How to Take Care of Your Décolletage
Often Overlooked, the Décolletage Is an Area That Requires Special Attention on the Skincare Front. "Décolletage Is the Area from the Jawline Down the Neck...
Often overlooked, the décolletage is an area that requires special attention on the skincare front. "Décolletage is the area from the jawline down the neck, the chest to the cleavage and the shoulders," explains board-certified dermatologist Mary Lupo, MD. The skin in this area is super delicate, so treating it with care is important. "It is much thinner than the skin of the face," says Dr. Lupo. "There is less fat and less skin appendages (sweat glands, sebaceous glands)." This makes it more sensitive to harsh ingredients and more susceptible to sun damage, adds board-certified dermatologist Dina Strachan, MD. "We tend to neglect it with respect to sun protection," says Dr. Strachan.
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To ensure the neck area is getting proper care, learn the dos and don'ts of décolletage maintenance below.
Do: Protect From the Sun
"The décolletage gets nearly as much sun as the face, but while folks tend to take good care of their face, they often neglect the chest and neck," says board-certified dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, MD. "It's a dead-location giveaway of sun damage to an observant derm." Always be sure to apply (and reapply) sunscreen to this area. Aim for an SPF of at least 30.
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Don't: Use Intense Ingredients
Because the skin on the décolletage is so thin, the retinoids and acids you use on your face may be too intense. "Because of the lesser number of sebaceous glands on the décolletage, you cannot be as aggressive with your actives as on other areas," says Dr. Hirsch. "This is especially true for actives on the neck."
You'll also want to be careful with physical exfoliants. "It's better to avoid scrubs and overly harsh cleansers," says Dr. Lupo.
Robert Thorne covers electric vehicle innovations, autonomous driving systems, global mobility trends, and automotive engineering developments.
