Tech Neck: The Latest Ageing Concern You've Probably Never Heard Of

Recently, I left the house in such a rush that I left my phone at home. I spent the day subconsciously reaching into my pocket for something that wasn't there. “What's going on in my Whatsapp group chat? and “Have I missed any hilarious Snapchats from my sister? kept running through my mind and it was then I realised I was addicted to my smartphone. Have I changed my ways? No. But reading up on what dermatologists have dubbed 'tech neck' might be enough to make me change my ways.

Spending much of the day bending our neck to look at our phone screens is actually causing a whole new ageing concern. This action is leading to an increase in people visit their dermatologist or skin clinic wanting to treat sagging skin, drooping jowls, lines and creases on the neck and chin area. A quick swipe through Facebook might not seem enough to create deep wrinkles, but apparently the average person looks at their device 85 times a day, around a third of our waking hours.

Ditching your phone is definitely easier said than done, so here are some tips to prevent the dreaded tech neck.

While most of us have a solid skincare regime, this often tends to stop at the jawline. Although the neck is often considered part of the body and treated as such, the skin there is actually twice as thin as the rest of your face, very similar to the delicate skin around our eyes. Take your skincare products, particularly serums and moisturiser, down the neck to give it the same anti-ageing benefits as your face. Due to the fragility of this area, avoid any very strong, exfoliating products. Basically, if you wouldn't put it around your eyes, use with caution on the neck.

If you're serious about targeting those visible signs of ageing, you could invest in a separate neck product.

Neck creams are ideal if you really want to make a change to your neck area. They are formulated with powerful active ingredients that can provide visible results in a formula that can be tolerated by the fragile skin. Although there are loads available, I'd recommend looking at the Jan Marini Juveneck or the VIVDERMA Sculpting Neck and Chest Cream.

If you'd like more advice on anti-ageing products for the neck and chest area, call our skincare experts on 0113 282 3181.

Written for you by: Ellie, Face the Future