Neck Skin Care

I can't say it enough: In the vast majority of cases, it's the neck - not the face - that gives away a person's age. And the reason isn't that the neck is naturally more prone to aging, but simply that many people forget to take care of it. So let's consider a few key do's and don'ts for treating your neck right:

Do prevent future damage with one simple ingredient: sunscreen. The way your neck ages is about 20 percent genetics... and 80 percent skin care habits. Good sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) is the cheapest and most effective thing you can do for your skin, but many people stop applying it somewhere around the jaw line. And remember: That V-neck top is adorable, but it may also mean slathering on more sunscreen than usual. Leave no exposed skin unprotected!

Don't rush out and spend a fortune on special neck creams. Do start using the products you already own on your neck. Whenever you apply your night cream to your face, apply it to your neck. When you use a retinol product, or a retinoid like Retin-A, Tazorac, or Differin, don't forget your neck, which needs powerful wrinkle-fighting ingredients just as much as your face. (The skin on your neck is particularly delicate, though, so you might find you can only use retinoids two or three times a week without irritation.)

Do start using ingredients that can help generate new collagen and elastin and restore some of the neck's elasticity. Topical vitamin C, found in serums like SkinCeuticals' C E Ferulic, has been shown to boost collagen production. (Like retinoids, though, vitamin C may be too irritating to delicate neck skin to use more than every other day.) And Relastin Skin Revitalizer, a rich moisturizing cream, actually promotes the formation of new elastin.

Don't assume that there's nothing to be done about neck sagging once it starts. In fact, a growing number of dermatological treatments quickly and effectively improve the neck's appearance. Botox, for example, can be injected into neck muscles to relax them and minimize the appearance of the neck folds and vertical bands that become more prominent with age.

The Titan laser, safe for use on any skin tone, uses infrared light to stimulate new collagen production and cause existing collagen to contract. (Typically, about three treatments and three to six months are necessary to see optimal results.) And if the Titan isn't available at your dermatologist's office, Thermage treatments also target the dermis to heat and tighten existing collagen while stimulating the development of new collagen; it is not safe to use on darker skin tones, though, and meets with varying degrees of success from patient to patient.

Do remember that the texture and pigmentation of your neck contribute to its youthful (or aged!) appearance as much as sagging. The Fraxel laser is one of my favorite treatments for zapping sun spots and smoothing the skin on the neck.

Do read Nora Ephron's unabashedly honest book I Feel Bad About My Neck for a funny and wise look at this topic and many more.

Wishing you great skin!

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