while there are many changes that occur in the face as we age, one of the most bothersome to many patients and one of the first areas to show signs of ageing is the changes that occur in the neck.
even so, women often place such focus on treating the skin on their face that they neglect this prominent region, leading to mismatched skin appearance. sun damage, together with prolonged perfume, application is the most profound factor in development of ageing of the neck. signs of an ageing neck are: horizontal wrinkles, actinic bronzing (permanently bronzed skin), reddened skin (poikiloderma),
age spots, and the development of vertical neck bands, loose sagging skin, loss of a good sharp neck angle and the development of a double chin or turkey neck . fine textural lines scattered over the surface are partly due to the loss of collagen's integrity. finally, there is laxity from the loss of elastic fibers.
in the male, the ageing neck poses some different issues. they often have more skin excess and the
facelift incisions that are used in females have to be altered to account for the male beard pattern. in addition, males have a much greater tendency towards some relapse after
facelift surgery due to their thicker and heavier skin
how do i fix my décolleté?
the area of skin on the décolleté (the upper torso of a woman) and neck isn't normally a focus for regular, ongoing
skincare treatment until someone points out a condition. usually, problems appear in the form of hyper
pigmentation, age-related lines/wrinkles and sagging skin. the skin on the décolleté and neck is much thinner than other areas, which causes it to age more quickly. it's also an area that tends to get neglected or overlooked, when it comes to consistent sun-protection application even though these areas are highly exposed.
sun damage radically advances the aging process in skin by breaking down collagen, a substance that keeps the skin firm. when
collagen synthesis breaks down, skin loses elasticity, causing it to wrinkle. the aging process can also slow down
collagen production and
elastin fibers, so skin becomes weaker and less resilient. over time, this will create a condition commonly called "turkey neck.” turkey neck is actually a sagging piece of skin under the neck that can sometimes resemble a turkey's wattle. because the skin on the neck and chest are very thin, it can be the first area on the body to show age lines and wrinkles.
other issues that can arise on the neck and surrounding areas from sun damage are
age spots or age patches, also known as hyper
pigmentation. these skin discolorations are the result of uv damage from the sun. a lack of consistent and thorough protection of delicate skin tissue with a broad-spectrum uva and uvb
sunscreen is the main cause of hyper
pigmentation. with this condition, the melanin (skin color) rises to the surface of the epidermis when skin has been overly exposed to the sun. this causes patches and/or spot discolorations. hyper
pigmentation of the neck area can also occur following skin injury through acne lesions, psoriasis, burns, friction and/or hormonal changes.
typical
skincare regimens for
anti-aging and hyper
pigmentation are primarily developed and targeted for the face. through the latest advancements in
skincare, there are now regimens combining products specifically formulated for the neck and décolleté. beneficial ingredients such as peptides, growth factors and stem cells can rejuvenate the skin on the neck and décolleté, firming and tightening the skin, as it encourages
collagen synthesis. treatments with ingredients that help to lighten skin discolorations can also restore suppleness and encourage a more youthful-looking complexion to the neck and décolleté.