Most people spend years focusing on facial skincare — cleansers, moisturizers, serums and anti-aging creams — while paying little attention to the neck.
But dermatologists say the neck actually ages faster than the face, and many people do not notice the difference until lines, sagging skin or darkening beneath the chin become difficult to ignore.
The good news is that experts say prevention and treatment do not necessarily require expensive procedures or a completely separate skincare routine. In fact, one of the biggest lessons from the research is surprisingly simple: start early and include your neck in the same care routine as your face.
Experts say that matters because the neck is naturally more vulnerable to aging. The skin is thinner, contains fewer oil glands and produces less collagen and elastin — the proteins responsible for keeping skin firm and smooth.
On a recent segment on CBS Mornings, dermatologist Dr. Nkem Ugonabo said many people overthink neck care when the biggest issue is simply neglecting it.
“Don’t neglect the neck,” Ugonabo said. “Whatever residue is on your fingertips, just drag it down to the neck.”
She added that many people do not necessarily need expensive neck-specific creams.
“You don’t have to be stressed about finding a specific neck cream,” she said, encouraging viewers to simply extend many of the same skincare products used on the face down onto the neck.
What To Focus On at Different Ages
Ugonabo said people in their 20s and early 30s should focus mainly on prevention — including antioxidants, moisturizers and sunscreen.
By the late 30s and 40s, she said many people should begin focusing more heavily on skin elasticity, wrinkles and discoloration. She specifically recommended ingredients like peptides and retinol, which help support collagen production and improve skin texture over time.
By the 50s and 60s, experts say neck care shifts again.
At that stage, the focus becomes less about prevention and more about helping aging skin maintain firmness, hydration and texture. During the CBS Mornings segment, Ugonabo referenced “growth factors” for older adults — ingredients designed to help support collagen production and skin repair as the body naturally produces less collagen with age.
That loss contributes to thinner skin, sagging, wrinkles and deeper neck bands.
Dermatologists often recommend richer moisturizers, peptides for firmness, retinol or gentler retinoids for skin renewal, and growth-factor serums or creams designed to support collagen and skin texture. Some specialists also say that by the 60s, treatments such as microneedling, laser treatments, ultrasound tightening or Botox for neck bands may produce more noticeable improvements than creams alone.
Bent Necks, Phones and Earlier Aging
Experts say the growing amount of time people spend looking down at phones, tablets and laptops may also be accelerating neck aging — especially among younger adults.
Repeated downward bending of the neck contributes to horizontal creases often called “tech neck” or “necklace lines.” Over time, those folds in the skin can deepen into permanent lines.
Dermatologists also point to the platysma muscle — a thin muscle running from the chest to the jawline. As it weakens and separates with age, visible vertical “bands” can begin appearing on the neck.
Those bands are the rope-like lines some people notice beneath the skin when they tense their jaw or look in the mirror. Specialists say years of bending the neck downward toward screens may contribute to people seeing those signs earlier than previous generations did.
Why Sunscreen Still Matters
Sun exposure remains one of the biggest causes of visible skin aging, including sagging, wrinkles and discoloration.
While many African Americans and others with melanin-rich skin may see slower visible sun damage than lighter-skinned people, dermatologists say everyone benefits from sunscreen and protection from UV damage over time.
Experts recommend broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher and say many people protect their face while completely forgetting the neck — even though the neck is often exposed every day.
More Advanced Treatments
For people seeking more dramatic improvement, dermatologists say several non-surgical procedures are now available, including microneedling, ultrasound skin tightening, laser treatments and Botox for visible neck bands.
Surgery, including neck lifts, can provide the most dramatic changes, but doctors say many people see noticeable improvement with less invasive treatments combined with consistent skincare.
Still, the message repeated throughout the research remained straightforward: don’t separate neck care from face care — and don’t wait too long to start.