How to Tighten Neck Skin: 9 Methods for Tightening Neck Skin
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Apr 19, 2022 • 2 min read
The skin on the neck can show some of the body’s first signs of age. The loss of elasticity can cause sagging, loose skin. Learn about various preventative techniques and treatments for sagging neck skin.
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What Causes Neck Skin to Sag?
Neck skin sagging occurs when the skin around the neck starts to lose its elasticity. Loose skin around the neck and jawline can create the appearance of jowls at the neck area. Neck skin sagging and excess skin, also known as turkey neck, can result from aging, overexposure to the sun, and sudden weight loss. Age and sun exposure can cause the skin to lose protein, namely collagen and elastin, which can cause the skin to loosen.
8 Ways to Tighten Neck Skin
Cosmetic surgical procedures like cervicoplasty and neck lifts are long-lasting ways to achieve firm neck skin, but there are also non-invasive remedies for tightening neck skin that vary in effectiveness and longevity. Some non-surgical skin tightening methods include:
- 1. Lifestyle changes: It is easier to prevent the neck skin from sagging than to treat it. Moisturizing your neck skin and décolletage, drinking plenty of water, eating a healthy diet filled with antioxidants and vitamins, limiting sun exposure, and getting plenty of quality sleep can help prevent sagging neck skin and other signs of aging. Maintaining your weight can also help prevent excess skin.
- 2. Facial yoga: Facial yoga involves stretching to stimulate the facial muscles and neck muscles. Doing facial yoga for a half hour every day can help tighten the skin to create a more youthful appearance.
- 3. Neck stretches: Neck stretches involve looking up at the ceiling and turning your neck slowly. Performing these exercises can help tone the neck muscles and tighten the skin.
- 4. Topical treatments: A good skincare routine can prevent excess neck skin sagging. Anti-aging lotions and serums can prevent and treat loose neck skin, particularly products containing niacinamide or tretinoin to improve skin elasticity, vitamin C to increase collagen production, retinol/vitamin A to stimulate collagen production and support cell turnover, and vitamin E to protect from sun damage. Applying SPF sunscreen to your neck during the day also helps protect it from sun damage. You can also use a hyaluronic acid serum or moisturizer to hydrate the neck skin and keep the skin supple and soft.
- 5. Collagen supplements: You can consume collagen supplements to support collagen production, promote skin elasticity, and moisturize the skin.
- 6. Non-invasive treatments: Laser treatments, ultrasound treatments (also known as ultherapy), and radiofrequency treatments are dermatology treatments that use lasers or wave frequencies to heat the layers underneath the skin and stimulate new collagen production. These rejuvenation treatments can tighten your skin for up to two years.
- 7. Exfoliation services: A chemical peel, dermabrasion, or microdermabrasion peels away the upper layers of skin to improve elasticity and smooth the appearance. Dermatologists can perform these minimally invasive exfoliating treatments in-office.
- 8. Microneedling: This minimally-invasive procedure involves puncturing the neck skin with small needles. Microneedling resurfaces the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin production, and the skin will stay tight for up to a year.
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