Start with skin care

Can creams help? Yes, it’s possible, according to consultant dermatologist Ophelia Veraitch, who doesn’t believe a specific neck cream is necessary, but she does think skincare will help. “The main problem,” she says, “is that most of us don’t apply SPF to our necks, so we’ve accumulated daily UV damage over the years. Every day, even on a gray day in the UK, aging UV rays penetrate through the clouds, so applying SPF to your neck as well as your face is the most anti-aging thing you can do.

Dr. Veraitch adds that corrective serums and creams can help improve the quality of the skin on your neck in the same way that facial skin can be improved. I’ve seen awesome before and after photos of patients who have used her bespoke serums which she tailors to each individual’s needs using powerful prescription ingredients. I asked her what we should look for in creams to make a difference for our necks. “First, you should use an antioxidant vitamin C to stimulate the fibroblasts that make collagen and to curb the activity of the melanocytes that produce age spots.

“Second, use some form of retinol or retinoid to smooth the skin and stimulate collagen. And finally, a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid to plump skin cells.

Of course, there are many specific creams for the neck. As Dr Shotter says, “If you’re particularly concerned about the neck, it’s worth investing in a separate neck cream, as the neck has slightly different requirements to the face and formulas will contain specific ingredients suited to treat them. »

Dr Sophie Shotter has recommended quite a few neck creams to me since I turned 50 and here are the ones I found really effective and would recommend.

Skinbetter Techno Neck Perfecting Cream

Expensive but it works. The claims are that this serum is made up of proteins that encourage the body to produce more nitric oxide (NO), which improves blood flow and circulation (so more nutrients reach the skin). All I know is that the horizontal lines of the collar were softened when I used it and the overall quality of the skin on my neck was greatly improved.