To The Editor:
I’ve noticed an increase in bumps on clients’ skin from ear to cheek where they hold their phones. And the deepening of “consternation lines” between the eyebrows and neck wrinkles on younger men and women.
You always hear, “Don't furrow your brows” because you’ll get wrinkles, but there’s truth to that. There are so many other repetitive movements that lead to wrinkles. With our phones and tablets, as we get more tired our eyes lose focus and we start squinting. And it’s leading to increased wrinkles around the eye, because with any repetitive motion you’re going to increase the chances of getting wrinkles.
The same goes for rubbing your eyes when they’re tired. When your eyes are dried out or irritated from looking at devices, you tend to rub them more, which pulls at the skin and makes them more susceptible to signs of aging. You can help yourself by picking up an eye gel vitamin A, C, E, and peptides to smooths out crepe lines and wrinkles, while strengthening the skin around your eyes to protect against future wrinkles. Vitamin C works to strengthen the skin barrier around the eye area; you'll smooth the lines from the damage that’s already done and then you’re strengthening the eye area to prevent future damage.
If you’re craning your neck down at your phone while you squint, that’s doubly dangerous. “Tech neck” is definitely a real thing. When you’re looking down at your phone, it’s the action of repetitive movements and the wearing of the skin in that area. Anytime you look down at your phone and your skin’s folding in on itself, it’s chipping away at the structure and weakening the architecture in your skin, so that you are more susceptible to premature neck wrinkles.
Some good skin products contain vitamin A which rebuilds the architecture that’s getting weakened by constant squinting and looking down again and again, and it strengthens skin against further breakdown. The neck tends to be neglected; it's best to keep that area moisturized.
Now it’s time for me to make an appointment with the eye doctor.
Joanie Kavanaugh, licensed aesthetician
Waitsfield
