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Wellness

Why your neck might be ageing rapidly

For many of us, when we think about how signs of aging might catch up with us, we imagine crow’s feet, dull skin, number 11 lines between our brows… but the neck may be lower down your list of things to consider…until now! Signs of aging around the jaw and neck are issues we are asked about more and more from our members… let’s examine why this might be: Dependence on technology – Looking down at our phones regularly can have a really negative impact on our chin and neck. You only have to look in the mirror at the many chins you create as you look down to understand how this is impacting your appearance in the long term. Hold your phone up when you look at it and ensure your desk is set up correctly so that you’re not looking down at your screen. Poor Posture – Poor neck and spine alignment can add up to 30 pounds of weight to our necks. “For every inch of Forward Head Posture, it can increase the weight of the head on the spine by an additional 10 pounds.” (Kapandji, Physiology of Joints, Vol. 3) Forward Head Posture can lead to a multitude of issues in the body, including decreased lung capacity. According to Rene Cailliet M.D., (former director of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Southern California) “Most attempts to correct posture are directed toward the spine, shoulders and pelvis. All are IMPORTANT, but, head position takes precedence over all others. The body follows the head. Therefore, the entire body is best aligned by first restoring proper functional alignment to the head” poor posture Your skin care routine ends at your jaw line – Are you guilty of neglecting your neck when you apply your skin care products? Our necks can be one of the most telltale signs of aging, so it’s definitely worth giving it a bit of attention! UV rays – Apply sunscreen (ideally factor 50) to your neck every day, rain or shine, indoors or out. The sun is the number one cause of skin damage and it isn’t just about slathering yourself in cream when you hit the beach! Slow down in Collagen production – Sadly it is just a fact that collagen production drops as we pass through our 30s, and not only that, but our existing collagen also breaks down…ingesting collagen supplements (supplements are not all equal) can benefit the body as a whole and anecdotally, many report good results for the face and neck. What else can you do to reduce and delay signs of aging? Massage your neck – There are a number of massage techniques that can greatly improve the appearance of your neck. By massaging, you are increasing the blood flow; therefore, feeding the skin with the oxygen and nutrients it needs to look healthy. Massage can also boost collagen production and tone the muscle. Once you have some techniques under your belt, why not add them to your skincare routine, as you apply your products? Exercise your Platysma neck muscle – This sheet-like muscle that runs up both sides of the neck hugely benefits from a workout! Strengthening and toning the muscle will plump up the appearance of the skin above, our techniques also tone and define the jawline. A word of caution: it is really important to do these techniques correctly so not to put strain on the neck. Create ideal conditions for collagen production – Whilst we may make less collagen as we age, we can certainly do everything to maximize the conditions for production. Eating lots of Vitamin C is a great way to do this as it is needed to synthesize collagen production, and stay hydrated!! Avoid pollutants – Smoking is very damaging to collagen, so that’s definitely a habit to avoid, but do what you can to protect yourself from air pollution; get out into clean air as often as you can, and wear an anti-pollutant formula every day if you live in an urban area. The takeaway lesson for today? Don’t despair! There is so much you can do to prevent and even reduce signs of aging in the neck…if you are ready to take it seriously (and by seriously, we mean a few minutes a day!), then we are ready to help you! Check out our membership options today! Don’t forget to use the code READYTOGLOW on annual membership for your 50% discount!