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How to Avoid Tech Neck in the Age of Zoom

In our modern world, tech neck was already a growing phenomenon—but in the age of increased working from home, with many of us still holding meetings virtually, it's taken on a new life. As the name implies, tech neck comes from repeatedly hanging your head down and forward to look at your phone or computer screen. Every inch your head hangs forward adds extra weight to the head by the nervous system due to gravity. The muscles need to counteract this weight by locking down to hold your head up. This leads to tension headaches, migraines, jaw pain, and tightness in the midback and upper traps. It doesn't just lead to physical discomfort, either. Let's face it: Because continuing to spend time on Zoom is having a perplexing impact on our self-image, many are also focused on the visual signs of tech neck, such as creasing and wrinkles. The neck is a complicated place with its relatively thin skin and the powerful platysma muscle layer and experts now see a rise in concerns around the neck during lockdown. We ask a lot of our necks in this modern age—and holding out heads at a downward-looking angle for many hours a day combined with the delicate anatomy of the neck is a recipe for tech-neck related complaints. Want some solutions to Tech neck? Here at Defy Nature we offer a few:

Make Your WFH Space More Ergonomic

Elevate your computer screen so that your eyes hit the top third on the screen. Invest in a standing desk, but with one caveat: You don't need to stand all the time. Do 20 to 30 minutes of intense work while sitting so you can concentrate, and then stand for more casual conference calls or leisurely spreadsheets. Mix up your standing and sitting at your standing desk. Life was meant to be dynamic, make your work from home the same. When you're sitting, it's important to be conscious of your posture. A good rule of thumb: Sit with your feet grounded on the floor. It's hard to hold yourself up with proper posture if your legs are criss crossed or one leg is folded under the other. You want your feel grounded to build good posture from the ground up.

Follow a Dedicated Neck-Care Routine

The skin on the neck is one of the most delicate areas on your body. It has a relatively thin dermis layer, therefore less collagen and elastin. At Defy Nature, expert injector Kristin Kenny RN addresses "tech neck" concerns, like horizontal neck lines with a tailored skin-care regimen. First, she recommend being vigilant about applying sunscreen to the neck area daily. UV radiation contributes to wrinkles and laxity. Then, incorporate a Vitamin C antioxidant serum, which helps to retain elasticity and tighten the skin with its protective and collagen-boosting benefits, as well as a hydrating, targeted neck moisturizer with restorative properties, such as peptides, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. Apply [each] upward from the base of the neck to the jawline. Defy Nature explains these medical grade products at https://www.defynaturellc.com/contents/skin-care-products

Consider Cutting-Edge Neck Treatments

To take neck care a step further, there are a slew of professional treatments that can treat sagging and wrinkled skin, as well as relax the neck muscles so that the lines appear softer and the neck appears more lifted. At Defy Nature, they recommend Genius, a non-invasive radiofrequency microneedling, which promotes collagen and elastin production to tighten and help improve its overall texture. To plump up lines and restore volume in the neck, Botox and filler can offer optimal results. To soften the appearance of vertical neck bands (platysma banding), Botox can be used in the front-most edges of the platysma muscle, the two plate-like muscles of the neck, which pull the skin of the face downward towards the chin, relaxing the front of the muscle allowing the back of the muscle to pull more, and tighten the look of the neck.

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