Suddenly Noticing Your Neck? Here’s What Actually Works, According to an Expert
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Dr Sonia Khorana is a GP with a special interest in dermatology and Live That Glow’s own skincare agony aunt. She is passionate about helping people feel confident in their own skin. In this month’s column, she advises on how far at home skincare can ever help your neck. Got a question for Dr Sonia? Send it to columnists@livethatglow.com for a chance to have it featured.
I’m in my late 30s and I’ve suddenly noticed the skin on my neck is starting to look a bit crepey, especially since losing some weight. It’s not terrible but now I’ve noticed it I can’t unsee it! I’ve been using my prescription tretinoin on my neck and a neck serum in the mornings but honestly haven’t seen any difference. Is there anything I can actually do at home that will help? And if skincare isn’t going to make much difference, are there any treatments I could have in clinic (other than a neck lift!) that could get it looking more like it used to?
Dr Sonia says:
The neck is an area where we can start to notice changes quite suddenly, particularly after weight loss. The skin here is also thinner and has fewer oil glands than the face, so it can be more prone to dryness, fine lines and that slightly crepey texture.
At home, skincare is really your main option. Tretinoin can be useful because it encourages skin renewal and collagen production, although it can take several months of consistent use to see a noticeable improvement. The neck can also be more sensitive than the face, so it’s important to use it as directed and reduce the frequency if you experience irritation. A good moisturiser and, importantly, daily SPF are also essential, as UV exposure is one of the biggest contributors to collagen breakdown and premature ageing.
You could also consider an at-home LED device. While I think these can be a useful addition to a skincare routine, I always like to set realistic expectations: results from home devices tend to be much more modest than professional treatments. That said, consistency really does matter, so if you enjoy using one and can incorporate it into your routine regularly, it can be a worthwhile addition. (I quite like Shark’s new face and body LED mask!)
If you’re not seeing the improvement you’d like from skincare, this is where in-clinic treatments can be helpful, because we can target the underlying skin quality and stimulate collagen rather than simply moisturising the surface.
There are several options I use for the neck. Microneedling can stimulate collagen production and gradually improve skin texture, and it can be a good option for someone looking for a treatment with relatively little downtime.
I also use injectable collagen-stimulating treatments and skin boosters, such as Profhilo and other biostimulators like Julaine, which can be considered for improving hydration and overall skin quality. These are not designed to replace a surgical neck lift, but can be useful when the main concern is early laxity or crepey skin rather than significant excess skin.
One of my favourite treatments for this particular concern is CO2 laser resurfacing. It creates controlled micro-injury within the skin, triggering the body’s natural healing response and stimulating new collagen production. For someone with crepey, sun-damaged or finely lined skin, this can produce a more significant improvement in texture and skin quality than skincare alone. The trade-off is that it involves more downtime and needs to be carefully assessed, particularly on the neck, so it isn’t suitable for everyone.
Ultimately, there isn’t one treatment that works for every neck. I would look at how much laxity there is, the quality and thickness of the skin, whether there is excess fat or muscle activity (if muscle activity then Botox is brilliant for this but needs careful assessment!), and what the patient is hoping to achieve before recommending anything.
And importantly, you don’t necessarily need to jump straight to an intensive treatment. In your late 30s, if the change is relatively mild, a combination of good skincare, sun protection and an appropriate collagen-stimulating treatment can often be a sensible place to start. The key is having realistic expectations: non-surgical treatments can improve skin quality, texture and mild laxity, but they can’t remove significant excess skin in the same way that surgery can.
