Tech neck – modern wrinkle skin neck

Wrinkles come with age no matter what, depending on our lifestyle and genetics. This is why not all people age at the same rate, nor do they have the same type of wrinkles. In addition to wrinkles on the skin of the face, they also appear on the neck and décolleté and it is necessary to provide daily care to these areas if we want to preserve youth and achieve a well-groomed appearance.

What causes neck wrinkles?

The neck is a sensitive area with thin skin that is regularly exposed to the sun and movement (especially now that we are all looking more and more at our smartphones). All wrinkles are caused by a combination of the same factors, so those on the neck cause the same things that other wrinkles cause: a combination of aging skin, the breakdown of collagen and elastic tissue, and movement.
As we age, our skin becomes less elastic with less collagen and elastic tissue allowing it to return to its original shape. In addition to being a natural part of aging, with greater exposure to sunlight the skin ages faster and ages. Another major cause of wrinkle formation is the movement of the neck, wrinkles on the neck are obtained due to bending of the neck to look down.

What is a “technological neck”?

Although we have always known about neck wrinkles, a new phenomenon called “technological neck or tech neck” has emerged.

According to the State of Mobile 2021 report, the average mobile phone is used for 4.2 hours a day, which is an increase of 32 minutes compared to last year’s State of mobile 2020 report. boron. In the neutral position, the average head weighs about 5 kg. By leaning forward, the load on the cervical spine and the mechanical stress on the skin of the neck increase, so that at a tilt of 45 degrees the force that loads the neck is equivalent to a weight of 20 kg.

If you take into account these facts, it is clear that the so-called smartphone wrinkles or tech neck problem that affects women of all generations, from female students to working women of mature age. According to some studies, as many as 63% of women express concern about wrinkles in the neck area, which is logical because this is the area we first look at after the face when we want to estimate someone’s age. In this time of global pandemic, when our faces are covered with masks most of the time, it comes to the fore even more.

Basically, we’re all looking down a lot more than in the past, and it’s starting to show.
Many neglect neck care in their daily care routine, so the first step is to simply extend facial skin care to both neck and décolleté. Facial skin care products will also serve well in neck and décolleté skin care. If you are carrying out a multi-step care routine, include the neck and décolleté area each.

How can we prevent neck wrinkles and reduce the visibility of existing ones?

Hydration and UV protection

In addition to a good moisturizer and / or serum that will provide optimal skin hydration, be sure to supplement your daily care with a high protection factor to ensure that existing wrinkles do not deepen. After genetics, the most common cause of wrinkles on the neck and décolleté is sun exposure, so in addition to applying a cream with a high spf, cover the skin of the area with clothing or a scarf. Include products with antioxidants (vitamin C, resveratrol, Q10, vitamin E …) that will help us fight free radical damage.

Treatments with active ingredients (retinol & AHA acids)

Introduce treatments, ie serums with active ingredients, into your evening routine. Retinol products are a great choice, however they can be too aggressive due to the more sensitive neck skin if they are in too high concentrations. Start using products with lower retinol concentrations and gradually increase them. Use them initially 1-2 times a week, then more often over time. You can also try gentler products, such as those with glycolic acid, which by exfoliating the skin can reduce the visibility of wrinkles, and at the same time can act on increased collagen production.

Neck movement control

Once you have applied proper care, become aware of and control the movement that causes wrinkles. Against neck wrinkles, avoid looking down for a long time and place the phone screen directly in front of your face. During the day, make sure the screen is at eye level and if you can, always lift the phone higher.

Also, sleeping on your back reduces the possibility of creating wrinkles on your face, neck and décolleté.