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In this episode of 'Skinside Out,' we discuss the often-overlooked importance of neck skincare. They talk about why the neck ages quicker due to delicate skin, constant movement, sun exposure, and lifestyle factors like smoking and weight changes. The team explains the anatomy of the neck, preventative measures, and a range of treatment options including topical applications, neuromodulators, and non-invasive procedures such as radio frequency microneedling and fractional lasers. They also touch on the relevance of combining different skincare products and treatments for optimal results. Listeners are encouraged to integrate neck care into their skincare routines and seek professional advice for personalized treatments.
00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Neck Care
00:24 Common Neglect Areas: Neck, Decollete, and Hands
01:25 Why the Neck Ages Quickly
03:33 Understanding Neck Anatomy
04:52 Preventative and At-Home Treatments
09:16 Non-Invasive Treatments for the Neck
10:55 Combining Modalities for Optimal Results
17:11 Addressing Fat and Laxity in the Neck
20:26 Conclusion: Treat Your Neck Like Your Face
Creators and Guests
Host
Host
What is Skinside Out?
Welcome to Skinside Out, where science meets beauty, the ultimate dermatology podcast! Dive deep into the fascinating world of skin health with expert insights, evidence-based discussions, and myth-busting truths. Each episode explores the medical, cosmetic, and surgical aspects of dermatology, while keeping you informed about trending skincare topics. Whether you’re a skincare enthusiast, medical professional, or just curious about how to achieve your best skin, Skinside Out is your go-to resource for staying informed and inspired.
[00:00:00] Default_2026-01-07_2: We really have to encourage people more in their early thirties to start taking care of their neck because I feel like you start to hit a certain age and then you're like, oh my gosh, I didn't take any care rather than just being preventative.
Real skin, real science, real confidence with Dr. Zane Hussein. Welcome to.
[00:00:19] Default_2026-01-07_2: Welcome to Skin Side Out where Science meets Beauty. I'm your host Dr. Zane, with Heather and Courtney. So you may have heard the phrase, your face can lie by your neck, tells the truth. And I think there's a lot of wisdom in that, especially in the cosmetic realm. I've never heard that. I think it makes sense because most people like will take care of their face Yeah.
And do all their face treatments, you know. Mm-hmm. Put all their serums on and we neglect the neck and we forget, we neglect the neck. Yeah. And the, and the decollete. And the hands. And the hands. Its a whole song. Protect your neck. Protect your neck. That's great. Um, so, you know, we spend so much time focusing on.
You know, the skin on our face that we tend to neglect our necks and other sensitive areas that are also cosmetically visible. Mm-hmm. So it can give away your age, especially if you're like doing procedures or you know, you're just, you know, using sun protection on like your face for instance. You can tell a big difference.
Mm-hmm. So, and the neck is a very. Delicate tissue as well. It ages differently. It gets affected by sun differently. So let's dive into why does the neck age so quickly? I think it's very similar to our last episode, talking about the under eyes. Um, a lot of things that we mentioned do, um, you know, apply to the neck aging as well.
So like it's a very delicate area. The skin is a lot thinner there, um, compared to our face. Um, and so we lose collagen and elastin very quickly. There. We're always moving our neck. Mm-hmm. I think we see a lot of like tech neck. So from like keeping your head down can, you know, create more lines or accentuate that aging?
Um, sun exposure mm-hmm. I think is a big one. It's any sort of, and similar thing, you know, like we apply sunscreen to our face, um, daily hopefully, but um, we forget to bring it down to our neck and chest and. The more UV damage we have and free radicals that are forming, the more that skin can thin, the more the aging can be noticeable too.
Yeah. And the common pattern that we see is derma. Mm-hmm. Where we see that kind of ruddy, brownish dispigmentation, especially on the sides of our neck. And typically the center is spared because our chin often blocks the light there, so it's sun protected. But we do see a lot of that in many of our sun worshiping patients and it.
Does age the skin tremendously and you know, it's very difficult to treat. So we'll go into like treatment options for that, but that's another reason. I think also genetics and lifestyle can play a role with the neck too. Mm-hmm. Um, any skin on the body, but, um, it's more noticeable, similar to the under eyes.
It's more noticeable than other areas. So, um, smoking plays a big role with mm-hmm the integrity of the neck. Um, weight changes, especially like dramatic weight changes. Um, more so weight loss. I think we see a lot more laxity. , Posture can play a role too, you know, like, like we mentioned with the nic.
, And can definitely accentuate. Different areas on the neck. Yeah. So let's dive into the neck anatomy. So we're really talking about like the skin and the, you know, more superficial structures. We're not going into the airways or, um, more complicated anatomy like that. So what we're gonna be talking about is the first layer, you know, the skin.
So Heather just kind of alluded to. The skin being very thin, it's delicate, it's more prone to damage. So that is kind of where we see that initial, like sun damage happening. Um, the fat below the skin layer is relatively sparse, so it's very thin. Um, and right below that is the platysma muscle. So this is a very.
Thin muscle that envelops the neck, attaches into the mandible. And that's really like the muscle that we're constantly using when we're like moving around and that leads to the tech neck. Mm-hmm. So this muscle is constantly being worked and, you know, as the muscle weakens, it creates, um, you know, platysmal bands like the Tricky Neck, um, and those little rings, um, that we see on our neck.
So these are some of the reasons why it's more from the muscle contraction causing that. Lastly, um, you know, obviously there's bone like attachments, like, you know, where you have your mandible, um, into the clavicle, the collarbone. So you know, the muscles kind of attach to that area as well. All right, so let's talk about preventative and at-home treatments that we can do to help improve our skin quality of her neck.
So, Courtney, let's dive in. So there are topicals that you can use at home, kind of similar with your eyes. I always say these are things that. You know, are not going to be a one step fix for every neck problem. Um, I think, you know, neck creams especially. I think they can be helpful for patients with certain conditions like, um, the crepeness or the texture of the skin, but it's not gonna fix that Turkey neck.
It's not gonna fix the laxity unfortunately. Um, but there are things that can help. So things like retinoids, um, with the neck being a little bit more than than the face. I do normally recommend patients using it maybe. Twice a week rather than that every night. Um, growth factors. I love growth factors especially when you can find a neck cream that has a good growth factor like the neo cutes, um, neck and decollete, I really like a lot.
Vitamin Cs, um, again, can help with building some collagen preventing those free radicals and just helping with that overall sun damage. And then sometimes for things like the derma, I've recommended hydrocodone in the past. Um. In conjunction with usually like IPL or other lasers. So I think, um, you know, talking with your dermatologist or your provider and seeing what, um, would be a right fit for you.
Yeah. And what are your thoughts on using the same skincare on your face? For the neck, do you tend to find that that is, you know, tolerable or do you think that you need different products for your neck? I think it depends on the product. Mm-hmm. Um, for retinoids you have to be a little careful. Mm-hmm.
Because your neck can't tolerate as much as your face can. Um, I think for most other things mm-hmm. I would. Use it on the neck, the products that I'm using on the face, like, um, like the vitamin C. Mm-hmm. Um, any sort of like peptides or collagen stimulating products. Yeah, I agree. It's funny, I was just having this thought, um, earlier this week.
I have two thoughts. Number one being 31, I was like. We really have to encourage people more in their early thirties to start taking care of their neck because I feel like you start to hit a certain age and then you're like, oh my gosh, I didn't take any care rather than just being preventative. But my second thought also was just about products and I was thinking to myself as I was using my, my bio serum and then my lumier eye cream and then my neck and cream.
I'm thinking to myself, if someone. Um, could only afford one product, then I might say, okay, use that BIOS serum and go ahead and put it under your eyes. Go ahead and put it on the neck. Mm-hmm. Um, so I think it does depend on the product. Mm-hmm. But I think there are some products you can kind of get away with using for both areas.
Yeah. Vitamin C being one of them for sure. Yeah. I definitely get sensitive with retinoids on my neck. Mm-hmm. Um, I definitely get irritated. Yeah. I'll put the, any sort of like retinol eye cream that I use on your neck, I'll use that on my neck more so. Um, going back to the sunscreen too, just to, um, reiterate, you know, applying it all the way down, but I think a lot of times we forget about the back of our neck too.
Mm-hmm. Um, and there's this condition called cuts Rhomboid, Alice Nuca, which if you look it up, it's, it kind of looks like a rhomboid, um, shape. Yeah. Like, I call 'em diamonds. Diamonds, yeah. On. Um, on the back of the neck from sun exposure. So just remembering to apply your sunscreen there as well. 'cause we see a lot of significant sun damage in that area.
It's funny, like when I was a kid, I never wore sunscreen and like I'd be out in the sun all the time, the summer. And the back of my neck is a totally different shade than the rest of my body. It's weird. And like I, even though I wear sunscreen now, it's been years like of sun production. It's a, it's a totally different skin, skin color.
It is. I'll speak to that. That's why you burn me. You're touching it early because I think there are some people who, um, will use, you know, take care of the front, but it's a clear distinction. A a lot clearer than yours as far as the, what they're doing to protect their skin. Yeah. Um, so let's talk about some non-invasive treatments that can help the neck.
So let's talk about tox. How can we use tox to improve our neck skin quality? So, um, tox or neuromodulators are used to relax muscles and like Dr. Zane was mentioning, there are muscles in the neck that contribute to like the Turkey neck or like the horizontal line. So if we can relax those muscles. We can therefore relax those lines.
We do often use neuromodulators in those areas. Um, so like if you make the Turkey neck like this, I have a pretty bad one. Um, Courtney, do it. I've actually never gotten it in my, in my neck, but yeah, I haven't either. Um, it, it works very well. Mm-hmm. Um, I think we see phenomenal results with it and um, you can even do a little like nefertiti lift if we put, I love me a nefertiti lift.
Yeah. Looks so good. It works so well. So if we put neuromodulators in kind of like right below the jawline, it kind of helps tuck that skin in just a little bit more and snatch your jaw in a little bit, but it'll help kind of smooth out and, and. Pull your skin, um, to smooth out those lines. Yeah, I mean, I think that tox is a great option.
It's relatively quick, easy, non-invasive, and patients tend to be satisfied. Yeah. Um, but that's kind of addressing more like the muscle, right? Mm-hmm. So let's talk about the skin itself and, you know, collagen and trying to improve, like the thickness of the skin because you know your neck. It does get crepey.
So we wanna kind of increase that collagen synthesis to help improve that integrity. So I'm a huge fan of using, you know, technologies. I really do like. Combining modalities. I like radio frequency. Um, radio frequency microneedling does a great job, um, with tightening the neck. I also like non-ablative fractional lasers, so the combination of those treatments tend to get a really nice improvement in the skin quality.
It also helps with, you know, the hyperpigmentation from sun damage. Um, especially with that 1927 nanometer wavelength. Um, it does a great job with that. Our office is definitely the first office that I've worked at that we treat both face and neck and.
I think that's why it gets so neglected a lot of times, different practices that I've worked at. You know, maybe you're charged extra for the neck. Mm-hmm. Or, um, yeah. Things like that. Whereas we, when we are quoting someone, we're quoting for face and neck. And I think that's so important because again, going back to if you just keep treating the face and you're not treating the neck, there's gonna be such a stark difference Yeah.
In the appearance of that. And that will give away your age. So I think finding a provider that, mm-hmm. At least has an open discussion with you. Mm-hmm. About treating that area too is so important. Mm-hmm. And I kind of made that a point when I was creating my office policies. I do want to address the head and neck because it is a cosmetically sensitive issue.
And if we kind of have a more cohesive treatment, you're gonna have a better outcome that my patients are happier. And you know, I think that's what it's all about, right? We get, you know, optimal satisfaction. And let's be honest, how many people wear turtlenecks anymore? These me? Oh you do? That's my whole winter wardrobe.
I, they're outta style. Well, I dunno. I guess I live under a rock, but I'm sure they're coming back in though. Like everything from the nineties coming. I turtle, if you look in my closet, I'm not kidding you. My winter side is probably 70% turtlenecks. I have one in every color. I don't think I own a turtleneck.
I live, don't, and died in real life. I don't like that feeling neither. I'd rather wear a scarf. I feel like I'm in a noose. Like I can't have things around my neck. It's like a weighted blanket. I feel like. I thought Another reason why I don't like wearing ties. I hate wearing ties. I feel like I'm like being strangled.
I just, I'm gonna send you, I'm going home tonight. I'm sending you the picture of all my, it's, it's ridiculous. Okay. I won't get full details. So anyone except for Courtney, you probably don't wear a turtleneck out of everybody. I, and I won't say, I won't explain, but I wouldn't have thought you would like turtlenecks.
I know, I know. You know what I mean? Yeah. But I, I would've seen you as a turtleneck person. I could. Why? Why? I don't know. I don't know. Some people are just turtleneck people, I guess.
But I'll tell you, like even though I have an aversion to things on my neck. I have started wearing a neck brace at night. Ew. No way. I have it's game changing. Okay. That is such old way. Energy, less pain. Wait, hey, I'm turning 40. I don't get you like white like a phone. Like is it from the front of your neck or for, no, it wraps around my neck and it kind of keeps it in place so that I don't get those cricks of my neck and like, you know, like those things that can be pretty bad.
You can't like move and turn. I will say I have seen a little trend coming for females who. Like, want to protect any sort of like crepeness forming between their breasts? Is it the, the $200 pillow? I don't know. There's a, it's like a, it's a chest brace. Oh. That pretty much keeps your breasts like apart.
That way if you lay on your side, you're not getting like cre, the crepe lines, well they sell a pillow. It's like a $200 pillow and it's supposed to help you lay comfortably on your back. Your back. And it's supposed to help. So do you use your brace with a pillow? Mm-hmm. Yeah, it just kind of keeps it from like, I guess the angle when I'm sleeping on my side, like.
I think that's been causing you doing when you're like that. So it kind of keeps it stable. So I'm not like kind of creating that angle. Okay. I'm interested. Yeah. And actually I tried it. For the first time, like two days ago. Mm-hmm. Like, I'm not, Ashley got me into it. She started doing it. I'm like, okay, let's see what's, what's this about?
I was making fun. I You guys in bed? Yeah. I was making fun of her before, but you know what we're, um, you know, living our best lives. Yeah. Best geriatric life. That my, my retainer. Yeah. I do wear my retainer very often. Well, anyways, going back to I guess, how to prevent besides neck braces. Um, going back to our treatments that we can do, one of my favorite is the radius neck wash, a hyper dilute radius neck wash.
I love seeing game changer. Yeah, I mean, I just. I love seeing patients back after they do it with one of you guys. It's just, it's such a difference. And normally you can start seeing results pretty quickly. Um, but it's building your own collagen. Again, it's radius, it's a biostimulatory filler, and normally we'll do a series of three, um, sometimes like a month apart.
Mm-hmm. And I think it just provides that like structural, um, integrity to the neck. It helps with the crepeness. Skin texture and just remodeling some of that, that skin glow, like it gives you a glow. Mm-hmm. Um, and a similar concept to sculptor. Mm-hmm. So you can technically use sculpture as well. So I do think that this is a.
Part of your regimen that, you know, like you want to use different modalities. I often combine the radio frequency, the non-ablative fractional laser, and the, you know, hyper deli radius mm-hmm. In one session. Mm-hmm. And you just see like the synergistic effect. Mm-hmm. And you get some really awesome results.
And typically repeat this every month for three months. Um, beautiful results. Yeah, and sculpture and radius are technically fillers, but they're biostimulatory fillers, so they're not meant to volumize. Mm-hmm. So please don't let somebody put. Hyaluronic acid filler in your neck? I don't think that would, well, you can do it.
Um, so this is where I use, he loves devil advocate, so I do sometimes treat the superficial neck lines with a very soft hyaluronic acid filler so that there is a role for, there is a place, there's. Yeah, there's always a place, um, fat reduction. I, so I think one of the biggest misconceptions with patients is what is truly fat versus what is laxity mm-hmm.
Of the, of the neck or skin. And I think sometimes you'll have patients come in that think what they have. Can be fixed by some of these treatments, but it's just truly that loose skin. So when there is that submental fat, when you can feel that pinchable fat, that's where you can look at things like Kybella that will help to reduce that fat in that area.
But when you are looking at things that is true laxity that we do get as we get older, then you might want to look into other modalities, um, such as maybe a neck lift or threads. Mm-hmm. Or. Surgery in that area. Yeah. Um, and when you do have that fullness, submental fullness, um, another great option is submental liposuction.
Mm-hmm. I mean, as the gold standard, we see some beautiful results with that and you're actually eliminating the fat in that area. So that's a nice option, especially. If you don't want to go through multiple sessions of, you know, Ella, which is deoxycholic acid, which, you know, dissolves the fat. Um, I do think that supplemental liposuction is a great procedure.
Yeah. Yeah. Um, so do. We talked about some of the non-surgical, like thread lifts. I mean, I think it does have a role. You can see some, you know, mild improvement in that, but I think it's like not very long lasting. Mm-hmm. Um, neck lifts the other extreme, right? So like we see some really nice results. Often they're paired with a facelift and we can see some nice tightening of the skin, but.
Recognize that the skin integrity and quality is not changed. Mm-hmm. We're just literally cutting tissues. Mm-hmm. And repositioning it. Mm-hmm. So I am always of the mindset that you should always still concentrate on, you know, skin integrity, improving the quality of the skin, and if you have a lot of laxity, yeah.
A neck lift can be very helpful. Yeah, there's no magic trick or one magic trick. It's, it's best to use a combination of these different treatments to, yeah, to catch it all. I mean, even things like when you're going in for your laser treatment with IPL or another laser that's treating maybe some vasculars or browns mm-hmm.
I think you can still see some nice, um, mild collagen production, and that's where it is important that when you're getting treatments for your face, again, that's why. Mm-hmm. I like that we treat the neck because over time you might think, oh, those treatments aren't really. Big treatments, but over time, if you're doing them pretty diligently, you will still have results in that area.
Mm-hmm. Yeah. And like IPL and vascular and pigment specific lasers can be really good for kind of clearing up that tone. Um, I love treating derma. Mm-hmm. It's one of my favorite things to treat because I think it's also one of my favorite things to say. Yeah. Mine is idiopathic mutate, hypo melanosis.
That is sexy. Big word doesn't mean much. Yeah. Um, but I think because the results are so night and day mm-hmm. And you see their before and after pictures and they look incredible. It just, it's one of my favorite things to treat. Mm-hmm. Yeah. The neck is a very complex area, is often neglected.
So I think that we have shone a light on this very critical area, um, very cosmetically sensitive and you know. Prevention is always the best. So, you know, treat your neck like you treat your face. But if you have like sun damage, if you have other concerns like laxity, you know, there are options for you. I mean, you just have to, you know, seek the right guidance.
So seeing your board certified dermatologist and their team, um, a plastic surgeon. Just making sure that you're getting the right treatment for your concern and for all patients. You can always do things to help protect your skin and treat your skin. So that's always the first thing on my mind. And then we can talk about procedures and, you know, other things to help your skin integrity as you age.
Yeah, I think the biggest and the easiest takeaway that someone at home. Could do is just go ahead and start bringing your skincare ingredients down to your neck. Mm-hmm. Um, especially, you know, your vitamin C mm-hmm. Your moisturizers, your sunscreen. So go ahead and just start bringing that down, even your hands.
Mm-hmm. Which I'm sure we'll have another episode about just your hands, but even your hands, whatever extra product you have, just go ahead and rub that on the back of your hands. Mm-hmm. Just start thinking about those, those places. Yeah. great episode on a very critical area. So the neck is very, very important and I do think that it needs more attention.
And if you need help, just make sure you seek the right guidance. Um, and if you have any questions, concerns, um, if you have any comments for us, please drop us a line like and subscribe. But until next time, skin side out,