Don’t Neglect Your Neck: 3 Ways to Treat “Turkey Neck”

When it comes to building an anti-aging routine, products designed for the neck and décolletage barely come to mind. What most women don’t realize is that the components of skin aging— wrinkles, laxity (sagginess), discoloration and crepiness—are just as likely to develop on the chronically sun-exposed skin of the neck and upper chest as it does on the face. If you’re wondering how to properly care for this particular section of your skin, consider the tips below.

While there’s nothing much we can do about the facial bone resorption and muscle thinning—two contributors to the “turkey neck”—that naturally occurs as we age, there are a few things we can do to delay its appearance. The rules of prevention are simple, whether on the face, neck or décolletage: proper hydration, UV protection and stimulation of collagen and elastin synthesis to replace those we lose with aging. If your skin care routine already has these, go ahead and simply extend the application to your neck and chest.

In one’s twenties, preventative measures like daily moisturization and sunscreen use are non-negotiable. As we approach our thirties and forties, products containing amino acids, vitamins, topical retinoids, antioxidants and alpha hydroxy acids are essential adjunctive measures to further combat sagginess, creping or uneven skin pigmentation.

While there’s no single cream that can magically lift sagging skin, the products below are among the most advanced over-the-counter creams to fight signs of aging and environmental damage on your neck and chest. When used in combination with other anti-aging agents or in-office procedures (like laser resurfacing or Ultherapy), it’s possible to see a smoother and firmer appearance. Here are some of the products I tried and recommend to my patients: