One of the biggest mistakes many of us make in our skincare routines is stopping skincare at the chin and jawline. Your neck, which has some of the thinnest skin on your body, deserves and needs TLC, too. And if your skincare goals include anti-aging efforts to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, eliminate dark spots, and boost hydration, it’s important to pay closer attention to how you are treating your neck.
“The neck area can quickly show signs of aging—faster than the face,” says Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, Double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon and Founder and Lead Facial Plastic Surgeon of DeRosa Center Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in Boston and Palm Beach. “This is due to the skin on the neck being very thin and having less density of oil glands, so it’s impacted by environmental damage more strongly, which is common since we often forget sunscreen on the neck. Optimizing moisture and hydration to the neck skin is also important, as dry skin shrivels up skin cells, which can translate to seeing more fine lines and wrinkles. Treat your neck as an extension of your face, extending your routine down.”
With that said, Dr. DeRosa warns that not all face products should be used on the neck. “It depends on what exact face product is intended to do,” Dr. DeRosa says. “Face products that are made to improve the elasticity and collagen in the skin are typically OK to use on the neck, but be careful using anti-acne products and retinols, as you’ll need a lot less of these products for the thin neck skin as compared to the face. Here are his top picks for serums that are the best remedies for sagging neck skin.”
Alphascience Surface CR ($105)
Dr. DeRosa describes Alphascience Surface CR as an anti-aging, paraben-free cream that can be used on the face and neck and is ideal for those who have early signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, and loss of firmness.
“Great for all skin types, Surface [CR] is formulated with hyaluronic acid, L-Glutamine, Genistein, and a patented tripeptide,” Dr. DeRosa says.
Diving deeper into these ingredients and what they do to help the skin on your neck. Dr. DeRosa adds:
“L-Glutamine helps to boost collagen production and also block glycation, which occurs when glucose molecules bind to the collagen within the skin, causing the skin to lose its softness and flexibility. Genistein is an isoflavone and a rich antioxidant that helps to increase the production of collagen and decrease collagen breakdown by blocking metalloproteases MP1 and MP3. This anti-aging cream is an excellent neck cream that can help increase skin firmness, decrease wrinkles and even skin tone. Moreover, it goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly.”
Alphascience Ultra Deep ($120)
Another anti-aging cream by the Alphascience brand that Dr. DeRosa recommends, this pick is described as “a fantastic answer to those whose neck skin is already showing moderate to severe aging and sagging, as well as thinning skin seen with photoaging and collagen/elastin loss.”
If you struggle with visible small blood vessels and broken capillaries, Dr. DeRosa adds that this formula can be helpful. “Alphascience Ultra Deep cream is an effective deep restructuring cream for those with normal to dry skin and can be used morning and night on the face, neck, and décolleté,” Dr. DeRosa says. Taking a look at its active ingredients, one can see why this is such a powerful cream to battle the aging neck. Saponaria Stem Cells work to activate dermal stem cells which help to increase the skin density and firmness. Lupine Protein works to increase collagen synthesis, which also then improves skin thickness and firmness. Genistein is an isoflavone and a rich antioxidant that helps to increase the production of collagen and decrease collagen breakdown by blocking metalloproteases MP1 and MP3. Aescin (also known as escin) comes from the seeds of the horse chestnut tree and has been shown to strengthen capillaries and improve microcirculation and oxygenation within the skin.”
What procedures can help?
Serums can help improve the texture of your skin, including the skin on your neck. But there are limitations to how much a skincare product can do to boost collagen and tighten sagging skin. If you’re looking at all of your options. Nigar N. Ahmedli, MD, Director, Division of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center, says these two procedures are her favorites to improve a sagging neck and help create a firmer, more lifted silhouette.
Ultherapy
Ultherapy is a non-invasive procedure that involves the use of ultrasound to stimulate collagen production, Dr. Ahmedli explains. “Ultrasound is used to heat up the collagen within the deep layers of the skin and the muscle underneath, leading to the production of new collagen as a repair mechanism,” Dr. Ahmedli says. “This leads to a smoother skin texture and tighter skin, giving a more lifted look.”
Ultherapy is typically performed every 12 months and is ideal for younger patients with some skin sagginess. “Once a patient develops significant skin laxity, typically by age 50, surgical options should be considered to produce a more substantial result,” she adds. “Every patient’s skin is different, so a thorough discussion with your physician is always recommended. Slight redness occurs following the treatment with little downtime. It is well tolerated and results last up to a year. There is a subtle, but noticeable lift in the skin, which is hard to achieve with a non-invasive procedure.”
Radiofrequency Microneedling
Radiofrequency microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure that uses fine needles and radiofrequency waves to promote collagen production, according to Dr. Ahmedli. “Tiny needles are used to create micro-wounds, or channels, in the skin. Then, heat, in the form of radiofrequency waves, is introduced into these channels,” she explains. “This leads to formation of new collagen and elastin, and improvement in skin texture.”
A great thing about radiofrequency microneedling is that it can be used together with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to maximize results by introducing nutrients (growth factors) into the micro-wounds. “This treatment requires multiple sessions performed several weeks apart,” Dr. Ahmedli says. “Mild redness and discomfort occur for a few days after treatment. The skin becomes smoother and more supple with this treatment across all ages, which is no easy task, especially without the use of chemical peels and lasers.”
If skin laxity on your neck is troubling you, you don’t have to sit by and feel powerless. Investing in a quality serum is a great start, and making an appointment with your dermatologist can provide the insight you’re looking for into procedures that may be great choices for you.
