Can You Use Retinoids on Your Neck?

Can you use retinoids on your neck? Dermatologist Dr. Dray explains why the neck can be much more sensitive to tretinoin, retinol, adapalene, and other retinoids than the face, and how to introduce a retinoid without causing unnecessary irritation, redness, peeling, or burning. In this video, Dr. Dray discusses retinoids for neck aging, including how topical retinoids may improve signs of photoaging, fine lines, wrinkles, and texture. Clinical research has also investigated topical tretinoin for acanthosis nigricans, a condition that commonly causes darker, thicker, velvety skin on the neck. The video also covers poikiloderma of Civatte and cutis rhomboidalis nuchae, two conditions associated with chronic sun damage that can affect the appearance and texture of the neck. Dr. Dray explains how to start a retinoid on the neck, why a lower concentration or less frequent application may be appropriate, how moisturizer can help with tolerability, and why more irritation does not mean a retinoid is working better. In this video: • Can you use tretinoin on your neck? • Retinol vs. tretinoin for neck aging • Why the neck is more sensitive to retinoids • How to introduce a retinoid to the neck • How often should you use retinoids on your neck? • Tretinoin for acanthosis nigricans • Retinoids for poikiloderma of Civatte • Cutis rhomboidalis nuchae and chronic sun damage • How to minimize retinoid irritation • Why sunscreen is essential for neck aging • When dark or thickened neck