The Causes, Treatments, and Prevention of Jowls— What Should You Do?

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Jowls have become a common skin concern, especially since we are always looking down at our cellphones and tablets. But what actually causes jowling? This blog post will explain how our lifestyle and genetics may play a factor, but also what preventative measures we can take to keep our faces looking youthful!

What factors cause jowls?

Aging:

As you age, your skin gradually decreases its production of elastin and collagen. Collagen and elastin are proteins that make up the connective tissue in your body. Elastin also functions to help your skin return to its normal shape after being stretched or pulled. As the abundance of elastin and collagen in your skin decreases with age, your skin loses its firmness and elasticity. When the skin around your cheeks and jawline loses its elasticity, it begins to sag and form jowls.

Genetics:

Your genetics can also determine whether or not you develop jowls and how noticeable they become over time. If either of your parents have jowls, you are more likely to develop them. Those who have thin skin or limited amounts of elastin and collagen are likely to notice the formation of jowls earlier in life than others. It is possible to develop jowls as early as your teen years!

Environmental and Lifestyle Factors:

Environmental and lifestyle factors can also increase your chances of developing jowls. Frequent facial expressions can stretch the skin on the face and neck over time. Significant weight loss can also result in jowls. This is because when you lose a significant amount of weight the skin that was once needed to cover additional body mass begins to sag. Excessive sun exposure can also heighten your risk of developing jowls, since UV rays can damage the skin’s ability to produce collagen. Smoking is another lifestyle factor which can contribute to the formation of jowls. Chemicals in cigarettes can damage collagen and elastin in the skin, and also narrow blood vessels, limiting your body’s ability to circulate the nutrients that keep your skin firm and healthy. Finally, excessive use of technology can increase your risk of developing jowls. This is because looking down at a phone or computer for a long period of time can overstretch your skin and cause it to lose its elasticity. The result of this process is known as “tech neck,” which is often “treated” with neck filler to smooth out lines and overall rejuvenate the lower half of the face.

How can I limit my risk of developing jowls?

There are lots of products marketed to prevent and improve jowls— from face lifting masks to jowl exercises and massaging. While some research shows that these efforts may diminish the appearance of jowls, the most effective approaches start as preventative measures. Of course genetic and age-related factors are out of your control when it comes to preventing jowls. However, critical lifestyle changes can help to limit the possibility of jowl formation. Primarily, it is important to avoid smoking. Smoking exposes your body to many dangerous chemicals which can damage your skin and increase the chances of jowl formation. In addition, limit your exposure to the sun and make a point to apply sunscreen to your face and neck daily. Lastly, minimize your screen time and be mindful of your head and neck position while using technology. Try to keep your head at a natural and comfortable angle while looking your device, to avoid stretching out your skin. It is also a great idea to take a 10-minute break for each hour that you spend looking at your computer.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr. Kay Durairaj, MD, FACS (@beautybytes) on Jul 22, 2020 at 3:55pm PDT