Taking Care Of The Skin Below The Chin: Decollete Sun Spots

The hot sun feels so good on our skin. And when most of us tan, our decollete is right there, propped up like the bikini-clad woman in the photo. The decollete receives all the good blessings from the sun, but also some nasty skin agers, like sun spots, wrinkles, and dry dullness. Now that it's winter, it's time to examine the damage we've done.

What is the decollete? The decollete is actually the upper part of a woman's chest, below the neck. And that brings us to the point of our article today:

Skin Care should not end at the chin. Let's look below. The decollete area on a woman's body is one of the first places to show age. The decollete needs tender loving care. According to liv.com, a website dedicated to helping raise awareness about early detection of breast cancer, the skin of the decollete, is quite delicate:

"The skin on the décolleté area is more sensitive than skin on other parts of our body; it is thinner, less moisturized, has less elasticity and there is no fat tissue below. Consequently, this skin is more likely to show signs of aging with dryness, hyper-pigmentation and age spots."

And yet, most of us follow a strict face cleansing, exfoliation, and moisturizing routine, often stopping at the chin.

Get over age 50, and dermatologists say those cute, faint, little sun spots, fine lines, and freckles, start getting bigger and darker in pigmentation. The good news? We can always improve our skin.

First, cleanse your decollete area with the same cleanser you would use on your face. And then apply a moisturizer. NY dermatologist Judith Hellman advises follwing that step with " a combination of Vitamin A derivative creams such as Retin-A, Glycolic Acid creams and bleaching creams containing Hydroquinone". This regimen will start minimizing brown pigmentation and fine lines, she says.

There are also cosmetic procedures like the LimeLight PhotoFacial. And what it does, is use a light laser to zero in on a problem area of skin. The laser delivers a gentle pulse of light and, within one to three weeks, the zapped spot will flake off or fade. One visit costs around $500, but this procedure has proven to be quite successful.

And then there is do-it-at-home decollete care. Melanie Vasseur, a well-known skincare specialist, cosmetic chemist, aesthetician and founder of Vasseur Skincare, says you could try this:

"Vitamin C is very effective in removing sunspots as well. Try lemon or limejuice, they act as natural alpha hydroxy acids and are very effective. Squeeze fresh lemon juice or lime juice into a bowl and apply with a cotton swab to your chest every other night for 2-3 weeks. Take a break for the fourth week and continue again for the fifth week. The following remedies can take up to 6 months, be patient you’ll be glad you were."

These skin care steps for the decollete sound smart and sensible. And as all dermatologists remind us: Please put on the sunscreen, even when it's a cloudy day.