Crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles, 11 lines (between the eyebrows), and marionette lines (on either side of the mouth) are just some of the signs of aging women look for and look to eradicate as quickly as possible. But we often miss one critical sign of aging that can show up significantly earlier than those listed above: neck wrinkles.

The truth is that because your neck is made up of delicate tissue, often called the décolletage, it’s a place where wrinkles frequently appear and is often one of a woman’s first body parts to present the effects of aging. In fact, regardless of how youthful your face appears, your neckline can give away your true age or even contribute to a look of premature aging. That’s why it’s critical to care for your neck just as you do your face and help to prevent or reverse the appearance of unwanted neck lines. 

So, keep reading if you’ve found yourself wondering, “Why do I have lines on my neck?” or “Why is my neck aging so fast?” I’m going to answer these questions and even provide my best tips on how to get rid of neck wrinkles so you can maintain your youthful glow.

What Causes Neck Wrinkles?

Before we dive into how to get rid of neck lines, let’s take a few moments to discuss what causes neck wrinkles in the first place. From the natural aging process to lifestyle factors that you have control over, there are both internal and external factors at play, and you may be surprised to learn what’s at the root of the neck lines that may seem to have appeared overnight. 

1. Loss of elasticity 

Neck wrinkles can be due to a number of different internal causes, from fat loss or redistribution to excess skin. But the primary internal cause of a wrinkly neck is a loss of elasticity due to a decrease in your collagen and elastin production.

Collagen and elastin are the proteins that give your skin its structure, strength, and fullness. These dense fibers hold up your cheekbones, fill your lips, and create your skin’s youthful plumpness. But as you age and experience more exposure to free radicals, your body doesn’t make as much collagen as it once did. When this happens, your skin begins to lose its youthful, plump appearance. And in its place you begin to see more wrinkles, sagging, and loose skin. 

At the same time, fine lines develop due to the lack of plumpness, and skin folds are created due to a loss of structure. The loss of elasticity impacts the skin of the neck even more than the face, which is why the neck is often one of the first places to show signs of aging, leaving thousands of people searching each month for an answer to how they can get rid of lines on the neck.

2. Sun exposure 

Although we all enjoy a day at the beach or a walk in the park, excess sun exposure can speed up age-related skin changes and increase the appearance of neck wrinkles. And while most people remember to put sunscreen on their faces, the neck is often neglected when it comes to sun protection. 

Sun exposure increases the appearance of aging, causes pigment changes, and even increases wrinkle formation. In fact, too much exposure to UV rays from the sun is the No. 1 cause of early wrinkle development. 

So, why does this happen? Research has shown that UV rays actually destroy the collagen and elastin within your skin, resulting in loose, sagging skin and an increase in the appearance of unwanted neck lines.

3. Air pollution

These days, it’s hard to avoid the impact the environment has on your skin. And after sun exposure, the two most common environmental factors that cause neck wrinkles are exposure to air pollution and cigarette smoke. 

Air pollution can cause you skin to become inflamed, which creates an imbalance of free radicals. This matters because it’s known to cause your vitamin C and E to become depleted, resulting in further age-related changes to occur in your skin. Air pollution also reduces how well your skin protects your internal body, allowing the oxidative stress throughout your body to increase, leaving you at greater risk of several chronic illnesses and diseases.

Because polluted air comes from traffic, manufacturing, agriculture, and even cooking, it’s difficult to completely avoid it. That said, it’s important to recognize the role it can play in the premature aging of your skin and how it leads to unwanted neck lines so you can take the steps needed to combat its affects. 

4. Developing “Tech Neck”

Finally, thanks to our hyper digital world, there’s a term that’s gaining attention for its direct cause of neck wrinkles: “Tech Neck.” The truth of the matter is that in addition to causing pain, research has shown that regularly looking down at your phone or tablet and sustaining your neck a flexed position is a major cause of unwanted neck lines—often referred to as “tech neck lines.”

These lines appear as horizontal neck wrinkles that are exacerbated by frequent and continuous movement, such as looking up from your phone and then back down again. In fact, repeated motion such as this is also why our faces are most affected by wrinkles. Whenever you move your face in specific movements (such as smiling, squinting, talking, or laughing) regularly throughout the day, it results in fine lines and wrinkles. 

How to Get Rid of Neck Wrinkles 

So, how do you get rid of wrinkles on your neck? Can neck lines go away? While preventing all neck lines may not be possible, there are steps you can take to slow down their development and even reduce their appearance. Protecting your neck from the sun by wearing both sunscreen and wide brim hats are easy ways to decrease your UV exposure, while avoiding certain irritants such as cigarette smoke can help reduce how quickly your collagen breaks down. 

Likewise, limiting your time looking down at your phone may help reduce wrinkles caused by tech neck. Making sure your phone or other electronic devices are at eye level can keep you from flexing your neck (and may help prevent neck pain, too).

Finally, if you’re looking for an effective neck wrinkles treatment, it’s critical to support your skin’s need for both collagen and elastin from within. To do this, I recommend supplementing with OMI Skin Nutrition, which features a patented formula of collagen and marine elastin sourced exclusively from France. While this collagen has been shown to boost skin collagen by 65 percent, significantly reduce wrinkles in four weeks, and increase skin firmness, the elastin has been shown to specifically support your skin’s ability to “snap back” by boosting its elasticity while also supporting its natural moisture content. 

Because maintaining your neck’s elasticity is the key to fighting neck wrinkles and horizontal lines, this is one of the best-kept secrets to maintaining a youthful-looking neck for years to come!

In Summary:

• Your neck is made up of delicate tissue, so it’s a place where wrinkles frequently appear and is often one of a woman’s first body parts to present the effects of aging.

• Neck wrinkles have four main causes: loss of elasticity, sun exposure, air pollution, and “tech neck.”

• Fortunately, you can help slow the progression of neck lines by avoiding certain environmental factors and supporting your skin elasticity from the inside-out with high-quality elastin-based supplements such as OMI Skin Nutrition.