Jenni Gilbert Sisters are doing it to themselves. No sooner do we find comprehensive non-surgical and skincare solutions to address the telltale signs of ageing such as Turkey Neck, we find whole new ways to age ourselves.
Take this relatively new phenomenon identified by leading UK trend forecaster The Future Laboratory‘s Beauty Futures Report …
Looking down at a smartphone an average 150 times a day and other screen-related postures and expressions adopted when gazing at other e-devices for hours a day are causing conditions that dermatologists have coined Tech Neck and Phone Face, a new form of premature ageing of the features and skin.
‘The problem of wrinkles and sagging of the jowls and neck used to begin in late middle age,” the report quotes Dr Christopher Rowland Payne, consultant dermatologist at The London Clinic.
“But in the past 10 years, because of Tech Neck, it has become a problem for a generation of younger women.
“You have a huge opportunity to protect your clients with products and treatments that combat the physical effects of over-use of digital devices, such as Tech Neck and Phone Face.
“Millennials are not about to turn away from the devices that have enriched their lives. They want practical solutions, so help them stave off the ravages of our digital age.”
SPA+CLINIC looks at non-surgical and other aesthetic options to combat Tech Neck and Phone Face:
A SINISTER NEW SKIN FOE
It’s not just the postures and expressions we adopt when using our e-devices that are accelerating the symptoms of ageing.
According to The Future Lab report, a sinister new foe is emerging: High-Energy Visible (HEV) rays emitted by the screens that we all spend hours each day staring at.
Researchers have discovered that the blue light emitted by these screens could be more damaging to skin than UVA and UVB rays from the sun, and even penetrate skin deeply enough to affect DNA.
“We probably spend more time in front of a screen than under the sun now,” according to the report.
“Smartphones, laptops, TV… you can’t even get into a taxi now without being in front of a screen.
“Simply offering SPF in products won’t cut it any longer. Neither will scaremongering about the possible risks associated with spending hours texting.
“Consumers are looking for practical solutions to the digital ills that afflict them because they’re not going to give up their technology any time soon.
“New ingredients, such as marine algae, that shield the skin from HEV light in the same way that more traditional formulations fend off UVA and UVB rays are one of the ways forward.”
The report nominates French skincare brand Dr Sebagh (created by Dr Jean-Louis Sebagh, acknowledged as one of the premier cosmetic doctors in Europe; much sought-after by celebrities such as Cindy Crawford) as having formulated the first day cream to contain a unique melanin compound designed to protect against HEV rays.
Professional brands such as Christina Cosmeceuticals, DMK, Dr Babor, Medik8, Mesoestetic, Dr Murad, Esse, Image Skincare, Linda Meredith, Luzern, Vanessa Megan and Vie Collection are creating retail formulas and treatment protocols to target the Y-Zone – the lower face, throat and décolletage – and lessen drooping jowls, sagging skin and a noticeable crease above the clavicle bone, ideal for Tech Neck (and dec)-afflicted technology-obsessed Millennial women.
Start making these products a focus of both your treatment and retail offerings – never has been looking after the neck and dec more important!
YUCK, AND THERE’S MORE …
Eva Alexandrides, managing director and co-founder of 111SKI, says that constant mobile phone usage can be very problematic for skin as a great amount of bacteria can amass on the surface of a phone.
“This means as you use it bacteria comes into direct contact with the skin on your face and can result in bad cases of acne,” she says.
“The small font and glare from the screen can also lead to squinting for extended periods of time. This in turn aggravate and exacerbate any frown lines and can be extremely problematic for the eyes.
“Also, simply using your mobile phone more means that you will end up putting a lot more pressure on your face which can lead to more marks and blemishes.
“Scrolling through Instagram for prolonged periods of time can result in increased activation in neck muscles and create tension in the jaw.”
Elizabeth Rimmer, skincare expert and founder of London Professional Aesthetics says, told Cosmopolitan: ‘The pull of gravity from downwards faces also means sagging in the lower face and neck may start to occur earlier in life’ (aka Tech Neck).
A COMBINED APPROACH
Synergistic treatments to combat tricky skin issues is a powerful new direction of the aesthetics industry, offering clients more comprehensive and pleasing results, while providing new opportunities for growing your bottom line and attracting new comers.
Take the Turkey Neck Triple Skin Workout protocol recently trademarked by Australia’s InSkin Cosmedics.
“A turkey neck doesn’t look good on a turkey so you can be pretty sure your clients want it gone too!” says Marie Enna-Cocciolone, CEO and founder at InSkin Cosmedics and O Cosmedics.
“The Workout is a highly effective, non-invasive treatment to get rid of turkey necks, tighten skin around the face, eyes, jowls and neck – and can be used on body too.
“Clinics worldwide are being forced to upgrade their offerings as traditional facial treatments quickly become redundant.
“This clinically proven, 3-step solution is quick, simple and gives you the opportunity to work smart, not harder, and increase your clinic’s skin solutions, patient loyalty, satisfaction and profit from Day 1 of your investment.”
The 3-step protocol includes:
- Applying a hydrating solution or performing a tailored microdermabrasion treatment to create the ideal skin canvas for ultimate treatment results.
- Using the Viora exclusive Core Technology and your chosen multi-layer RF platform (Viora VTouch, Matisse or V20) for skin tightening.
- Performing a Dermapen3 fractional needling treatment for immediate results that then improve day by day, week by week.
Marie says clinic owners are invited to book and trial a free treatment with an InSkin BDM, and urges you not to miss out on the final Government small business rebate.
INSKINCOSMEDICS.COM.AU or call (02) 9712 8188 for more information and/or a treatment appointment.
MASK THE SIGNS
Face masks comprised of various forms of natural or synthetic material infused with active and nourishing ingredients have been around for years but it always confounded me there was nothing of that ilk for the equally (or more) ageing neck beneath.
Now suddenly they’re catching on … fast … and would make a great retail offering for clients to keep up your good work at home between visits.
SPA+CLINIC came across the Princess Skincare Hyaluronic Neck Mask at the inaugural National Cosmetic Medicine Summit in Sydney in early March; the skincare range a companion to the Princess suite of dermal filler injectables, distributed in Australia by Croma.
The hyaluronic acid mask rehydrates skin, softens visible dryness and helps restore elasticity and firmness.
Main ingredients infused in the mask are:
- HA, with it high water-binding capacity
- Imperata cylindrica – silver hair grass – which provides intensive hydration
- Licorice root extract, which soothes skin irritation
- Seaweed extract, rich in antioxidant vitamins.
Application is simple. The mask is placed with the lotion-soaked side towards dry, clean skin on the treatment area, the white paper screen protector gently pulled away, and left on for 15 minutes.
When the mask is removed, you can massage excess lotion into the skin, no rinsing or cleaning necessary.
Then there’s the innovative Australian-owned brand Wrinkles Schminkles, which recently announced a retail partnership with iconic US department store chain Nordstrom. But it was kicking goals long before that here, in its home country.
“I am extremely passionate about helping women feel confident in their own skin,” says Gabrielle Requena, founder and CEO of Wrinkles Schminkles, who went to market several years ago with a unique line of affordable, reusable, medical grade silicone pads for preventing and reducing lines and crepeiness on the decolletage.
Now she has released a range for other areas of concern: Neck Smoothing Kit, Forehead and Eye Smoothing Kit, Eye Smoothing Kit, Mouth and Lip Smoothing Kit, all of which are complemented by the After Glow Serum and Cleaning Solution for the silicone pads.
“When you apply our silicone pads [approximately 2mm thick], skin cannot crease to contribute to wrinkles,” Gabrielle explains. “They are kept in place comfortably and securely as a result of adhesive silicone. It’s that simple.
“Silicone creates moisture. Doctors use silicone sheets to prevent and treat the appearance of existing scars.
“Our pads work in the same way: their placement brings blood flow to the surface, which can help to stimulate collagen and visibly soften wrinkles while you sleep.
“Rather than try to ‘push’ an ingredient topically into the skin, Wrinkles Schminkles generates hydration and stimulates collagen production from the inside out.”
(Editor’s note: I tried a Wrinkle Schminkle for necks last night and the difference this morning is quite incredible. I also used it yesterday when craning over my laptop writing – I have now become a lot more conscious of the effects adopting this posture for prolonged periods is having on my throat. The pad is a very good way to keep the neck in a more beneficial position, as well as the skin hydrated at the same time!)
DEVICE TECHNOLOGY
Although device technology that makes a significant difference to Turkey/Tech Necks is generally not in the domain of a non-medi clinic, it is important as a business owner to be aware of these options so as to be able to cross-refer clients who won’t achieve the results they seek with what you can offer alone.
But by knowing about these other options, you enhance your own credibility, and loyalty and trust factor with clients, who will appreciate what you’ve done for them, continue to see you and refer others.
“Like so many of the 40+ women I see every day in the clinics, I don’t like what’s happening to my neck,” says Suzie Hoitink RN, owner of Clear Complexions clinics in the ACT and Sydney.
“Turkey Neck is a shocking term but it seems to be universally understood as the skin laxity that happens to our neck as we age.
“That, combined with a general sagging of the skin on the face gives a tired look that is the driving force behind many clients coming to see us.
“Tightening and lifting ageing skin has been a tricky task to date. I’ve spent years researching different technology that targets this and I’ve used radio frequency device, like Thermage, which has delivered great results for our clients.
“I’ve now also introduced the new Ultraformer III ultrasound skin-tightening system into the clinics.
“Both Thermage and Ultraformer III deliver heat energy into the skin to stimulate collagen remodelling.
“The main difference I’ve noted so far is in Ultraformer’s immediate effect on the skin, the deeper penetration and shorter treatment time.
“We have been trialling Ultraformer III since late 2016 and have put it through its paces. It is able to target specific sagging areas rather than the whole face or neck, significantly reducing the cost to the client.
“The science behind this little gem is micro and macro focused ultrasound that precisely targets the SMAS layer in the skin – the layer that surgeons pull back when doing a facelift – causing new collagen stimulation and providing long term tightening of the skin.
Clients facial contours and fine lines show peak improvement at 8-12 weeks and additional firming throughout the subsequent 12 months. In addition, the Ultraformer has a `wrinkle cartridge’; a 2.0mm macro focused cartridge, that can treat superficial wrinkles around the eyes and lips more effectively than I have ever seen with other skin tightening technology.
“For those with mild to moderate skin laxity, a treatment a year will absolutely do the trick, while more severe laxity may need a second treatment at the three-month mark, then yearly after that.
“Eyes can be targeted separately and require three treatments spaced apart every two weeks but there is no need to wear the intraocular eye shields required for Thermage.”
Ultraformer III and Thermage are also recommended as adjunct treatments to enhance the results of surgical treatments, such as liposuction to remove the fatty pockets of double chins.
CRYOMEDAESTHETICS.COM.AU (for Ultraformer III); CLEARCOMPLEXIONS.COM.AU; THERMAGE.COM.AU
