I always say that you should treat your neck as an extension of your face. This means you should take care of the skin on your neck the same way you take care of the skin on your face (yes, that means cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing… the whole nine yards). After all, the neck is one of the first areas to show visible signs of aging, and that includes the horizontal lines and wrinkles commonly referred to as “tech neck.”
In this post, I share all things tech along with additional insights from Dr. Kavita Mariwalla’s Mariwalla Dermatology. I wanted to hear her thoughts on this topic as a medical skin care expert. Keep scrolling to learn all about the causes of tech neck and how to treat it, according to us pros!
What is Tech Neck and what causes it?
Tech neck is a colloquial term that refers to the premature development of horizontal lines on the neck caused by the position of our faces as we look down at technology. “In the past, we called them necklace strings,” says Dr. Mariwalla. “Basically, the idea is that if you’re looking down at your screen for many hours a day, there will be signs of aging and draping-related changes that occur over time in the neck area.”
During my thirty-year career as an esthetician, I can confidently say that the development of horizontal lines on the neck has always been prevalent. Actually, looking down at technology isn’t the only thing that can cause tech neck – your sleeping position has a lot to do with it, too. Back sleepers and people who sleep with their heads up on multiple pillows cause their necks to bend 45 degrees as they sleep, leading to the formation of lines and wrinkles.
With that being said, necklines have definitely gotten worse with the use of technology. It seems that as screen time increases, so does the development of premature folds and wrinkles. Dr. Mariwalla agrees. “Because of the amount of time we spend at home and the rise of the digital work-from-home workforce, more people are aware of it,” he says. “It’s interesting, because we work from home, I think people spend more time looking at electronics and having bad posture.”
How can I prevent technical neck?
Technical neck can develop as early as your 20s or 30s. It’s hard to get rid of once it occurs, so prevention is key. Here are some easy, expert-recommended ways to keep those pesky lines and wrinkles at bay.
Watch your posture
The best way to prevent tech neck is to be mindful of your posture and position throughout the day. If you spend hours staring down at a computer (like many of us), you may want to change your position. Instead of looking down at your screen, hold your screen at eye level. This will keep your neck straight throughout the day, preventing premature lines and wrinkles from forming in the first place. “Create a work space in your home that requires you to sit properly in a chair with good posture,” says Dr. Mariwalla. “Then, once you’re done with your work, be done with it and don’t switch to sitting on the couch looking at your phone.”
Sleep on a pillow
Are you one of the aforementioned people who sleeps with multiple pillows every night? As I said before, this can be detrimental to the appearance of the skin on your neck because it can cause your neck to stay bent at an angle. Anytime your neck stays bent for long periods of time (like when you sleep), it can encourage the formation of lines and wrinkles. Fortunately, the fix is easy. Simply sleep on a pillow (the thinner the pillow, the better) so your neck stays in a more neutral position. It may not sound like much, but given that we spend nearly a third of our lives sleeping, the results really add up.
Use sunscreen
UV rays are the number one cause of premature aging, which is why consistent sunscreen application is paramount. Make no mistake. This also applies to the skin on your neck. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen someone put sunscreen on their face, take what’s left on their fingers and run it down their neck. I can assure you that this application technique simply does not provide enough sun protection. You’ll want to squeeze in an extra quarter-sized nickel for the neck. Learn how to properly apply sunscreen to the neck here.
Moisturize every day
Dry, damaged skin is more likely to develop early signs of visible aging, so it’s important to give your skin the moisture it needs. Using a neck cream daily, like this one Intensive neck tightening cream, designed to lift, plump and nourish the delicate skin on the neck, it will keep premature signs of aging at bay. (Next, be sure to read about the difference between dry and dehydrated skin).
Use the right active ingredients
Using skin care products with the right active ingredients can keep premature signs of aging at bay, including tech neck. Below, find three effective ingredients you should consider adding to your current skincare routine in order to prevent tech neck.
Retinol
Retinol it has been shown to stimulate cell regeneration, boost collagen production and promote skin elasticity, among other things. It is a true multitasking skin care ingredient. One of the major benefits of using retinol (or a prescription retinoid) is that it can have a significant impact on the appearance of wrinkles, and that includes wrinkles that are on the neck (take THAT, neck tech!).
Be aware that prescription retinoids can prove irritating, especially to sensitive skin types, so it’s important to do the patch test first. After all, the skin on your neck is delicate and delicate, and the last thing you want to do is cause widespread irritation. Dr. Mariwalla suggests using a sandwich technique, where you layer moisturizer, then retinol, and then another layer of moisturizer. This will help the sensitive skin on the neck tolerate the potentially irritating ingredient. (On that note, read our beginner’s guide to using retinol.)
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are key to preventing premature aging. This is because they prevent free radicals (unstable electrons that attack healthy cells and change their composition) from oxidizing molecules. Just like the skin on your face, the skin on your neck can come into contact with harmful free radicals every day, whether they’re from UVA and UVB rays, pollution, or other environmental stressors. When exposed to them, the DNA, lipids and proteins in our cells are prone to damage. What happens next? Collagen and elastin production slows, which can lead to loss of firmness and wrinkles. Protect your neck from free radicals by using an antioxidant-rich serum.
Peptides
Peptides are long or short chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. These send signals to your cells to produce collagen. Dr. Mariwalla suggests incorporating peptides into your skin care routine, as they can improve the quality of skin on the neck. I recommend using a peptide serum at night to help your skin regenerate while you sleep.
What if I already have lines on my neck?
Proper skin care will definitely help reduce the appearance of neck lines and wrinkles, so I recommend practicing all of the above if you already have a case of tech neck. At the very least, this will ensure that lines and wrinkles do not deepen, becoming even more persistent and noticeable. With that said, there are a few other options you can turn to, including smoothing patches and professional treatments. Let’s talk patch smoothing first.
Wrinkle and line smoothing patches
Smoothing pads, like these from Frows and SiO Beauty, keep the skin taut to reduce the appearance of deep lines. I tried the Sio Beauty NeckLift Treatment, which is a silicone patch that hugs the contours of the neck. Since it needs to compress the skin to work, it feels tight (some people may find them too uncomfortable to wear overnight or for long periods of time). Face patches like these discourage muscle movement and skin wrinkling, so they’re definitely worth checking out! (Read more about anti-wrinkle face packs here).
Professional Therapies
As for the professional options, which will offer fast and impressive results, Dr. Mariwalla suggests micro-needling, micro-droplets Botox and Ultherapy and Sofwave. The latter two use ultrasound technology to lift the neck, chin and brow and improve lines and wrinkles. He also notes various laser treatments, which can retexture the skin. I’ve had a few neck treatments and can confidently say that there are several effective surgical (and non-surgical) ways to tighten your neck. Consult a dermatologist to find out which one is right for you.
I hope this helps you understand the causes of tech neck, as well as the best ways to prevent it and deal with it once it has already occurred.
Then read all about microcurrent devices and how they can lift and tone your skin at home.
Celebrity Esthetician & Skin Care Specialist
As an esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching skin, educating her audience and building an award-winning line of products. Her hands-on experience as an esthetician and trusted skin care expert has created a real solution — products designed to nine different skin types so your face will have exactly what it needs to look and feel its best. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare enthusiasts around the world, her vast real-world knowledge and constant research is why Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin professional we know.”
