Neck wrinkles are folds or creases that appear on or around your neck and décolleté area. While neck wrinkles are a completely normal, very common, harmless part of aging, there are ways to help minimize their appearance if you feel self-conscious. Read on to learn about what causes neck wrinkles and how to help the skin on your neck look and feel firmer.
You can also read our Fine Lines & Wrinkles article for more general information on wrinkles.
A main cause of neck wrinkles is the natural aging process, which unfortunately cannot be avoided, but there are several other factors that can contribute to neck wrinkles either showing up prematurely or being more prominent, including:
Prolonged, unprotected sun exposure
Exposure to UV rays from the sun causes skin damage that, over time, can cause signs of photoaging including dark spots, dryness, and fine lines and wrinkles.
Smoking
It’s common knowledge that smoking poses several health risks, but it has also been shown to contribute to signs of premature aging in the skin which affects its elasticity and can lead to wrinkles.
“Tech neck” and other postural contributors
When the skin is folded and creased repeatedly over time in the same spot, this can lead to more permanent wrinkles. We can notice this with smile lines and forehead wrinkles from making facial expressions. Neck wrinkles that are caused or worsened by folding the skin are sometimes referred to as “tech neck” because of the way neck skin is folded due to looking down at cell phones, tablets, and other tech devices.
Genetics
Genetics can also play a role in the prominence of wrinkles. Age and genetics are known as intrinsic factors because they’re innate and not something one can control, whereas lifestyle choices like smoking or exposure to the sun without wearing sunscreen are known as external factors.
What is the décolletage area? Also called the décolleté, you might see or hear this word often used interchangeably when speaking about the chest or neck. In French, décolletage is a beauty term that is used to describe the area below your chin from the neck to chest area, which is visible when wearing a low-cut top or dress.
The skin here is particularly thin and, like the face, is also prone to sun exposure, so it’s important to take care of the décolletage with proper skincare and sun protection in order to help prevent signs of premature aging.
The age at which neck wrinkles start to appear differs from person to person, and it can be influenced by the contributing factors noted above, but generally, neck wrinkles may start to appear as early as age 25. Wrinkles typically become more prominent after age 65 as skin progressively reduces collagen and elastin production during the natural aging process.
While neck wrinkles are a natural part of aging, they can be a source of self-consciousness for some, particularly if your neck wrinkles have been made more prominent by sun exposure or other external factors, and you may find yourself wanting to try to get rid of them. While it’s not possible to completely get rid of neck wrinkles, there are some skincare products that you can use to help address skin firmness and to help reduce their appearance over time.
Reducing neck wrinkles with Epicelline® and Eucerin’s Hyaluron-Filler range
At Eucerin, scientists have discovered how to help skin look younger, spending 15 years of research and analysing over 50,000 ingredients to create a formula with a groundbreaking ingredient. Our Age-Clock® Technology, based on epigenetic patterns of young and old skin that measures your skin’s age, led to the discovery of our revolutionary ingredient Epicelline®, which targets signs of aging.
Eucerin’s Hyaluron-Filler range is specially formulated to address fine lines and wrinkles while nourishing and moisturizing skin.
Eucerin Epicelline® Serum is a clinically-tested epicellinic anti-aging serum that targets signs of aging for firmer and younger-looking skin with visible results in 4 weeks.* Formulated with Epicelline®, Hyaluronic Acid, and Glycine Saponin, this nourishing serum leaves skin looking firmer, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and targets 10 signs of aging, for more hydrated skin with a lifted effect and enhanced contour.
*Based on a 2023 clinical study, 43 participants using twice-daily application for 4 weeks. Results may vary.
As outlined above, the skin on your neck and décolletage is frequently exposed to the sun, and with so much focus on the face, it can be a neglected area when applying skincare. When it comes to signs of skin aging, prevention is key. Here are some tips on ways to help avoid, delay, or reduce unnecessary severity of wrinkles around the décolleté and neck area:
While moisturizing your neck and décolleté should be an essential step of any skincare routine, it can’t get rid of neck wrinkles completely. Since aging skin can become more dry, you may see dehydration-related wrinkles that can be addressed with proper hydration.
Products like Eucerin’s Hyaluron-Filler day cream and night cream contain ingredients that help to not only hydrate skin but to also help to replenish skin’s natural moisture.
Exposing the neck to the sun repeatedly and for long periods of time can cause skin damage that can affect the skin’s elasticity and lead to fine lines and wrinkles, so incorporating sun protection into your daily skincare routine is essential to helping keep skin looking younger for longer.
For sunscreen that not only helps protect from the sun but can also address existing fine lines and wrinkles, try Eucerin® Age Defense SPF 50 Face Sunscreen Lotion. This moisturizing facial sunscreen has a Hyaluronic Acid-enriched formula that visibly reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles.* This daily face sunscreen features UVA/UVB sun protection plus a unique Antioxidant Complex, 5 Antioxidants Shield™, to help protect skin against environmental aggressors that weaken the skin’s moisture barrier for healthier looking skin.
*With continuous use after 1 week.
Neck wrinkles are a natural part of aging, but with Eucerin®, they don’t have to be as noticeable. Explore the full line of Eucerin® Hyaluron-Filler products to help address fine lines and wrinkles in your daily skincare routine.
The information provided herein is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it intended to treat the underlying skin disease or condition. The information is provided solely to:
