How to deal with neck aging?
September 20, 2015 9:52 AM Subscribe
I'm not really sure what to call this since it's not wrinkles or sagging.... it's just... easier to see the muscles underneath my skin?
My neck is doing that thing that often starts mid-late 30's/early 40's. That thing where if you turn your neck or tense it in some way you can easily see all the ligaments and stuff underneath the thin skin.... I don't know what that is. Perhaps caused by a lack of plumpness in the skin? In your 20's you certainly can't see all that movement of ligaments and jive swimming underneath the skin.
So aside from trying to identify what this is exactly... is there any way to fix it or prevent it further? I'm trying to find the fine line between the "aw fuck it" attitude and the one where one supposedly "fights" the signs of aging. I don't believe in fighting the inevitable, but I also fear the repercussions of showing your age in a U.S. work market that has shown a clear trend of rampant ageism over the years (I work in H.R. so I see the problem every day). So whatever I can do (within what I consider reasonable) I'm willing to try.
My neck is doing that thing that often starts mid-late 30's/early 40's. That thing where if you turn your neck or tense it in some way you can easily see all the ligaments and stuff underneath the thin skin.... I don't know what that is. Perhaps caused by a lack of plumpness in the skin? In your 20's you certainly can't see all that movement of ligaments and jive swimming underneath the skin.
So aside from trying to identify what this is exactly... is there any way to fix it or prevent it further? I'm trying to find the fine line between the "aw fuck it" attitude and the one where one supposedly "fights" the signs of aging. I don't believe in fighting the inevitable, but I also fear the repercussions of showing your age in a U.S. work market that has shown a clear trend of rampant ageism over the years (I work in H.R. so I see the problem every day). So whatever I can do (within what I consider reasonable) I'm willing to try.
It sounds like what you're talking about is loss of muscle tone. Cosmetic surgeons will often use injectibles for facial tone, but I have never heard of that for the neck, and I think it's too large an area for it to work anyway. There are neck lift procedures that tighten up sagging skin, but it sounds like the effect you're looking for is something to fill out the skin instead.
It never hurts to stay hydrated and protect from sun damage, but they don't actually do anything long term to combat the effects. IOW, severe dehydration and sun damage can cause damage on their own, but they're not the primary cause, so 'treating' that will not really do much of anything.
A lot of women, as they get older, just make a point to cover their necks with turtlenecks, scarves, etc.
All that said, ageism is going to happen, and that really sucks, but in my experience, you can save yourself a fair amount of grief and stress by just dealing with it head on rather than continually trying to forestall it. So I vote for "Aw, fuck it." Be a little meaner and more confrontational with dumbasses who think that women get stupider as they get older, because they are assholes, they are wrong, and if they're displaying these biases in the workplace, they are bad at their jobs.
posted by ernielundquist at 12:22 PM on September 20, 2015
It never hurts to stay hydrated and protect from sun damage, but they don't actually do anything long term to combat the effects. IOW, severe dehydration and sun damage can cause damage on their own, but they're not the primary cause, so 'treating' that will not really do much of anything.
A lot of women, as they get older, just make a point to cover their necks with turtlenecks, scarves, etc.
All that said, ageism is going to happen, and that really sucks, but in my experience, you can save yourself a fair amount of grief and stress by just dealing with it head on rather than continually trying to forestall it. So I vote for "Aw, fuck it." Be a little meaner and more confrontational with dumbasses who think that women get stupider as they get older, because they are assholes, they are wrong, and if they're displaying these biases in the workplace, they are bad at their jobs.
posted by ernielundquist at 12:22 PM on September 20, 2015
I hadn't thought about this until you asked the question (kind of wish you hadn't, tbh). Quick Google suggests what you're talking about is the contraction of platysmal bands. RealSelf.com's surgeons recommend Botox to chill them out a bit, or a "neck lift". (Man, I'm up for making some concessions for beauty as a means of retaining market value, but that is one too many things to worry about for me.)
posted by cotton dress sock at 12:24 PM on September 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by cotton dress sock at 12:24 PM on September 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Take a hyaluronic acid supplement (it's for 'joint health' but also plumps up lines in your skin; example) and use sun protection that's at least 8% zinc oxide (if it doesn't irritate you).
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:32 PM on September 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:32 PM on September 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
I am by no means a makeup expert, but perhaps some tricky contouring and highlighting could help?
posted by stowaway at 12:45 PM on September 20, 2015
posted by stowaway at 12:45 PM on September 20, 2015
If you search for Jack Lalanne facial exercises on YouTube, you'll find some old black and white facial exercises you may be able to use to strengthen the muscles.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 3:12 AM on September 21, 2015
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 3:12 AM on September 21, 2015
If data points help, I have this and I'm in my late 20s. It was a bit startling to see it begin and then accelerate like whoa. Like something out of Body Worlds! Not much to be done outside of moisturizing and SPF-ing (a lot of SPF-ing), I don't think. The future looks like turtlenecks forever.
posted by knuspermanatee at 11:34 AM on September 21, 2015
posted by knuspermanatee at 11:34 AM on September 21, 2015
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posted by asperity at 10:54 AM on September 20, 2015 [2 favorites]