Necklines Never in Style

I once thought that an awful lot of older women had had major neck surgery. It looked like they’d practically had their heads cut off! Then my own neckline appeared, and despite some memory challenges, I definitely would have remembered nearly having my head severed.

It turns out they—we—had developed a different type of neckline than the ones on our shirts. This one is never in style. These necklines appear because our necks have thinner skin than our faces, and the platysma (the flat muscle surrounding the front of the neck) pulls apart and rolls into bands.

And while we older folks may be more inclined to develop neck lines, also known as neck bands, now even younger people who spend a lot of time staring at screens are developing a crease similar to that in a piece of paper. Genetics and weight gain don’t help, either.

The result is those charming necklines and the alarming “turkey neck,” which sounds as appalling as it looks.

But there are some things you can do. Most simple: keep your shoulders back and chin up to avoid creating creases. Retinol and sunscreen help, too.

Once the creases appear, though, you might want to try microneedling, which encourages your body to build collagen to repair the tiny holes and create smoother, brighter skin. More aggressive: radio frequency, or RF. Botulinum toxin and dermal fillers can also help.

And then there is your growing collection of snazzy (just using that word dates me, but I like it too much to resist) scarves . . .