STARING at our phones is prematurely ageing us with “digital wrinkles”, experts warned.
Looking down at devices causes the skin on the neck to crease and fold, leading to the early appearance of lines.
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And ‘blue light’ from the screen accelerates skin ageing by generating molecules known as free radicals that damage skin cells.
Lucy Goff, founder of LYMA and an expert in anti-wrinkle laser treatment, said: “Our necks age at a faster rate than our faces.
“We’re all constantly connected, so it’s no surprise that we are seeing the signs of phone overuse on our necks.”
Research by LYMA found online searches by Brits worried about neck strain and blue light damage from phone use have soared by more than 130 per cent, with searches for exercises to combat wrinkles up 120 per cent.
A spokeswoman said: “If you spend your days peering down at your phone screen, the appearance of your neck may be paying the price.
“Experts have identified the rising risk of ‘digital wrinkles’ – premature ageing of the neck area caused by looking at our phone screens.”
She added: “While you may be familiar with ‘tech neck’, which relates to chronic neck or shoulder pain and soreness from prolonged technology use and exposure to blue light, digital wrinkles are the visible cost, showing premature ageing of the neck.
“There are two types of neck wrinkles – vertical and horizontal – both types can be genetic, but it is the horizontal lines which deepen from constant strain looking down at our smartphones.”
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, known as BAAPS, has predicted that face and neck surgery will be among the most popular treatments of 2024.
Its data shows neck treatments were the sixth most common procedure among UK plastic surgery patients in 2023.