By Dr Jemima Grant
MBBS (Hons) BSc(Med) (Hons) BA FRACGP FACAM GP & Cosmetic Physician, Medical Director Thrive Skin Clinic
@jemimagrant

The neck and décolletage (chest) often receive less attention than the face in skincare routines and in clinic treatments. As such many patients present in their 40 and 50s with neck concerns such as pigmentation, dry skin, and laxity (the dreaded Turkey Neck)!

In this blog article, we'll explore my approach to optimising skin health in the neck and décolletage region using a mix of home care and in clinic treatments.

Daily Habits: use SPF daily, cover up with a scarf when outside and wear a rashie when you are at the beach.

My favourite SPF for this area is the 50+ Airyday Clear As Day, as it does not leave a white residue on my clothes! Avoid perfumes on this area if you have red, sensitive skin as fragrances can drive poikiloderma, red and brown discolouration on the neck and the lateral neck in sun exposed areas.

Prevent concerns by starting early!

Home Care to strengthen the skin: Using medical grade, well formulated products can improve the skin in this region. Remember, the skin is thin and delicate so don’t go too hard DON’T use a full strength retinol! To get the best results, a good routine should be followed for at least 4 weeks prior to any to any heat treatment (e.g. IPL or lasers) or collagen inducing treatment (e.g. SkinPen or Tixel).

My favourite duo:

• AM - Skin Better Science Alto Defence followed by 50+SPF

• PM - Skin Better Science Alpha Ret followed by Synergie Hydrolock. Slowly introduce Skin Better Science Peel Pads 2 x a week prior to the retinol.

Address Pigmentation, Redness & Sun Damage with IPL

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is the best treatment to reduce pigmentation, redness, and sun damage in the neck and decolletage. This treatment alone can bring about significant improvements! Caution must be used when treating this region. You must have a test patch prior to treatment, which involves a series of small treatments to determine the most effective machine settings. We don’t cut corners here and you should expect 2-3 treatments.

Treat Dry, Lax Skin with Injectable Hyaluronic Acid

(injectable moisturisers). Suitable products for thin skin include Skin Beauty Boosters and Bioremodeling Fillers. These treatments work relatively quickly and have low downtime- perfect for patients wanting a quick, low risk and effective treatment. Profhilo has the added benefit of improving skin quality over time, repeated treatments increase collagen and elastin and improving laxity and skin strength,

Boost Collagen to improve Thin, Crepey Skin

Collagen Induction treatments such as Tixel and SkinPen microneedling improve skin quality, texture and in thin skin we often see improvements in skin laxity. In my opinion the element of heat involved with improved outcomes with scarring. e.g. acne and surgical scars. Start with a series of 3 treatments every 4-6 weeks and maintain every 6-9 months. Tixel is also a great option to treat small scars on the neck e.g. after thyroid surgery.

Combat ‘Turkey Neck’ Laxity with Ultraformer III

Turkey neck occurs when the muscles and skin of the neck become loose and lax. This is due to a combination of UV damage, ageing and genes. My favourite non-invasive treatment for this concern is Ultraformer III, which utilises ultrasound technology to tighten and firm the skin in the neck area with minimal downtime. I treat my lower face and neck region once a year and really notice improvement in my jawline and submental region. If you have thin skin, Tixel is a better option for this region. Other treatments such as neuromodulators and collagen induction help with this concern.

Preventing Jowl & Reducing Overactive Neck Muscles with Neuromodulators

(anti- wrinkle injections). This is known as the Nefertiti Neck Lift, and treatments can reduce neck muscle activity, prevent jowls, slim the neck and reducing the appearance of neck lines. Again, I do this regularly (every 4 months) combined with lower face treatment.

Take Home Message: Don't Overlook the Neck and Decolletage in your Skincare Routine

Utilise IPL, Tixel, and Ultraformer treatments along with a comprehensive home care regimen to maintain a rejuvenated neck and décolletage. Seek professional advice for optimal results.