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Everything you need to know about hot flushes
Experiencing them is no joke – but a new non-hormonal preventative drug may change the lives of women going through menopause.
Phew! I’m not saying ‘phew’ because I’m hot (although I often do feel like I am melting around the edges). It’s more a ‘phew’ with a sigh of relief. Because some medical genius somewhere has come up with a new drug that prevents menopausal hot flushes. Veoza, also known as fezolinetant, has been approved by US regulator, the Food and Drug Administration, and is being hailed by many as a ‘game-changer’.

Currently a prescription-only, non-hormonal medicine, it is soon to be available privately here from January, with a review for potential use on the NHS in July 2024. The private cost has been set at £44.80 for 28 days worth of 45mg tablets.

Hot flushes are no joke for women of a certain age. I know because I’ve raged through them. One minute you are merrily getting on with your day, then without a hint of warning, you feel that furnace starting in your legs, sometimes even in your feet. The razor-sharp heat travels up your body, through your belly until it reaches your chest and head, almost blasting its way out of your what-the-hell brain.

You feel like someone is attempting to burn you at the stake as your face turns the vermillion shade of a Man United shirt, and rivulets of sweat spill down your flaming cheeks with the same commitment as the Trevi fountain. I once remember having to leave a party because I was so distracted by the effects of a hot flush that I lost the power of speech. My silk shirt had a rapidly spreading dark patch resembling a map of Canada across my very sodden back. ‘Humiliating’ isn’t a strong enough word to describe it.

So, could fezolinetant be the answer? The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has given the drug the thumbs up here. For women who are not suited to HRT because of a history of breast or ovarian cancer, blood clots or high blood pressure, fezolinetant may be life-changing.

Julian Beach, the interim executive director of healthcare quality and access at the MHRA, told us: “Hot flushes and night sweats caused by menopause are common and can have a significant impact on a woman’s daily life. We are therefore pleased to have authorised Veoza (fezolinetant) for hot flushes and night sweats caused by menopause via our reliance procedure. No medicine would be approved unless it met our expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness, and we continue to keep the safety of all medicines under close review.”

Dr Louise Newson, GP, menopause specialist and founder of the menopause app Balance, is more sceptical. She says: “While fezolinetant is being reported as a promising non-hormonal option for treating menopausal symptoms, it will only target vasomotor (hot flush) symptoms, which are not the commonest symptoms of the perimenopause or menopause. More worryingly, there is a lack of evidence on long-term (more than one year) efficacy and safety, and this drug has not been tested on all ages of menopausal women.”

Fezolinetant blocks a brain protein – neurokinin-3 – that controls body temperature in menopausal women. Clinical trials carried out earlier this year involving women aged between 40-65 have shown that after 12 weeks of use, it reduced the frequency of hot flushes by about 60% in those with noticeable symptoms.

Louise Newson adds: “Just remember, this drug does not replace oestrogen, and so will not improve bone density, reduce inflammation and protect our brains and cardiovascular system from the effects of low hormones.”

Advocates, especially those who are averse to HRT, are excited by the possibility of no more waking up at 2am stuck to the duvet cover, but it is still early days for fezolinetant. Like all new ‘game-changing’ medicines, the jury is out.

What is a hot flush?

Up to 70% of women going through menopause experience hot flashes. They typically feel temporary periods of intense heat in their upper body, arms and face. They can sweat more profusely and have flushed skin. Adrenaline and exercise can increase the intensity of a hot flush; dehydration can also occur, particularly if the weather is warm. It’s important to drink lots of fluids. Alcohol and caffeine can make symptoms worse, and so some menopausal women choose to avoid these.

What causes a hot flush?

Our body’s temperature is controlled by a section of the brain called the hypothalamus. Dr Penny Ward, GP and menopause specialist at Newson Health says, “When a woman’s oestrogen levels start to fall in perimenopause and menopause, it causes disruption in this area, often resulting in hot flushes and night sweats.”

Paula Briggs, chair of the British Menopause Society and consultant in s*xual and reproductive health at Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, adds, “While low oestrogen levels are key in this process, not all women with low oestrogen will have hot flushes. Other factors involving compromised neurotransmitters can play a role, and research has linked gene variants in individuals to hot flushes.”

How long does a hot flush last?

A flush can last anything from a few seconds to several minutes. The overall duration of experiencing hot flushes tends to be between six months and a couple of years. But for many women, they can be significantly longer. Some women report having hot flashes into their eighties.

What does a hot flush feel like?

Mainly, there is a feeling of increased heat, skin flushing, and sweating. Some women can feel fretful, distracted and out of sorts. Anticipating when a flush might happen, especially at inopportune moments, can cause fearfulness and agitation. Interference with sleeping patterns can have a continuing effect on mood and the ability to cope. Sufferers say they sometimes experience chills, palpitations and a lasting level of anxiety after a hot flush.

Why do hot flushes come on after eating?
Paula Briggs explains, “Although many women report this happening, the reason is not fully understood. But it may be linked with minor changes in core body temperature as we eat. Certain compounds within foods can also affect neurotransmitters, which influence the ability of the hypothalamus to regulate body temperature.” Spicy foods, sugary processed products, alcohol and caffeine are typical culprits.

How does fezolinetant work to stop a hot flush?
It selectively blocks a brain protein called neurokinin-3 in the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that controls body temperature in menopausal women. Because fezolinetant is not a hormone drug, it does not replace oestrogen, which diminishes greatly in menopausal women.

Does fezolinetant have any side effects?
As a relatively new drug, there have been limited studies on side effects. There is a possibility of diarrhoea, upset tummy, alteration in liver function and insomnia.

Everything you need to know about hot flushes Experiencing them is no joke – but a new non-hormonal preventative drug may change the lives of women going through the menopause

Whether you have recently been diagnosed with IBS or suspect that you may be experiencing its symptoms, this article will provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you navigate living with irritable bowel syndrome.

Understanding Irritable Bowel Syndrome Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder affecting millions worldwide. Its diverse symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and constipation,

How to look younger and fresher with jewellery alone

Look past the make-up and clothes – it’s the smallest of details that have the greatest impact.
We are used to feeling that our make-up or clothes might be responsible for making us look less vibrant and youthful than we’d like, but sometimes it’s the smallest of details that can have the greatest impact.

Whether you’ve been hanging on to a piece of jewellery that has sentimental value or simply haven’t updated your collection since you bought into a trend that is now starting to feel tired, a small jewellery refresh could go some way to making you look and feel instantly fresher.

Jewellery transcending age boundaries and staying timeless is a speciality of Sophie Howard, founder of By Pariah.

“Quality craftsmanship, enduring aesthetics, and versatility are universal qualities that can resonate with people of all ages,” says Howard, who counts Katie Holmes and Kendall Jenner as clients. Her Large Drop Earrings have been a bestseller across all age ranges and it’s easy to see why - elegant and bold, they strike the perfect balance between statement and every day, and there’s not an occasion where they would be out of place.
Gold jewellery has been ubiquitous for years, and whilst it’s a classic choice, some skin tones are more suited to silver. Mix and match it up to see which metal is more complimentary (especially on the ears where they can have highlighting and lifting qualities) and choose accordingly. Silver works really well on very pale skin tones and blondes, but stay clear of rose gold if you’re a redhead as the tones will clash. Lightly tanned and olive tones suit both metals, while darker and South East Asian colouring will let classic gold shine.
Today’s roster of jewellery designers aren’t shying away from statement pieces and bold colours, but it now feels more modern to wear these creations with a light touch, artfully arranged and curated with a wink of a diamond here and there.

Colour comes in the form of carefully chosen gemstones such as muted smokey quartz or green agate. Pearls are misshapen to celebrate natural forms. Chunky chains have been downsized as we move away from 1980s-style strands and look towards 1990s minimalism with a twist (this might be something that you bought the first time around that’s waiting to be re-worn). Statement pieces are interesting in the way the metals have been formed rather than being overbearingly big or heavy, and the finish should be smooth and polished.
Personalised jewellery has also had an update, particularly at Otiumberg, where name pendants crafted in solid gold have become modern treasures. “Sentimentality is best encapsulated through personalised pieces,” says co-founder Rosanna Wollenberg, who also suggests updating heirloom jewellery you might currently have by wearing it in a new way - she wears her grandmother’s ring on one of her gold chains.

Howard agrees, melting down her grandmother’s wedding band to make her and her husband’s wedding rings. “The key is to strike a balance between preserving the sentimental value of the heirloom and making it a piece that you’ll love and wear regularly,” she advises and encourages experimenting with your own pieces. “A brooch could be worn as a hairpin, a pendant could be styled as a bracelet charm.”
Whether you update the pieces you currently own to make them right for today or choose something new entirely, there are plenty of options. Here are some starting points for keeping your jewellery box timeless and modern.

Stacking rings

Choose one finger as a statement to stack up multiple rings. Mixing and matching gold and silver works really well here, and you can choose a style that has already combined the two. By Pariah creates some of the best stacking rings around, as well as providing great layering inspiration with its imagery - don’t be afraid to add in some colour and make sure your chosen ring size isn’t too tight.

Reformed hoops

Hoops are an everyday go-to, but how about mixing it up a little? They can still be worn day-to-day, but consider adding a little more interest; All Blues’ Carved Snake hoops have an offbeat finish and silhouette which sets them apart from the classics, while Monica Vinader’s textured swirls play with form. At Kinraden, the Doric style comes in a range of different sizes, and the Gemini gold and silver colourway is great if you’re willing to pay a little extra.

Introduce some colour

The beautiful muted smokey quartz of this Otiumberg ring will change colour in different lights and is just chunky enough to garner attention. Add interest to a white shirt and jeans with a string of coloured gemstone - it’s wise to choose a single colour here to avoid looking too much like you’ve returned from a beachside holiday.

Conversation-starter pendants

Cord necklace chains have returned into fashion and can have a great impact. Alighieri’s is adjustable so you don’t have a knot at the back of your neck and can be worn at any length you like. Ella Stern’s gemstone pieces are beautifully dainty - this one sits right alongside the collarbone, which makes it easy to layer with other necklaces.
Add a bit of bling.
Diamonds and gold are a classic combination, and this year they’re not just to be saved for the best. Tennis necklaces and bracelets have emerged as an easy way to enhance a simple outfit - add a T-shirt - and the popularity of zirconia means you don’t have to pay diamond prices. Carolina de Barros has hidden white sapphires in her wax-cast Dalia ring, which will glint as it catches the light.

How to look younger and fresher with jewellery alone Look past the make-up and clothes – it’s the smallest of details that have the greatest impact

Health Benefits of Mushroom Consumption:
Contains compounds like polysaccharides and beta-glucans that have anti-cancer properties.
Rich in antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation in the body.
Regular consumption is beneficial for overall well-being.

The Remarkable Health Benefits of Mushrooms: Unveiling the Power of Nature's Little Wonder - cosmetic surgery Rich in Fibre: Mushrooms are an excellent source of dietary fibre, which aids in digestion and helps maintain a healthy weight. The fibre content in mushrooms can also promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, leading to improved gut health. Boosting Enzymes: Certain types of mushrooms contain....

'I'm 33 and look younger now than I did in my early 20s - here's my skincare regiment'

The skin barrier is: a) something your architect says you need for the external walls of a kitchen extension; b) a protective loincloth Hollywood actors wear during s*x scenes; c) the outermost layer of the epidermis of your skin. Congratulations if you answered C, and commiserations if you’ve just paid your builder an extra £15,000 for A (try the ombudsman). Although, as Dr Mary Sommerlad, a consultant dermatologist for Vichy, explains, you weren’t a million miles off.

“Think of your skin barrier as a brick wall, with the skin cells as the bricks and the lipid layer as the mortar. It’s a protective barrier that guards the body from things like the weather, pollution and microbes,” she says.

Like K-beauty, skinimalism, retinol and ceramides before it, the phrase “skin barrier” is suddenly everywhere, whether it’s on your products, on social media or in beauty marketing. But before you assume it’s just industry hype, take a moment because it’s actually a real thing, not just a hashtag — and it could also be the reason for many of your skin concerns. You may have damaged your barrier if your skin is dry, irritated, red, sore, dull, rough, or itchy. Or if your inflammatory skin condition — think rosacea, dermatitis or eczema — has suddenly flared up, your skin barrier could be the problem.
Sound familiar?
Here’s everything you need to know about caring for, maintaining and repairing your skin barrier.

Why is skin barrier damage suddenly ‘a thing’?

Whereas some factors affecting our skin barrier — genetics, UV, stress and pollution, for example — have long been at play, in the past few years, we’ve all become armchair skincare experts, chucking more and more on our complexions, which aren’t always thanking us for it. “The combination of an increased interest in skincare and the availability of highly effective over-the-counter products means that more of us are using powerful ingredients on our skin without necessarily understanding what they do, as well as the risks and how best to mitigate them,” Sommerlad says. “There is also a belief that layering multiple different products at one time will lead to faster results, when, unfortunately, the reality is too many active ingredients used as layers rather than using different, complementary ingredients as a single carefully considered formulation can damage the skin barrier.”

How do I know if I have a weakened skin barrier?

Is your skin feeling uncomfortable, but you’re unsure if your barrier is to blame? Increased dehydration is a common early pointer, as is sudden sensitivity, but if you’re struggling to pinpoint it, the consultant dermatologist Dr Thivi Maruthappu recommends watching out for these three symptoms:

1. Skin feels tight after cleansing.
2. When new skincare products are applied, you get a burning or stinging sensation.
3. Dry, flaky patches of skin.

What are the long-term issues with skin barrier damage?
The immediate symptoms of redness, dryness and sensitivity are annoying, but if they are not dealt with there could be consequences. According to the skin and laser expert Debbie Thomas: “Cracks and weaknesses in our protective shield allow irritants to flood in, causing disruption and inflammation in the skin. Once it is inflamed it becomes weaker and more prone to other conditions such as dermatitis, sensitivity, rosacea, acne and pigmentation. With prolonged irritation and inflammation the overall ageing of the skin will be affected, speeding up the development of lines, wrinkles and loss of elasticity due to less healthy collagen and new skin cells forming.”

What can I do to repair it?

So far, so scared? Don’t panic; a few simple tweaks and a bit of a skincare holiday should, in most cases, set you right. It takes roughly three to four weeks for your skin barrier to recuperate, Maruthappu says, so until then simplify your routine and shelve all actives and exfoliation until your skin starts to feel calmer.
Dr Sonia Khorana, the clinical dermatology expert for Olay, suggests a pared-back regime: “Start with a gentle pH-balanced cleanser twice a day and look for products with glycerin [a humectant, so it holds moisture], niacinamide, ceramides, squalane and panthenol. A good moisturiser will contain a combination of occlusives [preventing water loss], humectants [these draw/attract moisture] and emollients [which fill in the gaps or crevices between skin cells].” Next add a barrier repair cream or treatment, and then finally — you should be doing this anyway — always protect your skin with sunscreen.

How can I use active ingredients without harming my skin barrier?

Once you’ve got your barrier back on track you may want to return to activities with a vengeance, but it’s best to tread carefully. “If you use retinoids, try the ‘skin sandwich’ technique of applying retinoid on top of moisturiser and then reapply moisturiser on top,” Sommerlad says. “Have ‘skip nights’, meaning instead of using the retinoid nightly, use it on alternate nights to give your skin a break. If you are using medically prescribed topical treatments, check in with your dermatologist to see how best to manage, so you can continue with your treatment plan.”

What is the skin barrier? Everything you need to know It’s the phrase that’s suddenly popping up on all your beauty products, but what exactly is your skin barrier and why is it so important? (Trust us, it is)

How to get a flawless complexion — by make-up artist Lisa Eldridge
She’s the woman Keira Knightley and Kate Winslet trust to do their make-up — and now Lisa Eldridge is branching out into skincare. How to get a perfect A-list complexion, then? Green tea ice cubes (yes, really).
“People sent me angry messages,” Lisa Eldridge says, referring not to trolls but her fans. The source of their wrath? Missing out on one of her limited-edition Velvet Lipsticks. Back in 2018, when the make-up artist launched her lipsticks, fans would set alarms and alerts, manning multiple screens, just to get their hands on her products. “There was a crazy resale market in Asia where they were being resold for over $200,” she says, still baffled five years later.

Yet this is the sort of behaviour to expect from beauty obsessives who have grown up watching Eldridge on YouTube. She was an original on the platform back in 2008, and her videos started out low-fi, taking the now ubiquitous but at the time fresh format of a tutorial. Today she has more than 2 million subscribers on YouTube and another 1.8 million on Instagram.

What very few of these people know, however, is that Eldridge, whose celebrity clients include Keira Knightley, Kate Winslet and Dua Lipa, started out in skincare. Having left school in Liverpool at 16, she worked in a friend’s dad’s beauty salon while studying for a diploma in aesthetics at her local college. “I thought it would be mostly make-up, but it was all about the physiology of the skin, facial massage and lymph drainage,” she says. It paid dividends, first helping her understand her angry and acne-prone skin, which she loathed — not so much for the spots themselves but for the fact that she was trying to break into an industry that favoured effortless insouciance rather than industrial-strength concealment. “I was using AHAs and BHAs [exfoliating acids] before everyone knew about them. And I’d be researching retin-A creams.” Second, it helped with clients: models who had been on the fashion month circuit, on and off planes, up and down catwalks, who were plonked in her chair with lifeless, sallow skin, and celebrities who were, she says, “usually a bit stressed, a bit jet-lagged and a bit inflamed”.

Hence Eldridge’s skincare range. Like her make-up, this has been years in the making, as she wanted to create her own unique product formulas, not just buy existing ones, tweaking an ingredient or two as she went — a common approach in the beauty industry. “When I go around a department store I’ll be like, ‘Oh, I know this formula, this packaging.’ Some are great, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, but it’s just not interesting to me,” she says.

Fast forward to today, and she’s launching two products, a cleanser and a mist. “I wanted to start with moisturisers but they’re just not right yet,” she says. The Seamless Skincare Skin Enhancing Treatment Cleanser (£43) looks and feels like honey and is made from Chilean soapbark tree wood extract. Granted, that sounds Goopified, but as Eldridge eagerly explains, “It’s the world’s most concentrated source of natural saponins, which are the most natural way to clean”.
The brief was to create something that would transform skin in two minutes, about as much time as Eldridge gets to prep skin when working with A-listers. And she believes she has cracked it with the inclusion of prickly pear oil (to mitigate the effects of pollution), oat kernel oil (an anti-inflammatory) and squalane (a mega moisturiser). Then there’s the jack-of-all-trades Seamless Skincare Skin and Makeup Enhancing Mist (£37), which can be used as a standalone skincare product or to prep skin for make-up, giving your cosmetics more mileage, as well as refreshing your face come 3pm when everything looks a bit sorry. The mist also uses the Filmexel technology found in Eldridge’s highlighter and foundation, which is best described as Spanx for the skin as it subtly lifts and smooths its appearance.

Smart and hard-working, these aren’t products that pander to what Eldridge calls “skincare as entertainment”, which is as good a way as any to refer to the seemingly endless TikTok beauty trends. “You know, you can just make something silly and it’ll go viral. That’s the world we’re living in,” she says. So there’s no seven, eight, or nine-step routine or even a confirmed plan of what is to come apart from the aforementioned moisturiser. But there are two soon—to—be—sold—out skincare smash hits if Eldridge’s past is anything to go by.

Lisa’s skincare secrets

★ How to perk up sluggish skin in seconds
“I’m a big believer in facial massage. I think it’s the holy grail of skincare,” she says. How to? “Evenly spread a cleanser onto your skin and start with slow and gentle circles all over the face before circling the eyes, which helps to depuff. I like using scissor movements on the forehead with the ring and middle fingers to stimulate muscles before taking that same movement from the jaw up to the cheekbones, which gives a gentle lifting effect.”

★ The ultimate ‘your skin but better technique
Forget blanket application, Eldridge’s way to keep skin looking natural is to apply foundation only where needed. “My patchwork technique is about ‘intuitively applying’ your make-up, ie only where you need it. I begin at the centre of my face, which is often where we need extra help, to unify my overall skin tone. Then I’ll go in under my eyes to hide dark circles in thin layers using a small flat brush so I can dial up — and down — the coverage. Building up in thin layers is key.”

★ The expert way of hiding spots
When it comes to actual blemishes, Eldridge says: “If you have a swollen spot that hasn’t come up to the surface yet, there’s not a lot you can do. Cold water can help reduce redness, then employ my spot-contour technique. Use a small brush to diffuse the edges of the spot with a thin layer of concealer, then, moving inwards to the centre of the spot, build up the layers with heavier coverage to give the look of seamless skin.”

★ This cream is a saviour for super-dry skin
“If a client has chapped, rough, dry or irritated skin, I apply a thick layer of La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ Repairing Balm (£18, boots.com), which is in my kit at all times,” Eldridge says. “It instantly calms skin and acts as a barrier cream so that skin can naturally repair itself. I rarely need to use it all over the face, though, so I usually apply it with a soft brush using my pinpoint-concealer technique [see above] and focus on where the skin needs more healing.”

★ And this trusty moisturiser really does suit all skin types
“Avoid any stripping products — the clinical trials for my cleanser, for instance, show that skin holds up to 73 per cent more water after one use,” Eldridge says. “But a good moisturiser is a must too. Skin Rocks The Moisturiser (£58, skinrocks.com) is full of antioxidants — good for all skin types — and a seriously effective hydrator.”

★ My trick for a seamless foundation
“Gentle exfoliation is key,” Eldridge says. “A build-up of dead skin cells can create an uneven surface on the skin, making it difficult for make-up to perform well. I use Perricone MD Blemish Relief Calming Treatment &Hydrator (£47, cultbeauty.co.uk), which has salicylic acid to help promote the skin’s natural exfoliation.”

★ Puffy eyes? Use green tea ice cubes
“For puffiness, I make my own green tea ice cubes and wrap them in a muslin cloth before pressing them under my eyes,” Eldridge says. “The coldness helps to depuff and the caffeine helps stimulate circulation, increasing skin radiance. Make sure the cubes are well wrapped — you don’t want them to be freezing on your skin, just cool. Otherwise, vitamin B is good at dealing with dark circles. I swear by niacinamide for its ability to brighten and repair the barrier, which is perfect for the under-eye area, where skin is much thinner. I love Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel (£42, lookfantastic.com).”

How to get a flawless complexion — by make-up artist Lisa Eldridge She’s the woman Keira Knightley and Kate Winslet trust to do their make-up — and now Lisa Eldridge is branching out into skincare. How to get a perfect, A-list complexion, then? Green tea ice cubes (yes, really)

Why Does My Neck Look So Much Older Than My Face?
Nora Ephron once wrote, “Our faces are lies, and our necks are the truth.” What do skin experts have to say?.

Q: Why does my neck look like it’s ageing twice as fast as the rest of me, and what can I do about it?

Neck skin tends to age “faster than almost any place else on the body,” said Dr Theodora Mauro, a professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco. She said the skin on your neck is “particularly vulnerable” to damage; poor posture, insufficient skin care, sun exposure and the natural weakening and decline of your neck muscles can all lead to accelerated ageing.

The skin on your neck also doesn’t heal as well as it does elsewhere on the body because the skin there is less durable and has fewer stem cells and other structures that help repair it, said Dr. Katie Given, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon in the Bay Area who has written about skin aging in the lower face and neck. When it comes to slowing the ageing process for neck skin, she said, “The trick is prevention, prevention, prevention.”

Your neck needs sun protection.

“Sun is your neck’s enemy,” Dr Mauro said. Many signs of ageing on the neck can be traced back to sun exposure. When your skin is exposed to even a little sunlight, she explained, ultraviolet A waves reach the dermis, or the skin’s inner layer, and damage the cells responsible for producing
collagen and elastin.

Collagen and elastin are two proteins that are essential for keeping your skin’s structure intact, said Dr. Oma Agbai, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at UC Davis Medical Center. “Collagen helps to maintain the skin's firmness, and elastin helps it resume its original shape after it has been stretched,” she said. She added that the dermis, which comprises these proteins, “tends to be thinner on the neck compared to other parts of the body, like the face and the upper arms,” she added.

Prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to a “more crepey and more wrinkled” appearance, as well as skin discolouration and sunspots, Dr Agbai said.

Dr Mauro said that people often forget to use sunscreen on their necks, but protecting that area is just as important as protecting the rest of your body. She recommended using a moisturizing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day; apply liberally all over your neck, she said, and if you’re outside, reapply periodically throughout the day.

Treat your neck as well as you treat your face.

People tend to lavish attention and care on their faces, Dr Agbai said, regularly applying serums, moisturizers and more. Necks, on the other hand, don’t tend to get much love. We should be including that area in our skincare routines, she said, applying products all the way down to our necks.

As we grow older, our skin loses some of its capacity to retain moisture, Dr Mauro said. The skin on our necks becomes dry, dull and less smooth. So make sure you use a moisturizer both morning and night, she said, and avoid using alcohol-based skin care products on your neck since they will likely dry your skin out even more. She said many soaps contain surfactants that dehydrate the skin, and products like Ivory bar soap have alkaline ingredients, like sodium tallowate, that throw off the skin’s pH levels and moisture barrier. If a product leaves your skin looking and feeling dry, that might be a sign for you to switch to something different.
To improve your skin’s firmness, Dr Given added, consider trying a lotion or serum with retinoids, which can help stimulate collagen production with regular use.

Beware of ‘tech neck’

Another factor contributing to an older-looking neck is “tech neck,” or the tendency to slouch and look down when using a laptop or mobile device, Dr Agbai said. In addition to causing neck pain and strain, this posture also scrunches up your skin — and if you hunch over like that for hours upon hours, you’ll develop horizontal lines on your neck and under your chin, she said.

To prevent necklines from forming (or deepening), position your computer and phone so you are not bending and craning your neck for prolonged periods of time, Dr Mauro said. She noted, however, that changing your posture won’t do anything to improve existing lines.

Aside from following the best practices above, it’s essential to avoid smoking, which can cause damage the skin, and maintain good health overall, Dr Mauro said.

If you want to address signs of ageing in your neck, talk to a board-certified dermatologist or other professional about your options, Dr Given said. Some cosmetic procedures like Botox or fillers can help tighten or plump your skin, giving it a younger appearance. More intense procedures with longer healing times, like laser treatments or micro-needling conducted with radiofrequency ablation (targeting the skin with specific wavelengths to encourage collagen production), can help address skin discolouration, sagging, texture and fine wrinkles. But these treatments are expensive and more cosmetic rather than medically necessary, and they usually have to be repeated to maintain results, Dr Given said.

At the end of the day, she said, an ageing neck is part of ageing.

Why Does My Neck Look So Much Older Than My Face? Nora Ephron once wrote, “Our faces are lies and our necks are the truth.” What do skin experts have to say?