How to Treat, Reduce and Prevent Neck Wrinkles & Sagging

Whether you’re working from home or at the office; idling away on your smartphone or playing games on a tablet, “tech neck” is a very real modern condition. It’s used to describe the horizontal lines that appear across the neck – a result of craning the head downwards to look at screens for extended periods of time. Once you’re able to identify the causes of tech neck, prevention comes easily. The tricky part is treating visible signs of tech neck, so we’ve compiled the most effective remedies on how to remove neck wrinkles at home.

But first… how do ‘tech neck’ wrinkles form?

When your head hangs forward, your muscles need to contract to counteract this weight. Combined with hours of screen time, it’s a sure-fire recipe for headaches, stiff shoulders, and a sore neck. When your neck constantly bends and causes the skin to fold over, horizontal wrinkles and creases begin to appear – becoming more common among younger and younger people.

Related: Fighting the First Appearance of Neck, Chest, and Hand Wrinkles

Why is your neck so much more prone to wrinkling?

The skin of your neck is relatively thin, meaning there’s less collagen and elastin for your skin to be able to ‘bounce back’ from damage caused by UV radiation and other environmental aggressors. Often neglected from skincare routines, the neck is just as important to tone, moisturize, and protect with broad-spectrum sunscreen on a daily basis. Try to think of your neck and decolletage as an extension of your face when applying your serums, creams, and SPF.

3 key tips for prevention of ‘tech neck’ wrinkles

Tip 1: Start bringing your phone up to eye level instead of tilting your head downwards. This way, your neck doesn’t need to bend.

Tip 2: Stack books below your laptop or desktop computer to align the screen with your direct line of vision. Alternatively, switch to a standing desk – they put much less of a strain on your spine.

Tip 3: Train yourself to sleep on your back, instead of on your side. You can invest in a training pillow or simply roll up a towel and place it below your neck or below your knees for comfort.

Related: Understanding Wrinkles and Fine Lines

Reduce & treat ‘tech neck’ wrinkles with simple at-home remedies

• Gently exfoliate your neck, and slough off the outer layer of dead skin to give way to instantly brighter skin. This makes it easier for skincare ingredients to penetrate skin and reach where it matters most.
  
  
• Use firming and hydrating serums with active ingredients. Tried-and-true ingredients to look out for include hyaluronic acid for hydration, and vitamin C to restore glow to dull skin. 
  
• Apply heavier facial creams to lock in moisture and to act as skin barrier. To lock in your skin’s natural moisture, apply cream when your skin is still damp or within five minutes after your shower.
  
  
• Use face masks on your neck for an instant boost of hydration. Our suggestion for a quick fix in the morning is Alvvé Rapid Renewal Day Mask, which mimics the effects of Botox by lifting the skin and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.
  
  
• Apply sunscreen daily to protect your skin from UV-A and UV-B radiation, which can both cause premature signs of aging.
  
  
• Utilize the ancient Chinese art of gua sha therapy. Using a flat, smooth-edged tool, apply pressure along the sides of the neck where there are lymphatic drainage sites and scrape downwards towards your collar bones. Gua sha improves blood circulation, restores skin plumpness, and is considered a natural wrinkle-reducing alternative to filler and retinol. 
  
• Don’t underestimate the power of a good stretch! Yoga and stretching can be done to tone and strengthen the muscles around the neck. This can improve circulation and in turn, promote better overall skin health.
  
  
• LED light therapy is all the rage for its skin rejuvenating benefits, by using different frequencies of light to tackle skin concerns at depths that topical serums and creams can’t reach. Easy to use at home, too.
  
  
• RF and HIFU are highly effective non-invasive technologies to improve skin laxity and the appearance of wrinkles. By using RF 2-3 times a week and HIFU once a month at home, you’ll be able to stimulate collagen production and restore glow from within.
  
  

It’s easy to overlook the skin of the neck when we’re so laser-focused on fighting crow’s feet or age spots on our face. Our biggest tip to you is to do all the anti-aging skincare steps for your face, but for your neck as well. The last thing you want to notice on your next Zoom call is wrinkly tech neck!