How to reduce neck lines and wrinkles

As we age, we develop wrinkles and lines on our neck as well as on our face. Neck lines and wrinkles on the chest, also known as the décolleté area, are perfectly natural and very common, but they can be a cosmetic concern for some. 

This article covers what you can do to treat neck wrinkles and what causes them in the first place. 

Many people aren’t aware that the skin on your neck is an extension of the skin on your face, though it is actually thinner. This results in people excluding their neck and décolletage when carrying out their daily facial skincare routines or applying anti-ageing products. 

The main cause of neck wrinkles is skin ageing which is determined by your hormones and genetic predisposition, and cannot be avoided. In addition to this, sun damage can result in photoageing (premature skin ageing), which may be a major contributor to the forming of neck lines.

The skin on our necks and chests is thinner than the skin on our faces and as such, requires specialised anti-ageing skincare to support its health. 

Eucerin’s Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity range is specially formulated to tackle the first signs of neck wrinkles, while rejuvenating the skin and restoring firmness and radiance to the skin. 

The range has been formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, a versatile molecule responsible for several of the human body’s functions, from keeping us hydrated to making the skin flexible. When used on the skin, it absorbs water and plumps up deep wrinkles while supporting healing.

While skincare products for the face can be applied to the neck, they may not be the most suitable solution for chest wrinkles, as different products target different skin concerns. 

Eucerin’s Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Anti-Age Body Cream targets signs of ageing on the body, helping to firm and improve skin elasticity on the chest area.

Formulated with Hyaluronic Acid to support skin hydration, it boosts collagen and elastin production in the skin. This is especially important to restore elasticity in the chest area, where the skin is delicate and prone to damage from sun exposure.

Over-exposure to the sun is the main cause of premature skin ageing. Luckily, preventing this is as easy as applying sunscreen throughout the day to the neck and chest, as well as the face. 

Eucerin’s Sun Protection range provides complete protection from UVA and UVB rays, as well as HEVIS light to defend the skin from the harmful effects of sun exposure such as sunburn and hyperpigmentation.  

To prevent and reduce photoageing, we recommend Eucerin Photoaging Control Sun Fluid. It has been formulated with Hyaluronic Acid to reduce signs of ageing, as well as Glycyrrhetinic Acid which supports the skins own DNA repair system.

When applying sunscreen to your neck, décolleté and face, we recommend using a thick line of sun fluid that stretches from the tip of your middle finger down to your wrist. Learn more in how much sunscreen to use.

Neck and chest wrinkles can occur due to several reasons. By understanding them, you will be able to find the most suitable treatment for you.

Wrinkles on the neck and chest, like most wrinkles, are caused by ageing. Younger skin contains higher levels of collagen and elastin, the proteins that give our skin its structure and ability to stretch. 

However, as we get older, hormonal changes cause our skin to become thinner and lose fat, resulting in a loss of volume.  

These hormonal changes can also cause elastosis, a loss of elasticity due to declining levels of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid produced naturally by our bodies. 

This loss of elasticity is amplified by our sebaceous glands producing less oil as we age. This oil is called sebum, and it is responsible for hydrating and protecting the skin’s surface. Generally speaking, men experience a minimal decrease in sebum production often after the age of 80, whereas the sebum production in women's skin gradually decreases after menopause.    

Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet light can also accelerate the ageing process, also known as photoageing. Without protection, UV rays and HEVIS light can penetrate outer skin layers and cause DNA changes at a cellular level that can cause neck wrinkles, as well as hyperpigmentation.

While wrinkles are mainly caused by ageing, they can also be caused by repetitive movements, for example expression lines like crow’s feet and laugh lines. 

As gaming and mobile devices become a bigger part of our lives, we spend more time looking down at them, folding the skin on our necks as we do so and creating a phenomenon known as “tech neck”. Tech neck is mainly characterised by pain in the head, neck and shoulders but it can also cause tech neck lines, which look like horizontal lines around the neck crease. 

This has caused tech neck lines to become an increasingly common concern for younger people.

While we recommend treating neck wrinkles with the skincare products above, there are other treatment options that should be carried about by licenced professionals.  

• Laser therapy: Laser therapy consists of destroying the top layer of skin while heating the layer underneath which, over time, stimulates collagen. 
• Red light therapy: Red light therapy consists of exposure to red LED light which stimulates the mitochondria in cells, resulting in increased collagen production, increased blood circulation and reduced inflammation. 
• Microneedling: Microneedling consists of tiny needles puncturing the skin to stimulate collagen production. 
• Botox and dermal fillers: Botox can be used around the neck to restrict muscle movement and prevent new lines from forming while fillers can restore lost volume. However, both these treatments are only temporary and will wear off over time.

The age individuals develop lines around the neck and chest varies from person to person, and while ageing is the main determining factor, it can be brought on by a variety of reasons like genetics and lifestyle.  

During your mid-20s, typically from the age of about 25, collagen levels found in the body reduce by around 1% each year. You may also develop wrinkles on your neck and chest area because of sagging skin or loss of elasticity as your body begins to age. 

Some people report the appearance of lines around the neck, face and chest area in their 20s through to their 30s. Whilst others develop neck wrinkles later in their 40s and 50s as the skin naturally ages.