structures for extended periods of time.
“This results in faster ageing, with younger patients presenting specifically with neck folds or wrinkles. For both the neck and the décolletage typical ageing changes will cause the skin to look crepey and lax with a complete loss of elasticity,” says Nikolic.
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The best home care treatment anyone can do is to protect their skin from the damaging rays of the sun. When applying suncream on the face, don’t forget to include your neck.
When shopping for skincare products for your neck and décolletage, opt for ones that are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and ferulic acid.
Look for ingredients that stimulate cell growth like vitamin A or retinol to renew the skin to a healthier look and feel, including helping to remove pigmentation, reduce fine lines, increase hydration, and stimulate collagen and elastin production.
Neck and décolletage must-haves
We’ve rounded up 3 of the best anti-ageing products for a younger looking neck.
Clarins Extra-Firming Neck Anti-Wrinkle Rejuvenating Cream, R745
Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Face, Contours and Neck Cream, R204.95
Prevage Anti-Aging Neck and Decollete Firm & Repair Cream, R1 125
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