Neck wrinkles are an expected part of the aging process, but that doesn’t make accepting them any easier. Whether you’re noticing a few fine lines or deeper horizontal creases (aka “tech neck”), neck wrinkles can distract from your overall look and make you look older than you’d like. With the help of Drs. Joel and Daniel Schlessinger, board-certified dermatologists, Mohs surgeons and cosmetic surgeons, we’ll help you address these concerns with tips such as:

• How to prevent neck wrinkles, including tech neck

• How to get rid of neck wrinkles

• The best neck-firming creams

How to prevent neck wrinkles, including tech neck

“Neck wrinkles are the culmination of many factors ranging from sun damage to overactivation of the muscles in the neck that leads to repeated skin creasing,” says LovelySkin Medical Director Dr. Daniel Schlessinger. “The best way to prevent skin damage from the sun is to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, but there are also several things that can be done to try to reverse the damage as well.”

“The skin on your neck and upper chest is thinner and more susceptible to sun damage over time,” says LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “It’s often exposed and easily overlooked when it comes to sunscreen application as well. Before going outdoors, I recommend extending sunscreen application from the face down to the neck and chest. Don’t forget to reapply every forty to eighty minutes and at least every two hours.”

The introduction of personal tech devices over the past few decades has also had a major effect on neck aging. “Staring downward at a device, whether it’s a phone, tablet or laptop, can result in what we call ‘tech neck,’ or an increase in horizontal wrinkles and skin laxity,” Dr. Joel Schlessinger says. “I recommend trying to maintain a neutral posture when using your devices, and taking breaks when possible. If you do get wrinkles from looking at devices, treatments like MOXI or HALO can still help and Botox can definitely be a way to diminish these, though it is not 100% effective. Neck creams can help as well by simply moisturizing the area, so the approach is pretty similar to how we treat other neck wrinkles, but with an emphasis on prevention.”

These devices are here to stay in our daily lives, but the good news is there are treatments out there—both at-home and at your dermatologist’s office—that can help.

How to get rid of neck wrinkles

Though anti-aging neck creams can’t entirely get rid of neck wrinkles or tech neck once it’s set in, topical treatments can help improve their appearance over time. Key ingredients in neck creams include retinol, glycolic acid, peptides, hydrators such as hyaluronic acid and antioxidants such as vitamin C.

If you’re interested in looking beyond topical neck creams, laser resurfacing treatments such as MOXI™, HALOⓇ and BBL HEROic can help smooth the skin of the neck and get rid of tech neck wrinkles. You can read more about these in-office treatments on the Schlessinger MD Blog.

If you’re concerned about vertical bands on your neck, you can consider an in-office treatment with a board-certified dermatologist. “BOTOX was recently FDA-approved to treat vertical neck bands,” says Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “I was able to participate in the clinical trials leading up to this approval, which gave me a front-row view to the improvements you can see in the appearance of your neck with BOTOX injections.”

The 6 best neck-firming creams

Using a high-quality dedicated neck product with potent ingredients to address signs of aging can help improve the appearance of neck wrinkles. Here are six of the best creams for neck wrinkles from dermatologist-approved skin care brands.

1. SkinCeuticals Tripeptide-R Retinol Neck Repair

This formula from SkinCeuticals combines 0.2% time-released retinol with a tripeptide complex to help improve the appearance of neck wrinkles and help sagging neck skin appear firmer. In a sixteen-week clinical trial, users experienced a 28% improvement in neck skin smoothness.

2. Revision Skincare Nectifirm ADVANCED

Specifically formulated to address moderate to advanced signs of aging, this neck treatment from Revision Skincare helps lift and firm sagging skin with an exclusive blend of peptides and proteins as well as red microalgae. In a twelve-week clinical study, participants showed a 16% average improvement in the appearance of fine lines and an 11% improvement in the appearance of neck wrinkles.

3. ALASTIN Skincare Restorative Neck Complex with TriHex Technology

If you’re looking to diminish redness and discoloration on your neck as well as wrinkles, consider this comprehensive anti-aging neck complex. It works to rejuvenate skin with antioxidants such as phytoene and phytofluene along with TriHex Technology, ALASTIN Skincare’s proprietary peptide blend that works to both remove old, damaged collagen and elastin fibers in your skin as well as build new ones.

4. StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream PLUS Alpha-3 Peptide

This StriVectin neck cream helps smooth wrinkles and lift sagging skin with a proprietary peptide called Alpha-3. It also helps brighten dull skin with bearberry and clary sage extracts. In a four-week clinical trial, subjects noticed improvement in horizontal neck lines as well as vertical wrinkles and age spots on the décolleté.

5. Obagi ELASTIderm Neck & Decollete Concentrate

A proprietary ingredient blend called Bi-Mineral Contour Complex™ is at the heart of this formula by Obagi. Made up of zinc, copper and malonate, this complex helps create elastin in the skin to help improve elasticity over time. Retinyl palmitate, a type of retinoid, helps boost collagen production while arbutin and niacinamide help improve discoloration. In a twelve-week clinical trial, 97% of subjects experienced visible improvement in horizontal neck lines. We also love its cooling rollerball applicator that boosts microcirculation during application.

6. SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream

This powerful neck-tightening cream from SkinMedica was designed to be used alone or to complement in-office procedures. Concentrated peptides help firm sagging neck skin while a combination of green microalgae, rice protein and shiitake mushroom extract helps support collagen and elastin production.

Are you curious about the latest in firming technology? You can learn more about microcurrent delivery tools that help firm and tighten skin on the LovelySkin Blog.