Getting things off your chest

The décolletage is often one of the first places to show the signs of ageing. This is because the skin on the chest area is very fragile as it produces less oil than the face, but also often receives more sun exposure, so forgetting to apply SPF and neglecting to nourish it can result in wrinkles and skin laxity. Here are some tips to stop your chest from becoming prematurely aged, and some treatments to rejuvenate the décolletage.

1. Protect the skin from an early age

Sun damage - including the décolletage area - begins in childhood, but does not show for many years. The skin around your chest and neck is very thin; it contains less sebaceous glands and limited melanocytes (cells that give colour to your skin and protect it from UV rays) – so damage is more easily done. There are ways to mitigate this including covering the chest area with clothing which cannot be penetrated by UV rays.

2. Use daily SPF protection

Your chest area is one of the most UV exposed areas of the body and therefore suffers the harshest sun damage when exposed over time. To combat this, it is important to wear broad spectrum sunscreen whenever your neck or chest is uncovered - even in cloudy weather – as UVA rays will still be damaging. The most important product to recommend is daily SPF protection. A lot of women rely on foundation with SPF included in the formula to provide protection, but don’t blend it down onto the neck and chest.

3. Cleanse and moisturise the chest skin as well as your face and neck

It is important to treat your décolletage like you treat your face and cleanse twice daily to ensure that sweat, sunscreen, and dead skin cells are removed to maintain its health and clarity. This will also ensure that when you apply fresh sunscreen it is able to be as protective as possible.

The quality of most daily moisturising lotions is insufficient to treat or delay signs of ageing on the décolletage because to include active ingredients at therapeutic concentrations is expensive - and the chest is a large area to treat cost effectively. In addition, the skin of the décolletage has some unique attributes which require special care. It is a high histamine response area, so red flushing can occur. As a result, it is important to choose a skin care product which is fragrance-free. Nevertheless, it is helpful to moisturise the surface of the skin to keep it supple.

4. Hydrate

Our ability to retain water diminishes with age. It is important to use a moisture-retaining cream and keep the body hydrated; if you're dehydrated on the inside, the skin on the outside will be too. Keep a 2 litre bottle of water on your desk and aim to finish it every day.

5. Sleep position

If you sleep on your side this can also speed up chest wrinkles and have a sagging effect, with a bias to one side, so try to sleep on your back if possible. A small airline style neck pillow can help you remain comfortably on your back.

6. Rejuvenate

Overtime gravity, UV damage, stress and age lead to visible signs of ageing and loss of skin's collagen support structure at a rapid pace, and this shows up on the face, neck, and in particular, the décolletage. This loss of collagen leads to sagging and visible horizontal rings around the neck and crêpey texture and creases in the décolletage area.

Aesthetics experts Dr Victoria Manning and Dr Charlotte Woodward suggest a collagen boosting treatment to revitalise the tissues and skin from within. They say: “Ellanse tightens the skin and its elasticity and suppleness. It also nourishes and revitalises it by providing deep dermal hydration. By stimulating the body’s own collagen, the treatment improves the skin’s elasticity, reducing deeper lines and improving smoothness.”