'It Became My Latest Fixation': The Wrinkle Young Workers Can't Stop Thinking About
Nora Ephron was 62 when she famously lamented her aging neck in 2003. Today, a distinctly modern ailment called "tech neck" is causing anxiety among people in their early 20s.
Though not a formal medical diagnosis, "tech neck" has become a widespread term on social media, recognized by dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and physical therapists. It describes the horizontal lines and creases that form on the neck, along with postural issues like rounded shoulders and forward head position caused by prolonged device use.
While anyone can develop tech neck, young women in their 20s and 30s appear especially concerned about preventing or reversing its visible signs, with some investing thousands of dollars in treatments.
A Personal Wake-Up Call
Lindsey Wallace, a 35-year-old marketing director in Los Angeles, first encountered the term on an Instagram reel. She quickly became fixated.
"It became my latest fixation when I looked in the mirror and noticed lines getting deeper," Wallace told Business Insider. "My neck and upper chest were changing at a rate that my face wasn't. As soon as I turned 30, I became concerned — though I didn't yet have the vocabulary for it."
Now it makes perfect sense. Wallace spends over 10 hours a day hunched over her computer.
**Dr. Kristy Hamilton**, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Houston and social media chair for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, describes tech neck as both a musculoskeletal and aesthetic issue.
"When a person hunches over a laptop, tablet, or phone for extended periods, the head tilts forward, placing significant stress on the cervical spine and surrounding tissues," she explained. The neck's thinner, more delicate skin naturally ages faster than facial skin due to constant movement. Poor posture accelerates this by repeatedly folding the skin and weakening supportive muscles.
In the short term, people experience stiffness and soreness. Over time, untreated tech neck can lead to spinal misalignment, chronic pain, and visibly accelerated skin aging.
The High Cost of a Smoother Neck
For Wallace, the aesthetic impact has been particularly distressing. She estimates she has spent at least **$5,000** addressing it.
Her nightly routine includes a neck-firming cream, red light therapy mask, hydrating collagen neck mask, and a high-frequency wand from NuDerma. Every six months, she undergoes CoolPeel laser treatments (roughly $1,200–$1,600 per session for face and neck), which stimulate collagen production through controlled micro-injuries.
While the skincare products provide smoother, more hydrated skin, Wallace credits the laser treatments with delivering the most noticeable improvement in fine lines.
Lauren Cummings, a 31-year-old PR account executive in New York City, has invested around **$1,000** since first noticing postural issues and neck lines. Her regimen includes chiropractic care, tightening creams, and one session of the collagen-stimulating EVERESSE laser.
"I'm getting more concerned now that I'm in my 30s and want to prevent it from getting worse," she said.
James Sheridan, a 38-year-old CEO in Vancouver, Washington, has spent hundreds reversing his tech neck. He sees it as part of a larger conversation about modern work culture.
"The conversations are usually less about vanity and more about how modern work slowly wears on your neck, back, wrists, and eyes if you're not careful," he noted.
Prevention Starts Early
Many young professionals are tackling tech neck before it becomes a problem.
Chloe Coles, a 24-year-old health and wellness PR executive in San Diego, says tech neck is a frequent topic among the women in her early-20s team. Though she doesn't have visible lines yet, she's proactive.
"I'd say I'm more concerned that it *could* become a problem, so I try to stay on top of it," Coles said.
Her workplace has embraced prevention: employees use standing desks, keep screens at eye level, and share a communal red light therapy device. Coles has invested a few hundred dollars in neck skincare, weight training, yoga, Pilates, and Thai massages. She also uses a specialized side-sleeper pillow for better nighttime posture.
Yahya Khan, a 29-year-old founder in New York City, noticed neck lines two years ago. The change affected his confidence at work.
"When you're running a business, and your appearance is part of how clients perceive your credibility, you notice things," he said. Khan has spent about **$400** so far trying to address the issue.
The Market Responds
Neck-focused anti-aging products, once aimed primarily at older consumers, are now being aggressively marketed to younger audiences.
Ulta, popular with 25- to 30-year-olds, launched six new neck-specific products between 2025 and 2026. The retailer currently offers 64 neck-focused items, while Sephora carries 14. New arrivals include SickScience's ShapeShift serum and Anua's Collagen Retinol Gua Sha Cream, both explicitly referencing "tech neck."
These products tap into broader trends of biohacking, looksmaxxing, and workplace appearance optimization.
How to Prevent Tech Neck
Experts recommend simple but consistent habits:
- **Optimize your workstation**: Position your screen at eye level, keep your shoulders back, and take frequent stretch breaks (Dr. Kristy Hamilton).
- **Extend your skincare routine**: Apply facial serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen to your neck and upper chest area. General skincare products are often more effective than specialized neck creams alone (Dr. Maya Thosani, dermatologist).
Wallace stands by her intensive approach.
"If I wake up in the morning and I didn't do any treatments the night before — no serums, no mask, no neck wrinkle cream — you instantly see the difference," she said. "The wand on the highest setting is not for the weak," she added with a laugh.
As remote and hybrid work persists, tech neck has become a defining skincare and wellness concern for a new generation of professionals. For many, the goal is no longer just looking youthful — it's protecting the posture and skin that modern work constantly challenges.