Prevention and Treatment Options for Vertical Chest Wrinkles

There are certain telltale signs that we’re getting older. The increase of wrinkles on our face, the first few gray hairs, and the appearance of vertical chest wrinkles.

When vertical chest wrinkles first appear, they may be temporary and go away within an hour or two of waking up. Typically this progresses until you have them all of the time.

What causes vertical chest wrinkles? How can they be prevented? And what can be done about them once they appear? Let’s take a closer look.

What causes vertical chest wrinkles?

Vertical chest wrinkles are a result of thinning collagen in the upper chest area (also known as the décolletage). As we age, our body produces less collagen resulting in thinning areas of skin. This can be accelerated by a number of factors including:

• sun damage
• sleeping on your side
• excessive weight gain/loss
• cigarette smoking
• gravity
• too much dietary sugar
• alcohol

When thinning collagen is combined with repetitive activities where the chest collapses inward, such as sleeping on your side, this creates the conditions for vertical chest wrinkles to develop.

How to prevent vertical chest wrinkles

Prevention is definitely your best option. By incorporating a few simple items into your hygiene regimen you’ll keep your décolletage looking healthy and beautiful for decades.

• Sunscreen. The majority of aging that you see on the skin can be attributed to sun damage. Wear a quality sunscreen with a SPF 15 on a daily basis. If you’re going to be outside for any length of time, increase the SPF to a SPF 30 and reapply according to manufacturer recommendations. Generally speaking this should be every 45-60 minutes. Sun damage takes 15-20 years to show up. Today’s sunburn is tomorrow’s wrinkle. Do this whether it’s sunny or raining. UVA and UVB rays are not stopped by cloud cover.
• Diet. Most of us eat the Standard American Diet (SAD). High in meat, dairy, fat, sugar as well as refined, processed, and junk foods and low in fruits and vegetables. The overindulgence of sugar and highly refined foods and lack of fruits and vegetables contributes to poor health. This is reflected in your skin. Bad diet = bad skin. Good diet = good skin. Obvious but true.
• Don’t sleep on your side. This is a hard one for some of us. But if vertical chest wrinkles are a huge concern for you, work on sleeping on your back. This will prevent chest wrinkles from developing during the night. If you find this to be impractical, look into a product like the SIO SkinPad to maintain a healthy upper chest.
• Use a lotion with retinoic acid or glycolic acid. Using a lotion with retinol is a great way to take care of your face, neck, and décolletage. It’s derived from vitamin A and is the only FDA-approved topical treatment for acne and treating fine lines and wrinkles. It has a track record of over 40-years of safe use and can be used as both a preventative and treatment for vertical chest wrinkles. Comes in both prescription and non-prescription strength.

If you’re already experiencing visible wrinkles in your upper chest area, we’ve got you covered. There are a number of options for you depending on your needs.

Treatment options for vertical chest wrinkles

These are the treatments that will make a difference:

• Lotions with retinoic acid or glycolic acid. As we talked about in the previous section, this is a great preventative as well as treatment for fine lines and wrinkles.
• Fraxel Laser. If your wrinkles need more power than a lotion can provide, you may want to consider a laser treatment like Fraxel.

It should be noted that no treatment can turn back the clock and make your skin 16 again. Prevention, if possible, is the best option. However, it’s good to know that there are many options for treating vertical skin wrinkles if they develop.

Whether you’re looking for a skincare regimen or need to talk to a professional about your upper chest concerns, at the Summit Plastic Surgery & Dermatology we can help. Call us at (910) 794-5355 or click the button below to ask us any questions you may have or to schedule a consultation.