Skin becomes loose and thin with age and loses the fat that plumps it out. Bones and veins become more visible. Dry skin, cumulative years of exposure to ultraviolet sun rays and gravity all conspire to cause wrinkles. Wrinkles are especially noticeable on the neck, where they often hang loosely.
Causes
In addition to sun exposure, a number of lifestyle choices and habits affect the development of wrinkles, according to the National Institute on Aging. Smoking reduces circulation, dries the skin and increases your risk of developing wrinkles on your face and neck. Losing weight also reduces the amount of fat you have in your neck and with age, leaves wrinkled, loose skin at the neckline.
Prevention
Avoiding sun exposure and smoking are two ways to prevent or reduce the amount of wrinkles you end up with on your neck. Wear sunscreen, a scarf and a hat when outdoors to protect your neck from the harmful sun rays. Sun damage is cumulative, so ultraviolet protection should begin in childhood, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Considerations
Wrinkles are hereditary, and no matter what precautions you take, your risk of developing wrinkles on your neck is increased if your parents and grandparents tended to develop neck wrinkles. Repeated facial expressions that cause your neck muscles to twitch create grooves in the layer of skin just below the top epidermis, according to MayoClinic.com. Over time, these grooves become deeper and more permanent so that once your skin begins to thin, the wrinkles become more prominent.
Treatment
Creams that contain retinoids may be effective for reducing fine lines on the face, but generally do not work as well on neck wrinkles. Cosmetic surgical procedures can be more effective, according to MayoClinic.com. Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion use devices that sand off the top layer of skin, removing the wrinkled skin and exposing fresh, new layers of skin. Laser treatments can stimulate new collagen growth that can plump up sagging skin. Botulism injections and chemical peels are other options. A neck lift is the most dramatic and can be used to cut off the wrinkles and tighten the remaining skin with stitches.
Warning
Side effects are possible from cosmetic surgery procedures, reports MayoClinic.com. Your neck may become raw and red from dermabrasion techniques, especially after the multiple treatments that will be required. Wounds develop from lasers, although they eventually disappear. Chemical peels also leave wounds that can lead to scarring. Botox injections can damage nerve cells and lead to permanent disfiguration, and surgery comes with its own set of risks, ranging from infection to physician mistakes.
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