Day creams, night creams, masks and hyaluronic acid treatments: we constantly try to ensure that our facial skin is well cared for every day.
However, we often forget about the neck and décolletage. As a result, many expression lines appear in the chest area over time. Here are 5 tricks to prevent or eliminate décolletage wrinkles.
Causes of wrinkles on the décolleté and chest
As with wrinkles around the eyes, mouth and forehead, aging is the main cause of the appearance of fine lines and looser skin on the neck, chest and décolletage (upper torso).
With each birthday, the collagen in our skin, which gives it structure, degrades a little more. The result: the skin becomes thinner, less elastic, and drier, making it look less firm, sagging, and wrinkled. However, there are other factors that could cause wrinkles to appear on the décolletage and chest.
1. Sun damage
Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet light (think of how shirts, dresses, and swimsuits leave these same areas exposed) accelerates the natural aging process, degrades the skin’s collagen and elastin (the connective tissue that keeps it youthful and firm), and causes the skin to lose its firmness and elasticity. When this happens, the skin begins to sag and wrinkle.
2. A neglected body area
When you wash and moisturize your face in the morning and before bed each night, you may not always include your neck, chest, and décolletage. If you neglect cleansing, moisturizing, and nourishing these areas—as well as your cheeks, forehead, chin, nose, etc.—the negative effects accumulate over time.
3. Sleeping on your side
You may have heard that sleeping on your side (which presses your face and neck against the pillow) can contribute to facial wrinkles. This is true, but it can also contribute to lines in other areas: sleeping on your side or in the fetal position compresses the skin of the chest, which can cause wrinkles between and just above the breasts.
4. Restrictive clothing
Sports bras, swimsuits, tank tops, and tight blouses can compress your breasts and the surrounding skin. While you might feel supported during a workout or at the beach, remember that wearing overly tight clothing for extended periods can contribute to wrinkles.
5. Smoking wrinkles the décolletage and other areas
Smoking doesn’t just cause fine lines and wrinkles on the face; it can also occur on the neck and chest. This is because nicotine constricts the blood vessels in the outermost layers of the skin, hindering blood flow and depriving the skin of essential oxygen and nutrients.
