The Forgotten Land: The Neck & Décolletage
Yes, the place where skincare does not often tread – the uncharted, dry and disregarded territory of the neck and décolletage – is the area we are going to rediscover and love today.
This forbidden area, so often neglected in our daily skincare routine, reveals the haunting tale of disrepair and sun damage. Once vibrant, it now lies in the shadows, telling haunting tales of pigmentation, terrifying marks of wrinkles, loss of elasticity and dehydration. Screaming for attention and acting as a ghostly reminder of the past, this parched and abandoned area of the body reveals a person’s true age. And when we assess closely the discrimination between our face and the neck and décolletage areas, these areas often look decades older than our face, which has been loved, nourished and treated with respect. The typical skincare routine ends at the jawline, leaving the neck and chest showing sagging, wrinkles and discolouration, which are all signs of premature ageing.
The skin on the neck and décolletage is quite distinct from the skin on the face. It is thinner and contains fewer oil and moisture glands, making it more susceptible to dryness, loss of elasticity and sun damage. In addition to this, weight and hormonal fluctuations compromise firmness and elasticity.
In-clinic treatments are a perfect way to start rejuvenating the neck and décolletage areas. We treat the three areas of colour, texture and tone when rejuvenating skin. The colour correction will start with assessing both pigmentation and capillary damage, which can be corrected with peels and laser treatments. One or both modalities may be required, as peels do not address capillary damage. Depending on the severity of the discolouration, a few treatments may be required. Texture can be treated with Tixel, skin needling, RF needling, peels, Q-switch and fractional laser. Tone is where the elasticity has been compromised, and the above treatments will all assist, along with HIFU and radio frequency. Depending on the desired outcome and the initial state of the skin, the number of treatments and their combination will determine how the rejuvenation of the forgotten skin land will unfold.
Addressing the neglect of the neck and chest will require a change in the daily skincare routine and consistency. It is extremely important to avoid the heat and pressure of the shower beating down on the face, neck and chest areas to avoid red capillary damage. Another daily tip is to wear high-neck or round-neck tops when outside exercising, protecting these areas from the elements. Vitamin A or Alpha Hydroxy Acid serums and creams are a must for skin rejuvenation. These can be applied each evening after cleansing and toning with gauze, a routine that ensures the skin is clean and ready to absorb the serums.
As the skin is thinner in these areas, the texture and consistency of products should be considered to avoid skin congestion. A more lightweight serum and cream containing antioxidants, growth factors, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and omega essential fatty acids are regenerating and hydrating. Hydration is extremely important in these areas as it will assist with preventing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). Proper hydration supports the skin’s natural protective barrier, and this in turn assists with protection from environmental damage and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and dry, crepey skin.
For those who are side sleepers, the evidence of deep “V”s in the centre of the chest becomes more apparent with both age and sun damage. An easy solution for this is to wear a customised silicone patch at night which last a month and are available from Skin Inspiration.
Don’t let this neglected land of our body – the neck and décolletage – become a wasteland showing incongruent age. Bring it back to life with the care it deserves. Confidently wear strapless, strappy, V-neck and round-neck fashion with rejuvenated, healthy skin that reflects the care you’ve given your face.
