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If my screen time is high, it’s because I was on Pinterest. It’s social media without the toxicity, plus it’s always ahead of the trends. Unlike TikTok Shop or Instagram ads, this is where I find products that inspire me. A necklace I get the most compliments on (inspired by #TomatoGirl summer). My ruffled pillowcases (#coquettecore). And, most recently, a red light mask just for my neck. Only Pinterest could make red light therapy contraptions seem chic. Already in love with my face mask, I recently decided to take the plunge and use one to address my neck wrinkles.
The first question you should ask isn’t how to treat neck wrinkles—it’s why. The neck and décolletage are among the first parts of your body to show signs of aging. (The hands, too, thank goodness for anti-aging hand cream). To understand why, I spoke to Dr. Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce to get her insights on what causes neck wrinkles and how to address them.
Featured image from our interview with Babba Rivera by Belathée Photography.
Why do we get neck wrinkles?
“You can thank your genes for some of your neck wrinkles,” says Dr. Geddes-Bruce. Looking back at my own photos, I can say for sure that’s the case. However, neck wrinkles can also appear over time. They’re also not the only sign of premature aging that can appear on your neck and décolletage. From sunspots to redness and texture change, Dr. Geddes-Bruce dives into why our skin changes and how to address it.
Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, MD
Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon specializing in the practice of both cosmetic and medical dermatology. She views cosmetic dermatology as synergistic to a happy, healthy lifestyle and regularly counsels her patients in a balanced, natural approach to both cosmetic and medical dermatology.
What a Dermatologist Wants You to Know about Neck Wrinkles
“The skin on our neck and décolletage is particularly delicate,” says Dr. Geddes-Bruce. “The tissue is thinner, and there are fewer follicles with stem cells to trigger healing after irritation or injury. In some ways, it is closer to our face than the body, but still very different.”
As with many topics of conversation in the beauty space, neck wrinkles aren’t without their myths. Plenty is said about the causes and how to treat them—both topically and through lifestyle changes.
“The most common misconception I hear about neck wrinkles are that they are related to your overall hydration status,” says Dr. Geddes. “You can’t drink away your neck wrinkles, and, unfortunately, you can’t moisturize them away either.”
What actually causes neck wrinkles?
According to Dr. Geddes-Bruce, neck wrinkles “depend on genetics and environmental exposures. A smoker might develop them in their late 20s while someone who takes great care protecting their skin might not notice them until their 40s.”
Other common causes of neck wrinkles include:
- Gravity (proof that aging is an inevitably for everyone)
- Sun exposure
- Pollution
- Photo radiation
- Smoking
- Neglected skincare routine
- Repetitive motion
When it comes to repetitive motion, there’s a lot of talk about tech neck. Can looking down at your phone so often cause neck wrinkles? Dr. Geddes says it’s possible but hasn’t been studied. “We can look at the positioning of face and neck wrinkles and see if one side is favored during sleep. So it stands to reason that repetitively looking down at our devices could contribute to deepening our neck wrinkles. However, things like photo radiation have a much larger effect.” So investing in blue light spray might be worth it.
How to Treat Neck Wrinkles
Preventative botox has been the rage for a while—from your face to your pits. But recently, Trap Tox (aka Barbie Botox) has taken over. Here’s the idea: by injecting the trapezius area, you can release muscle tension and elongate the neck. But can it smooth out neck wrinkles in the process?
Some experience a reduction of neck lines, but it’s not guaranteed. Trap Tox mostly addresses the girth and muscle of the shoulders. “Trap tox is mostly recommended to relieve the tension of that musculature and can if high enough doses are used, contribute to an elongated neck, but also won’t change neck wrinkles,” says Dr. Geddes. There can be other aesthetic benefits, such as defining the jaw and even the arms, but neck wrinkles are not guaranteed to disappear with this procedure.
Dr. Geddes-Bruce recommends filler to address neck wrinkles, depending on the type. “A deep horizontal line can respond nicely to a tiny bit of hyperblended filler, while crepey texture improves more with laser resurfacing.” Red light therapy can be a good substitute for laser therapy if you don’t want to go in-office.
How to Prevent Neck Wrinkles
So much of the work preventing neck wrinkles is just about consistent, effective skincare. According to Dr. Geddes-Bruce, the golden ingredients are peptides and retinoids. “They’re great long term for improving our skin’s composition and appearance as they help optimize our collagen and elastic fibers.”
You’re probably already using these ingredients in your skincare routine, so be sure to take the product down to the neck. This is the one tip that you might be overlooking that could make all the difference.
“When you are applying your topical products, including sunscreen, carry it down from your face to your neck and chest,” says Dr. Geddes-Bruce. “That small habit will make a noticeable difference over time.”
