One of the main and most evident is the loss of skin tone. Over the years, the skin loses the elasticity it had in youth and begins to take on a sagging and flabby appearance. This process is often most noticeable in the face and neck area. While it is not possible to go back in time, you can still be proactive and apply various home and medical treatments to reduce or prevent sagging of the skin in the neck.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Lifestyle
Step 1. Stimulate the facial and neck muscles
There are several types of exercises that offer a good mix of stretching and training for the muscles of the neck and lower face. Repeat these once or twice a day, so that this part of the body becomes stronger and appears more toned.
- Place one hand on your forehead. Apply some pressure, but keep your head from moving forward. You should feel the muscles in your neck contract. Hold this position for about 10 seconds. Then, place your hand behind your head and push back to create pressure; again, hold the position for another 10 seconds.
- Sit with your back straight. Tilt your head back so that your chin is pointing towards the ceiling and keep your lips closed. Start moving your mouth as if you were going to chew. You should feel the facial and neck muscles working. Repeat about 20 times.
- Sit still with your back straight and tilt your head, so that your chin is pointing to the ceiling, keeping your lips closed. This time, you pursed your lips as if you wanted to kiss someone. Repeat the exercise twice. You should feel similar sensations to the first exercise, but in this case you actually move different parts of the neck and face.
- Be especially careful when doing this exercise, as you may strain your neck. Lie on the bed with your head dangling over the edge. Slowly and carefully lift it up to bring it towards your chest, using your neck muscles. Always moving slowly and gently, then bring it back to its original position. Repeat about 5 times, but stop immediately if you feel pain.
Step 2. Avoid making repetitive facial expressions
Certain facial movements and expressions, such as tilting the head in disagreement, can weaken neighboring muscles. Pay attention to the facial expressions you tend to repeat, in order to keep the neck muscles firmer for a longer time.
Every time you use your facial or neck muscles, a groove forms under the skin. When the skin loses elasticity over time, it is no longer able to fill this "groove" and a permanent wrinkle or "drooping flap" is created on the neck
Step 3. Eat a healthy diet
There is evidence that a nutrient-rich and well-balanced diet can protect the skin. By avoiding "junk" and unhealthy food, you can keep wrinkles and loss of elasticity at bay.
- Foods rich in fats and sugars slow down cell turnover. Work hard not to eat overly fried or sugary foods.
- Choose foods rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene; Include fruits and vegetables, such as raspberries and carrots, in your diet to stimulate the formation of new cells for healthier skin.
- Yellow and orange colored fruits and vegetables have a high content of vitamin A and beta-carotene. These elements, combined with the intake of a lot of water, increase cell turnover; as a result, the skin remains healthier and it is more difficult for damage to occur due to blocked pores.
- Opt for foods rich in essential fatty acids, such as nuts or olive oil, which help keep the skin hydrated.
- Remember that unhealthy foods "take up the space" that you should instead dedicate to healthy and essential foods to get all the vitamins and antioxidants needed to promote healthy skin.
Step 4. Stay hydrated
Properly hydrated skin is generally firmer, firmer, and less likely to sag or develop wrinkles. Make sure you consume an appropriate amount of fluids each day to help strengthen the skin in the neck.
- To maintain proper hydration you should drink at least two liters of water every day if you are a woman, while if you are a man at least 3 liters. Sportsmen and pregnant women should also go up to 3.8 liters.
- Water is definitely the best choice for your body's needs, but you can also drink caffeinated drinks and fruit juices. Clear, caffeine-free drinks, such as ginger ale, can also help fight nausea.
- You can drink coffee, tea, and caffeinated sodas as long as they are in limited quantities, but be careful, as they cause some dehydration.
Step 5. Apply a moisturizer every day
Use a specific moisturizer for your skin type daily, which stimulates the production of collagen and elastin. If you can keep your skin properly hydrated, you can help your neck stay toned.
- You need to apply moisturizer even if your skin is oily. In this case, choose an oil-free and non-comedogenic product.
- Talk to a dermatologist or skin care professional to find out about your skin type. You can buy products specifically formulated for your needs at major pharmacies, parapharmacies and perfumeries.
- There are many products on the market that not only strengthen the production of collagen and elastin, but that improve the appearance of the skin of the neck by increasing its volume, such as silicone and hyaluronic acid.
- If you can, choose a moisturizer that also contains sunscreen for maximum benefits.
Step 6. Don't expose yourself too much to the sun
The ultraviolet radiation present in sunlight accelerates the natural aging process by breaking down the collagen and elastin fibers that keep the skin toned. Try to reduce or avoid exposure to sunlight, so that the skin can stay firm for a longer time.
- Apply broad-spectrum, high SPF sunscreen whenever you go out to run errands or do other activities.
- You can also wear a wide-brimmed hat to further protect your skin from sun exposure.
- If you go to the beach or the pool, you should stay under an umbrella.
Step 7. Stop smoking
Like exposure to sunlight, smoking accelerates the natural aging process by altering the blood supply to the skin. Get rid of this habit or reduce the number of cigarettes to stop the phenomenon of skin aging, in order to guarantee its tone for longer.
Contact your doctor if you are having difficulty quitting smoking; he will be able to propose an effective treatment plan
Step 8. Avoid gaining weight or losing weight suddenly.
If you gain weight, your skin tends to stretch and will remain flabby and saggy when you lose weight later. If you lose weight suddenly, you don't give your skin time to heal and it will look saggy. Try to maintain your current weight or lose weight gradually, to prevent the skin in the neck from losing firmness.
Method 2 of 2: Medical Treatments
Step 1. Get topical retinoids
Retinoids are derivatives of vitamin A that can reduce fine lines, blemishes and roughness of the skin. Apply topical retinoid products prescribed by your doctor to improve the appearance and elasticity of the skin of the neck.
- Among the various retinoids that your doctor may prescribe are tretinoin and tazarotene.
- Since only your doctor can prescribe these products, check with him to make sure it is a good solution for your specific case.
- Retinoids are cosmetic products, so they are in all likelihood not covered by the National Health Service.
- There are some over the counter creams that contain a small amount of retinoids. Keep in mind that these products do not have the same concentration as those prescribed and may not be able to improve the skin in the long run.
- Retinoids can cause redness, dryness and burning.
Step 2. Undergo laser, light source, or radiofrequency therapy
These treatments can stimulate the growth of new skin collagen. You can choose one of these therapies to help keep the skin in the neck firm.
- Laser and light source treatments destroy the outer layer of the skin and heat the one beneath it to induce the synthesis of new collagen. Once the injured skin heals, it forms a smoother and more toned layer.
- It may take several months to fully recover from these skin resurfacing treatments and there is a risk of scarring and discolouration of the skin (whitening or hyperpigmentation).
- If your skin is less sagging, you may want to consider having a non-ablative laser treatment.
- You can also consider non-ablative radiofrequency treatment. Although, if so, you would hardly get the same results as laser or light source therapy, you may still notice that the skin becomes lightly or moderately toned.
- Know that the National Health Service will not cover the costs even for this procedure, as it is always cosmetic treatments.
Step 3. Smooth the skin layers with a chemical peel
You can use less invasive methods to remove the outer layers of the epidermis. Chemical peeling, dermabrasion and microdermabrasion are able to eliminate the outer layers of the skin, thus improving its elasticity and appearance.
- The chemical peel consists in the application, by a doctor, of an acid product on the surface of the skin that burns the outer layer of the area affected by wrinkles, fine lines and freckles. It takes several weeks to heal and it will take several sessions before you notice the results.
- Dermabrasion smoothes the surface layer of the skin with a rotating brush. The treatment stimulates the production of a new layer of epidermis, which allows the neck area to become firmer. It will take months to see results and to fully recover from the effects of this procedure.
- Microdermabrasion is similar to dermabrasion, but it only removes a light layer of skin. Again, several sessions are required before seeing results, but the overall healing time is shorter than the other alternatives. This treatment offers only limited results.
- Remember that these are always cosmetic interventions, therefore they are not covered by public health and, even if you have a private health policy, it is rare for the company to reimburse you for the expenses.
Step 4. Get Botox injections
This is botulinum toxin A which prevents muscles from contracting, giving the skin a smoother and less wrinkled appearance. If the skin is not very loose, these injections help tone it.
- The Botox lasts for three to four months and it is necessary to repeat the injections to maintain the results over time.
- Among the adverse effects of this treatment is the inability to move the muscles of the face and neck. Be aware that this can limit the way you physically express emotions.
- Treatment with botulinum toxin is not covered by the National Health Service.
Step 5. Get injected with soft tissue fillers
There are different types of fillers for this purpose, including fat (lipofilling), collagen and hyaluronic acid, which are injected into the neck area to increase its volume and improve skin tone.
- This procedure can leave some swelling, redness, and bruising.
- As with Botox treatment or microdermabrasion, repeat injections are required, as most fillers only last a few months.
- Remember that even in this case it is an aesthetic treatment, therefore neither private insurance nor the National Health Service will cover the costs.
Step 6. Consider a surgical facelift
If the skin on your neck is definitely very saggy, you may want to consider this option. This is the most extreme form of beauty treatment to tone the skin and you should only consider it if it is absolutely necessary or if other options are not effective.
- As with all cosmetic surgery, make sure you are fully aware of the risks involved and go to an absolutely reputable and qualified surgeon or hospital.
- A facelift involves removing excess skin and fat from the neck and then tightening the underlying muscles and connective tissue.
- The recovery is very long, the area may remain swollen and bruised for several weeks after the procedure.
- The results last 5-10 years.
- Remember that most insurance companies do not cover this type of cosmetic procedure.
