So THAT'S Why The Skin On Your Neck Ages Faster Than Your Face
Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered why the skin on your neck is beginning to sag while the skin on your face looks plump, smooth and firm? Well, there is a pretty straightforward reason for this. The skin on your neck is different from the skin on your face, and the two change at different rates as you get older.
Change is inevitable as you age, especially when it comes to the appearance of your skin. Usually, you’ll be able to see signs of aging on your neck and face first, and while your smile lines and 11 lines are signs of lots of laughs and happy moments, the distinctive change isn’t always a welcomed sight.
So, why does the skin on your neck seem to age faster than your face? We spoke with experts to understand the difference between the skin on your neck and face, what causes skin to sag, and potential treatment options.
The skin on your neck is thinner than the skin on your face.
The skin on your neck is thinner than the skin on your face, which is why you may experience a loss of elasticity on your neck. Your neck “has a different vascular and neural distribution and it is generally less protected than the face,” explained Dr. Doris Day, board-certified dermatologist.
The skin on your neck also “has fewer oil glands and less support from underlying muscles, which can contribute to quicker sagging,” said Dr. Ramtin Kassir, triple board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. “Additionally, the neck is often more exposed to the sun and environmental damage, accelerating aging and loss of elasticity.”
Because of sun exposure, not applying enough sunscreen, and repetitive motion and bending of your neck, it’s common for people in their mid to later 30s to begin noticing sagging on their neck. “Which is why I tell all my younger patients that nothing looks more beautiful in your 50s than sun protection in your 20s,” Day added.
Neck sagging can start to show up as early as your late 20s to early 30s, though our experts say it’s more commonly noticed in your 40s and 50s. “This happens as part of the natural aging process, which leads to a decrease in collagen and elastin production over time,” dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick said. “As these proteins diminish, the skin loses its firmness and elasticity, which results in sagging.”
What is elasticity?
“Elasticity refers to the skin’s ability to stretch and then return to its original shape,” Kassir explained.
The quality of your skin’s elasticity is largely attributed to proteins like collagen and elastin, which are found in the dermis, just below the surface of the skin.
“Over time, several factors can cause a loss of elasticity, including aging, too much sun exposure, smoking, poor diet and dehydration,” Garshick said. “As we get older, the body produces less collagen and elastin, and these proteins can also be damaged by environmental factors, leading to skin that doesn’t snap back as it once did.”
Can you prevent a loss of elasticity?
It’s no secret that there are a ton of beauty products on the market that cater to tightening skin and preventing sagging. While creams, lotions and serums can help slow down the loss of elasticity in the skin, “their effectiveness depends on ingredients and how consistently someone is using them,” said Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon.
If someone would like to prevent the skin on their neck from sagging, there are several lifestyle habits, skin care products and treatments available. “It is important to regularly apply sunscreen to protect against sun damage, prioritize hydration, and use products with ingredients like retinoids, peptides and hyaluronic acid,” Engelman said.
While these products can’t entirely stop the loss of elasticity, “they can certainly help your skin by preventing the loss of collagen and elastin and improving its overall appearance,” Garshick said. “Ingredients like retinoids, peptides, hyaluronic acid and antioxidants are known to support collagen production and hydration, which can enhance elasticity and give your skin a more youthful look.”
It’s important to note that the benefits are usually subtle and can’t compare to what more advanced treatments or in-office procedures might achieve.
Treatment options to reverse a loss of elasticity after it’s already occurred.
If you’re interested in attempting to diminish the sagging of the skin on your neck and increase the elasticity in your skin, Garshick says there are a few options you could consider.
Laser treatments: Lasers, such as fractional CO2, can stimulate collagen production, tightening the skin and improving its elasticity.
Topical treatments: Regular use of skin care products containing ingredients like retinoids, peptides and hyaluronic acid can help improve the appearance of sagging skin over time.
Invasive procedures: For more pronounced sagging, surgical options like a neck lift might be considered. There are also nonsurgical alternatives, like radiofrequency treatments or ultrasound therapy, that can effectively tighten and lift the skin.
“Laser treatments are one of the top methods for improving skin elasticity and combating sagging. Lasers like fractional CO2 are particularly effective,” Garshick said. “They work by creating tiny injuries in the skin, which prompts the body to repair itself by producing more collagen and elastin. This process typically requires several treatment sessions, and while there might be some downtime, the results improve gradually over a few months as your skin naturally rebuilds itself and collagen is produced.”
She also recommends making a few lifestyle changes to help maintain the elasticity in your skin to prevent further sagging.
Sun protection: Applying sunscreen regularly can protect the skin from ultraviolet damage, which accelerates aging.
Hydration: Keeping the skin moisturized and staying well-hydrated by drinking water can help maintain skin elasticity.
Healthy lifestyle: Eating a balanced diet full of vitamins and antioxidants, avoiding smoking, and limiting alcohol can all contribute to healthier skin.
Exercise: Performing neck and facial exercises can help tone the muscles in the area, which may support the skin.
There’s nothing wrong with sagging skin and naturally losing elasticity on your neck’s skin. However, there’s also nothing wrong with wanting to tighten your skin and replenish its elasticity. While there are a handful of products and treatments available, from topical to invasive, it’s important to discuss these options, as well as any risks or side effects, with your health care provider.
Try these dermatologist-recommended products below.
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Amazon
A popular skin barrier-strengthening cream
Board-certified and Texas-based dermatologist Dr. Seemal R. Desai at Innovative Dermatology previously spoke to HuffPost specifically about crepey skin and suggested the ever-favorite CeraVe moisturizing cream as a good hydrator for this particular skin concern.
"I recommend moisturizing with thick emollients, which helps to replace the ceramides and lipid concentration in the skin, which can help with overall skin hydration," Desai said. "I really like the CeraVe moisturizing brand line, and I recommend the creams over lotions. One of my favorite moisturizers in the entire world, and one I recommend to patients every day, is the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. It’s a rich, non-greasy and fast-absorbing cream that releases a steady stream of moisturizing ingredients, including essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid. It’s also fragrance-free, so it’s great for even the most sensitive skin types.”
Dermstore
A neck cream with a blend of five peptides
Dr. Elaine F. Kung, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Future Bright Dermatology in New York, suggested the Nectifirm firming neck treatment (containing the famed antioxidants C and E) by Revision Skincare, a brand whose product offerings have been suggested to us before.
The formula features plant extracts and five different peptides which Kung explained are amino acids used as the building blocks for collagen production in the skin. The result is skin that appears more lifted, feels firmer and more resilient.
Amazon
A highly rated retinol cream
"Retinol has been scientifically proven to thicken both the epidermis and the dermis," Kung said. "It also stimulates the production of collagen and elastin within the dermis." In order to find a suitable retinol-containing product we turned to a previous suggestion from Dr. Y. Claire Chang, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology.
This rapid wrinkle repair cream by Neutrogena uses an accelerated retinol complex to promote cellular turnover. It also contains a hydrating dose of hyaluronic acid, an ingredient suggested by Kung, and can be suitable in treating crepey skin.
Note that if you're new to retinols, they do have the potential to cause mild flaking and irritation in the first couple weeks of use. They can also cause skin to be more sensitive to the sun, so it's important to wear sunscreen.
Amazon
A collagen-boosting serum
Speaking of collagen and its essential role in skin elasticity, Kung also recommended this supercharged collagen-boosting serum formulated to make complexions dewy and plump so lines look less obvious and skin feels less dry. It uses a brand-exclusive 10% peptide complex as well as soothing aloe, collagen and hyaluronic acid, an tried-and-true humectant that helps to draw moisture into the skin to keep it hydrated.
Dermstore
A peptide and retinol neck complex
Dr. Navin Arora, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Borealis Dermatology in New York, as well as Kung, suggested this neck-specific formula by SkinCeuticals, a clinical skin care brand that frequently comes with dermatologist's stamp of approval for their effective formulas.
"[It's] an amazing combination of retinol and peptides that is specifically formulated to tighten delicate neck skin," Arora said of this daily cream that contains a 0.2% concentration of slow-release retinol, a time-honored ingredient that accelerates the skin's cellular turnover rate, promoting collagen production. Hydrating seed oils are supplemented with a 5% glaucine complex, a plant-derived ingredient that can support skin's natural resistance to premature aging.
Skinbetter Science
A cream that targets three main neck skin concerns
According to Arora, the Techno Neck Perfecting Cream by Skinbetter Science is popular product that improves crepiness, dryness, sagging, laxity and texture in the skin of the neck and décolleté. "A key ingredient is heptapeptide-7, a targeted peptide that supports the skin's collagen network," he said.
The formula contains a smart combination of hydroxy acids and a uniquely formulated form of vitamin A that's similar to retinol, but won't cause excess irritation. You can also expect a whole host of ingredients that can improve the look and feel of skin from niacinamide, a faithful brightener, squalane, an emollient to help skin retain moisture and a targeted peptide to plump fine lines.
Alastin Skincare
An elastin- and collagen-promoting neck complex
Recommended by Kung, Alastin's Restorative Neck Complex claims to be a "next-generation skin tightener" that's specifically designed to address crepey skin on the neck and chest while also fighting redness and discoloration.
The product's power lies in a blend of active peptides that work to support the production of collagen and elastin. There's also the addition of phytoene and phytofluene, two powerful antioxidants that protect the skin from collagen-depleting stressors.
Sephora
A brightening and firming vitamin C serum
"Vitamin C is a cofactor in collagen synthesis. Its antioxidant properties help protect skin cells from sun and environmental damage," Kung said, of this well-studied ingredient that can do everything from evening skin tone to addressing dullness and fine lines.
Though Kung didn't recommend a specific vitamin C-containing product, New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Brendan Camp previously suggested this 15%-concentrated serum by Dr. Dennis Gross.
It also features lactic acid, a chemical exfoliant that can help address irregular skin texture and increase product absorption thereby enhancing antioxidant potential.
Dermstore
A derm-trusted tinted sunscreen
Both Kung and Arora stressed the importance of prevention when it comes to managing crepey skin, specifically when it comes to the damaging potential of the sun.
"Use sunscreen with zinc and titanium oxide," Kung said. "UV exposure breaks down collagen and elastin in skin that help it stay tight and firm. Once these fibers break down, the skin can loosen, thin and wrinkle."
Camp (along with several other dermatologists in the past) previously suggested this sunscreen from Elta MD, which according to him, can also shield skin from visible UV rays in overhead lighting because of its tinted formula.
The zinc oxide- and octinoxate-based formula features SPF 46 along with high-purity niacinamide, a well-known anti-inflammatory that reduces redness and helps to restore damaged skin.
Amazon
A UPF 50+ -infused neck scarf
While on the topic of sun protection for your neck, Camp previously said that you should consider wearing a scarf or neck gaiter made of lightweight UPF fabric. "Ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) fabrics provide protection by blocking the sun’s rays. Sun scarves and neck gaiters can complement an SPF moisturizer," he said.
Based on his suggestion, we found this gender-neutral bandana made from a soft and cool UPF fabric blocks 98% of the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays. It comes in four colors like black, apricot and white.
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