Ageing is a natural process that affects every part of our body, and our neck is no exception. Neck lines and wrinkles, often referred to as “turkey neck” or “necklace lines,” are common signs of ageing that many of us would like to delay or reduce. The neck is one of the most common areas I’m quizzed about by patients, so, in this blog, I’ll explore the most causes of neck lines and wrinkles, as well as effective treatments to help you maintain a smooth and youthful neck for longer.

What causes horizontal neck lines?

In general, horizontal neck lines are caused by the same conditions that cause other types of wrinkles. However, the neck is frequently overlooked in our skincare routines. Even those who are meticulously dedicated to protecting and nurturing their facial skin tend to neglect their neck.

Sun damage

Sunscreen effectively shields the skin against UV rays but only in the areas where it’s generously applied. Failing to extend your SPF efforts down your neck leads to the breakdown of collagen and elastin over time, resulting in the emergence of horizontal lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.

Thin skin

Neck skin is thin, which means it doesn’t have the healing capacity of the skin on other parts of the body and therefore, it is more likely to develop wrinkles.

Genetics

If your immediate family are prone to skin ageing or early skin ageing, you may be prone to developing horizontal neck lines at an early age.

Repetitive movement

Just as repeated facial expressions cause wrinkles on the face, repetitive motions of the neck can also cause horizontal neck lines.  This is where your devices become part of the problem. When you spend a lot of time looking down at your laptop or phone, you’re at a risk of creating those unsightly neck bands that have earned the nickname ‘Tech Neck’.

How to prevent neck lines

Preventing lines from developing on the neck involves a combination of protective measures and diligent skincare. Firstly, consistent sun protection is paramount. Daily application of sunscreen to the neck area, along with wearing protective clothing like hats and scarves, helps shield the skin from the harmful effects of UV rays. Additionally, maintaining a well-rounded skincare routine that includes dedicated neck products like the Revision Nectifirm or SkinBetter Science Techno Neck can promote skin hydration and elasticity. Lastly, adopting a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and abstaining from smoking will contribute to overall skin health and minimise the risk of premature ageing of the neck.

How to effectively treat neck lines

Ageing around the neck is notoriously hard to treat, but, with the right approach, they can be significantly improved.

Profhilo

Profhilo is an injectable skin boost that helps to stimulate collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid deep within the skin. This approach plumps the skin and diminishes fine lines and wrinkles whilst boosting the skin’s radiance and dewiness. Following your treatment, you expect improvements in skin texture, elasticity, and hydration, with the added benefit of an almost immediate tightening effect in some cases.

When treating the neck, Profhilo will improve crepiness, tech neck and often also the neck contour itself. Necks tend to need more sessions than the face for best results, so I usually recommend three sessions a month apart, but this will be discussed during your consultation.

Profound RF

Profound RF is as serious as it gets when it comes to tackling loss of firmness, jowls, or skin laxity around the cheeks without opting for surgery. Profound RF combines microneedling and radiofrequency, first penetrating the skin at a precise depth with tiny needles before treating it with bursts of energy. This causes micro-damage that stimulates the skin’s own production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid in order to lift and plump over time. This means the growth of fresh, smooth, and healthy new skin cells, making it a brilliant way to treat an ageing neck.

Botox

Using Botox to treat the neck is often referred to as the ‘Nefertiti neck lift’, which is better at softening tight bands of muscle down the neck, the ones that make the neck look stringy, rather than eliminating the horizontal ‘necklace lines’. During the treatment, small quantities of Botox are injected into muscles around the neck and jaw. Releasing the ‘pull’ of these muscles enables the skin tissues to move back into a more flattering shape around the jaw.

If you’d like to learn more about the various options, click here to enquire or to book a consultation.