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Why Your Neck, Décolletage, and Hands Need Extra Care

Why Your Neck, Décolletage, and Hands Need Extra Care
While it’s true that the skin on your face and around your eyes age significantly faster than the rest of your body—up to 28 years in some cases, (1) the neck, décolletage, and hands are just as susceptible to the effects of sun damage, environmental stressors, and aging.Neglecting these areas can lead to a noticeable contrast in the texture and appearance of your skin. That’s why today, we’re focusing on this often-forgotten-about skin, showing you the scientifically proven tips for keeping it as healthy and smooth as the skin on your face. But first, learn why these regions need special TLC in the first place.
While it’s true that the skin on your face and around your eyes age significantly faster than the rest of your body—up to 28 years in some cases, (1) the neck, décolletage, and hands are just as susceptible to the effects of sun damage, environmental stressors, and aging.Neglecting these areas can lead to a noticeable contrast in the texture and appearance of your skin. That’s why today, we’re focusing on this often-forgotten-about skin, showing you the scientifically proven tips for keeping it as healthy and smooth as the skin on your face. But first, learn why these regions need special TLC in the first place.
01

How is the Skin on the Neck, Décolletage, and Hands Different?

If you’ve done the skin pinch test on your hand or caught a glimpse of your neck during a Zoom call, you know these areas can be drier, less elastic, and more fragile. The reason is because the neck, décolletage, and hands have fewer sebaceous (oil) glands, collagen, and elastin, which makes them more prone to show the visible signs of aging. (2,3) If that weren’t enough to get your attention, this skin also tends to become thinner as you age and have trouble retaining moisture.

This Skin Gets Thinner with Age

Thanks to changes in the epidermis and dermis, the neck, décolletage, and hands are particularly vulnerable to thinning as you get older. Here’s why:
  • Elastin and collagen fibers begin to break down (especially after menopause) (4,5)
  • Sebaceous glands don’t produce as much oil as they used to
01

How is the Skin on the Neck, Décolletage, and Hands Different?

If you’ve done the skin pinch test on your hand or caught a glimpse of your neck during a Zoom call, you know these areas can be drier, less elastic, and more fragile. The reason is because the neck, décolletage, and hands have fewer sebaceous (oil) glands, collagen, and elastin, which makes them more prone to show the visible signs of aging. (2,3) If that weren’t enough to get your attention, this skin also tends to become thinner as you age and have trouble retaining moisture.

This Skin Gets Thinner with Age

Thanks to changes in the epidermis and dermis, the neck, décolletage, and hands are particularly vulnerable to thinning as you get older. Here’s why:
  • Elastin and collagen fibers begin to break down (especially after menopause) (4,5)
  • Sebaceous glands don’t produce as much oil as they used to

This Skin Loses Moisture Easily

When the skin lacks hydration, it loses its elasticity and plumpness, accentuating the visible signs of aging. Compared to other parts of the body, these are some of the driest areas due to the fact that they have fewer sebaceous glands. But that’s not the only reason:
  • Frequent washing of hands can strip away moisture, leaving skin rough and crepey (3)
  • Exposure to environmental factors compromise the skin barrier further, leaving it even drier (6)

This Skin Loses Moisture Easily

When the skin lacks hydration, it loses its elasticity and plumpness, accentuating the visible signs of aging. Compared to other parts of the body, these are some of the driest areas due to the fact that they have fewer sebaceous glands. But that’s not the only reason:
  • Frequent washing of hands can strip away moisture, leaving skin rough and crepey (3)
  • Exposure to environmental factors compromise the skin barrier further, leaving it even drier (6)

This Skin is Highly Exposed

UV radiation is responsible for 80-90% of visible aging signs like wrinkles, sagging, and uneven pigmentation. (8) Something to keep in mind since your hands and neck are regularly exposed.
  • UV exposure can damage the DNA in skin cells and break down collagen and elastin proteins, causing the skin to lose its firmness and elasticity. (7)
  • With time, the accumulation of UV-induced senescent (aka zombie) cells contribute to further collagen degradation.

This Skin is Highly Exposed

UV radiation is responsible for 80-90% of visible aging signs like wrinkles, sagging, and uneven pigmentation. (8) Something to keep in mind since your hands and neck are regularly exposed.
  • UV exposure can damage the DNA in skin cells and break down collagen and elastin proteins, causing the skin to lose its firmness and elasticity. (7)
  • With time, the accumulation of UV-induced senescent (aka zombie) cells contribute to further collagen degradation.
02

3 Ways to Care for this Delicate Skin

Just like your face, this area requires gentle treatments that address the underlying cause of dry, thinning skin while preventing further damage. Here are a few tips for avoiding UV exposure, strengthening the skin barrier, and helping accelerate your own natural collagen production.

1. Sun Protection

Protecting your skin from UV is one of the best ways to maintain its health and appearance. Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least 30 SPF and apply to all exposed skin including the hands, décolletage, and neck. (9) Don't forget to reapply every 2 hours, and pair with protective clothing for optimal defense against sun damage. (10) For this delicate area, we recommend OS-01 BODY SPF as it protects against UV exposure, prevents UV-induced collagen loss, targets existing UV-induced skin aging, and is waterproof for up to 80 minutes. (11)
02

3 Ways to Care for this Delicate Skin

Just like your face, this area requires gentle treatments that address the underlying cause of dry, thinning skin while preventing further damage. Here are a few tips for avoiding UV exposure, strengthening the skin barrier, and helping accelerate your own natural collagen production.

1. Sun Protection

Protecting your skin from UV is one of the best ways to maintain its health and appearance. Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least 30 SPF and apply to all exposed skin including the hands, décolletage, and neck. (9) Don't forget to reapply every 2 hours, and pair with protective clothing for optimal defense against sun damage. (10) For this delicate area, we recommend OS-01 BODY SPF as it protects against UV exposure, prevents UV-induced collagen loss, targets existing UV-induced skin aging, and is waterproof for up to 80 minutes. (11)

2. Topical Supplements

Look for products that help skin become more resilient against aging, like our daily body moisturizer, OS-01 BODY. Formulated with powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatory ingredients, and an extract that’s 400 times more moisturizing than hyaluronic acid, plus our proprietary OS-01 peptide, OS-01 BODY boosts hydration and increases epidermal thickness and barrier function (11), which can help reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and crepiness on your hands, décolletage, and neck. Tip: When applying OS-01 BODY, use gentle upward strokes on the neck and décolletage to avoid pulling the skin downward. Don't forget to apply products to the backs of your hands.

2. Topical Supplements

Look for products that help skin become more resilient against aging, like our daily body moisturizer, OS-01 BODY. Formulated with powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatory ingredients, and an extract that’s 400 times more moisturizing than hyaluronic acid, plus our proprietary OS-01 peptide, OS-01 BODY boosts hydration and increases epidermal thickness and barrier function (11), which can help reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and crepiness on your hands, décolletage, and neck. Tip: When applying OS-01 BODY, use gentle upward strokes on the neck and décolletage to avoid pulling the skin downward. Don't forget to apply products to the backs of your hands.
01

Harmful Ingredients in Sunscreens: What You Need to Know

The two types of sunscreens are based on their active ingredients, and include chemical sunscreens and physical (or mineral) sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing high energy UV rays and emitting them at low energy levels as heat. Mineral sunscreens work by forming a physical barrier that blocks UV rays from penetrating skin cells.

3. At Home Devices

Laser therapies can be effective at addressing wrinkling and skin texture by stimulating collagen production within the dermis. The downside of many of these treatments is their long recovery time as lasers can cause redness and inflammation. (12)With a large enough tip to treat wrinkles on the full face, neck, decolletage, and hands, the NIRA Pro Laser is a great option if you’re looking to complement the collagen-boosting effects of our OS-01 peptide without the downtime. Unlike traditional fractional in-office laser treatments which often result in redness, scarring, and substantial discomfort with associated recovery time, NIRA uses patented, non-fractional laser technology to gently rebuild collagen without causing any harm or pain to the skin.NIRA’s at-home laser devices are FDA-cleared and clinically proven to stimulate collagen production within the dermis without damaging surrounding tissue - resulting in clinical-grade wrinkle reduction at home in just 90 days. When used with the OS-01 peptide, you can accelerate natural collagen production while helping diminish the appearance of wrinkles on your neck, décolletage, and hands.

3. At Home Devices

Laser therapies can be effective at addressing wrinkling and skin texture by stimulating collagen production within the dermis. The downside of many of these treatments is their long recovery time as lasers can cause redness and inflammation. (12)With a large enough tip to treat wrinkles on the full face, neck, decolletage, and hands, the NIRA Pro Laser is a great option if you’re looking to complement the collagen-boosting effects of our OS-01 peptide without the downtime. Unlike traditional fractional in-office laser treatments which often result in redness, scarring, and substantial discomfort with associated recovery time, NIRA uses patented, non-fractional laser technology to gently rebuild collagen without causing any harm or pain to the skin.NIRA’s at-home laser devices are FDA-cleared and clinically proven to stimulate collagen production within the dermis without damaging surrounding tissue - resulting in clinical-grade wrinkle reduction at home in just 90 days. When used with the OS-01 peptide, you can accelerate natural collagen production while helping diminish the appearance of wrinkles on your neck, décolletage, and hands.
Key Takeaways:
  • The neck, décolletage, and hands are often neglected in skincare routines but are just as prone to sun damage, environmental stressors, and aging as the face.
  • The skin in these areas is thinner and has fewer sebaceous glands, collagen, and elastin, making it more susceptible to dryness, wrinkles, and signs of aging.
  • Using broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 on these areas, reapplying every 2 hours, and wearing protective clothing can help prevent UV damage.
  • Skin care products that boost collagen and hyaluronic acid production can improve the skin's barrier function and prevent wrinkles and sagging.
  • Non-fractional laser therapies like the at-home NIRA lasers can painlessly stimulate collagen production without causing burns or inflammation. Combining these treatments with the OS-01 peptide can enhance collagen production and reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the neck, décolletage, and hands.
Key Takeaways:
  • The neck, décolletage, and hands are often neglected in skincare routines but are just as prone to sun damage, environmental stressors, and aging as the face.
  • The skin in these areas is thinner and has fewer sebaceous glands, collagen, and elastin, making it more susceptible to dryness, wrinkles, and signs of aging.
  • Using broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 on these areas, reapplying every 2 hours, and wearing protective clothing can help prevent UV damage.
  • Skin care products that boost collagen and hyaluronic acid production can improve the skin's barrier function and prevent wrinkles and sagging.
  • Non-fractional laser therapies like the at-home NIRA lasers can painlessly stimulate collagen production without causing burns or inflammation. Combining these treatments with the OS-01 peptide can enhance collagen production and reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the neck, décolletage, and hands.

Last Updated February 26, 2025

Reviewed by

Alessandra Zonari

Alessandra Zonari

PhD, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Co-Founder of OneSkin

Alessandra earned her Master’s degree in stem cell biology, and her PhD in skin regeneration and tissue engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil in collaboration with the 3B’s Research Group in Portugal. Alessandra did a second post-doctoral at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. She is a co-inventor of three patents and has published 20 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals.