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10 Ways To Rejuvenate Your Decolletage

Plant Mother Editorial Team

The decolletage, or décolleté, is the skin covering your neck and chest. It is some of the most sensitive skin on the body and is often overlooked in skincare routines. But, it’s essential to care for your decolletage as it can develop wrinkles and the appearance of aging. Additionally, the decolletage is one of the most common spots for certain skin cancers to develop. We’ll walk you through:

  • Why the Decolletage is so Sensitive
  • The Decolletage and Sunburn
  • The Decollete and Side Sleeping
  • The Decolletage and Aging
  • The Importance Of Protecting Your Decollete
  • Best Anti-Aging Treatments For This Area of Body
  • Laser Treatments for the Decollete
  • Smooth Out Your Decollete With Botox
  • Final Thoughts

Why the Decolletage is so Sensitive

The decolletage is exposed to the same environmental factors as our face skin but often goes unprotected. Whether it’s because of a low-cut top or a lack of sunscreen, we put our decolletages through a lot without caring for them. It’s a little-known fact that the skin of the decolletage is more fragile and sensitive than the skin on our faces.

The decolletage doesn’t have its own oil glands which can lead to it becoming dryer than our face skin. Dry and dehydrated skin often exhibits more noticeable signs of aging. Additionally, the skin of the decolletage is thinner and more susceptible to sagging as we get older. This process is expedited by sun exposure and failure to protect the skin with sunscreen.

The Decolletage and Sunburn

Many people limit their sunscreen application to the face, arms, shoulders, and legs; but the decolletage needs protection too! Excessive and repeated sunburns to any part of the body can cause permanent skin damage and the breakdown of collagen.

Collagen is the compound that gives skin its firmness and bounce. As we age, our bodies naturally stop producing as much collagen which makes our skin sag, but the sun can expedite this process leading to premature signs of aging.

For more information about how the sun can cause the skin to sag, check out this article about crepey skin. In addition to sagging skin, excessive sun exposure has been linked to certain skin cancers. Because the decolletage is often overlooked in our skincare routines, the skin in this area is at a particularly high risk of damage from sun exposure.

Neck and chest

The Decolletage and Side Sleeping

In addition to the sun, there is a myriad of other factors that contribute to an aging decolletage. Perhaps the most surprising is side-sleeping. Sleeping on your side can cause your skin to wrinkly by repeatedly crinkling and creasing it for prolonged periods of time. It’s a similar process to repeatedly stretching an elastic band– eventually, it cracks and loses its ability to snap back into place.

There are special pillows and pillowcases that are designed to minimize friction and tension on the skin. Placing a small pillow between the breasts to support them can also help combat signs of aging.

The Decolletage and Aging

Diet and general nutrition can also contribute to signs of aging. Our bodies use what we eat as tools to repair and rejuvenate, so if we don’t provide those tools our bodies can’t keep us looking our best. Protein is one of the essential components of healthy skin, so maintaining a balanced diet that is rich in protein is a must. Additionally, collagen supplements may boost skin elasticity and slow the aging process.

In addition to fine lines and wrinkles, many women develop dark spots on their decolletage in time. These dark spots are usually caused by prolonged exposure to UV radiation from the sun. They are the same as age spots found on the face and hands and can usually be lightened with a good vitamin C serum.

The Importance Of Protecting Your DecolletE

The most reliable, effective, and important thing you can do for your decolletage is wear sunscreen. In doing so you’ll not only be protecting your skin from aesthetic damage but you’ll also be protecting your overall health. It’s never too late to start protecting your skin.

When choosing a sunscreen, it’s important to select one that’s reef safe even if you have no plans to wear it in the ocean. When you wash your sunscreen off, it can still travel through waterways into rivers, oceans, and lakes where it could be dangerous to wildlife. Reef-safe sunscreen is very easy to find these days at your local drug store or major beauty retailer.

An additional factor when choosing s sunscreen is whether you should go with a chemical SPF or a mineral SPF. Mineral SPF tends to be more natural as it uses naturally occurring compounds to form a physical barrier between your skin and the sun. Mineral sunscreens are also more common, but can sometimes be drying on the skin and can leave a white cast. Both mineral and chemical sunscreens can be found as reef-safe formulations.

Skincare

Best Anti-Aging Treatments for this Area Of The Body

In addition to sunscreen, using creams and serums with hyaluronic acid and humectants like glycerin can help restore some volume to thin or sagging skin. As we age, our skin produces less and less oil which makes it feel dry and crepey. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid fill skin cells with moisture and make them swell like water balloons.

This makes the skin look and feel firmer and more youthful. Topping an application of hyaluronic acid with a thick, nourishing creme can help lock that hydration in.

When applying anti-aging serums like retinol to the face, take the excess down the neck and onto the chest! It’s important to get the most out of your products, but if you’re worried about sensitizing your decolletage opt for a non-irritating retinol alternative like Bakuchiol. The Plant Mother vegan Retinol serum is made with Bakuchiol and delivers the same anti-aging benefits as traditional retinols without the potential irritation or sun sensitivity.

It’s also important to exfoliate once or twice a month. Exfoliating helps the skin get rid of dead cells and debris faster. However, over-exfoliation can cause excessive dryness so it’s important not to overdo it and to use mild exfoliators.

Laser Treatments for the Decolletage

Just as laser treatment can be used to fight signs of aging on the face, lasers can be a great tool to rejuvenate the decolletage. One such option is the Renuvion treatment. To tighten the skin around the neck, chest, and breasts RF lasers fire pulses of plasma deep into the skin to kickstart the production of collagen and elastin.

If you’re looking to eliminate dark spots and discoloration, IPL and laser skin resurfacing can help speed up cell turnover and even skin tone. Talk to the experts at your medspa or your doctor to determine which treatment is right for you.

Smooth Out Your DecolletE With Botox

Botox works by paralysing the muscles under your skin to keep it smooth, but microbotox treatment uses tiny amounts of botox to paralyse the skin without affecting the muscle underneath. This treatment means that botox can be used on the neck and chest to help smooth fine lines and wrinkles without causing muscle paralysis.

Fillers like Juvederm can also be used to smooth the decolletage, but it’s important to understand that filler is usually priced by the unit injected which makes injecting large amounts of filler very expensive. Additionally, filler isn’t as temporary as many people believe so it’s important to know what you’re getting into and speak to your doctor or medspa practitioner before getting any injections. 

Decollete

Final Thoughts

The decolletage is one of the most delicate and sensitive areas of skin on the body. Despite this, it’s often overlooked in skincare routines and goes unprotected from the sun. As a result, the decolletage is one of the first areas to show signs of aging. It’s very important to protect and care for every inch of your skin.

Prevention is key. Use a good nutritious moisturizers such as Vitamin C and Retinol serum in the evening. Apply generous amounts of sunscreen throughout the year. 

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. The publisher of this content does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, skincare product, or lifestyle program.

Plant Mother Editorial Team
Plant Mother's editorial team consists of skincare experts, dermatologists, and enthusiasts who love all things natural, vegan, and organic. They contribute to the Plant Mother blog, a comprehensive resource on skincare products, ingredients, and beauty how to’s.
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