Banish Tech Neck

In today’s hyperconnected world, where the average person stares at a mobile device for nearly 3 hours per day, there’s a new wrinkle: All that time looking down at your phone or iPad may be contributing to more lines and skin laxity, what some doctors have dubbed “tech neck”. “It’s definitely a real phenomenon”, says Dendy Engelman, a dermatologist and director of dermatologic surgery at New York’s Metropolitan Hospital. When your head is tilted downward at a 45 degree angle, such as while typing, texting, or scrolling through Instagram, you’re repeatedly squishing the skin into folds and keeping your muscles in a loosened, untoned state. And since neck skin is thin and delicate, similar to the under-eye area, the aforementioned repetitive squishing makes your neck “more prone to showing signs of aging” says dermatologish Rachel Natarian, an assistant clinical professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Luckily, improvement can be had without going under the knife. The latest in-office treatments have little downtime but offer significant results, perhaps one reason “more and more patients are coming in younger and younger-in their 30s and 40s, not 50s and 60s-to tackle their neck issues”, says Eric Schweiger, a New York dermatologist. For overall tightening of slack skin on the neck and jaw, many doctors turn to Ultherapy ($1,500-$2,500) as their first weapon, relying on an ultrasound heat to stimulate the skin to regenerate collagen. Best results are seen after two to three months, says Nazarian. In a similar vein, Thermage ($1,500-$2,000) uses radio waves to prompt the same collagen response. While some people get fantastic results with either of these energy-driven therapies, it depends on how one’s individual skin reacts, making it a possible hit-or-miss. That’s why the newest twist on the radio-wave modality called ThermiTight ($3,000-$5,000) is so promising; the treatment delivers radio frequency waves via tiny probes injected under the skin-offering a single, high-intensity, albeit pricey, treatment.

If the horizontal lines on your neck are deeply etched, fillers can provide instant gratification, says New York dermatologist Heidi Waldorf, who favors hyaluronic acid-based options like Belotero or Restylane Silk (about $750-$3,000). Another quick but effective fix: Botox (around $750). It can help relax the vertical (plasysma) muscle, which gives the neck a ropy look, says Waldorf. To repair sun damage and overall texture, a non-ablative laser like Fraxel ($750-$1,500 per session: up to four sessions may be needed) requires downtime but works well, says Schweiger. “Ideally, we combine a few different modalities over a few treatment sessions” notes Nazarian.

For those who would rather get their solution in a jar, the same powerful prescription-strength retinoids you rely on to speed cell turnover on your face (Renova, Retin-A) can be used on your neck. To tighten slack neck skin, “look for products containing peptides, which can stimulate collage and elastin synthesis”, suggests Nazarian. Another ingredient you want: hyaluronic acid, which boosts moisture and plumps lines. SeriVectin Tightening Neck Serum Roller ($89), Revision Skincare Nectifirm ($65), Clinique Repairwear Sculpting Night Cream ($65), La Prairie Anti-Aging Neck Cream ($240), Clark’s Botanicals Age-Defying Neck Cream ($104), Rodial Glamtox Neck Mask ($65), and Lancome Renergic French Lift ($155) are all terrific options for neck skin.

With some TLC, your tech neck can look youthful again-lifted, firm and much smoother. Chin up, ladies!