Saving Your Neck - Hyperigmentation
The problem: When the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote, “Glory be to God for dappled things,” he clearly wasn’t referring to mottled skin. Sun damage spawns excess melanin production that becomes clumps of dark pigment. It also creates irregular pathces of skin with more damaged tissue than others, Day says.
All of this is especially noticeable in the lower throat and chest area. “The chin acts like a parasol, protecting the skin just underneath it a bit,” Day says. “But the rest of the neck and chest are angled to get white a lot of sun.” And in some cases, reactions to wool, perfume, or other irritants don’t help. “Constantly rubbing an area creates a lot of inflammation that can leave skin darker even after it’s healed,” Day says. “But the rest of the neck and chest are angled to get quite a lot of sun.” And in some cases , reactions to wool, perfume, or other irritants don’t help. “Constantly rubbing an area creates a lot of inflammation that can leave skin darker even after it’s healed,” Day says.
The solution: Hydroquinone, the only FDA-approved skin lightener, inhibits the enzyme tyrosinase, a key part of melanin production. Because the neck is so sensitive, Day advises using prescription hydrowuinone at a lower concentration than on the face, which can handle up to 6 to 10 percent. “I think 2 to 4 percent is safest because the risk of toxicity and permanent damage to pigment-producing cells goes up with the concentration,” she says.
For women who find hydroquinone too harsh-even in its 2 percent, over-the-counter concentration-Waldorf suggests niacinamide of kojic acid. Niacinamide prevents melanin from reaching the skin’s surface, while kojic acid works like hydroquinone by blocking tyrosinase.
To maximize results: Dermatologists recommend regular exfoliation-an idea less obvious than it sounds if the last time your neck got a good scrubbing was when your mother was wielding the washcloth. “When you exfoliate, you’re helping skin cells turn over so pigmented cells slough off faster,” revealing the undamaged ones underneath, Days says. Assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine, recommends a face wash or at-home peel kit with glycolic acid but advises using it no more than once a week to avoid irritation that can actually create more pigmentation.
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