How to Prevent Neck Wrinkles

While we often think about preventing facial wrinkles, the neck is oft neglected when it comes to anti-aging treatments. The best rule of thumb is to treat your neck with the same level of care as you do your face. If ignored, your neck's appearance will quickly age you, no matter how few wrinkles you have on your face. Like facial wrinkles, neck wrinkles occur due to a loss of skin elasticity, associated with the natural aging process. Thankfully, there are many things you can do to prevent neck wrinkles.

Things You'll Need

• Sunscreen
• Moisturizer
• Anti-wrinkle cream
• Retin-A creams
• Dermatologist
• Microdermabrasion
• Water
• Multi-vitamin

Instructions

1. Put sunscreen on your neck every day. The sun's rays can damage your skin and lead to wrinkles, even on overcast or rainy days. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF rating and cover your entire neck with it. Reapply it often if you're outside for long periods of time.

2. Hydrate your skin. Wrinkles and fine lines are more apparent on parched skin so you should apply a moisturizer to your neck daily. Choose one that is appropriate for the skin there. You may find that your neck skin requires a richer moisturizer than your face does.

3. Apply a rich anti-wrinkle cream to your neck each night. Since your neck is susceptible to the same wrinkles and creases that your face is, you can use the same cream there.

4. Ask your dermatologist about Retin-A creams. These topical medications are available via a prescription and have been shown to delay the aging process. They encourage cellular turnover, resulting in younger-looking, less wrinkled skin.

5. Consider microdermabrasion treatments. A professional technician will use a small device on your neck skin which essentially buffs away the top layers of skin. Dead skin cells are removed to reveal fresh, younger-looking skin below. Generally, a series of treatments are required in order to see satisfactory results.

6. Drink plenty of water. It's recommended that you consume at least 64 to 84 ounces of water daily, in order to keep skin looking radiant and fresh.

7. Eat a well-balanced diet. Consume as much fresh food as possible rather than processed food. Fresh food contains more nutrients and vitamins, including Vitamins A, C, E and K--all of which are essential for healthy skin.

8. Keep your chin up. If you hang your head down toward your chest regularly, you're more likely to develop permanent creases in your neck. In addition, you'll put your neck at risk for injury with this poor posture. Instead, keep your chin elevated and your neck vertebrae in a neutral position.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a multi-vitamin daily to ensure you are getting adequate nutrition.

• Do not smoke. Smoking has been shown to cause wrinkles.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish