Turkey neck

[Brandy.GF]

I wasn't diagnosed with celiac disease until I was 34 years old, I spent years with a swollen face, body and double chin, after being diagnosed and going strictly gluten-free majority of my symptoms resolved however due to my face swelling I am left with what's referred to as a turkey neck(sagging skin) losing electricity in the skin has left me looking incredibly aged at only 44 years old. I have very good skin my face has only a couple little Fine Lines but my neck looks like I'm 65 years old, it is incredibly damaging to my self-esteem therefore impacting my mental health. I'm wondering if anybody has experience this and if so things you have done for treatment to remedy this problem.

[trents]

Welcome, @Brandy.gluten-free to the celiac.com community!

Please check your first post for a typo. Did you mean to type "elasticity" instead of "electricity"?

What about plastic surgery for the turkey neck? Yes, I know, kind of expensive and may not be covered by insurance.

[Scott Adams]

I don’t know how common this is with celiac disease specifically, but significant inflammation, weight changes, aging, genetics, and skin elasticity can all play a role. It may be worth talking with both your doctor and a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to see what options are realistic, from skin-tightening treatments to surgical approaches, while also making sure there isn’t ongoing inflammation, thyroid imbalance, or nutritional deficiency contributing. You deserve support for both the physical and emotional side of this.

[knitty kitty]

Hi, @Brandy.gluten-free,

You're not alone!  I've been in the same situation.  One thing I have learned is to watch my posture.  Refrain from sitting with head and neck thrust forward, as often happens to people using computer screens for long periods of time, to people who smoke or vape, and to people who breathe through their mouths.  I frequently find myself stretching my neck forward when looking through my bifocals.  I try to remember to keep my ears over my shoulders and not breathe through my mouth.

I use tallow balm to soften the skin.  My favorite is Vintage Traditions tallow balm.  Tallow balm is similar to our own body fat and is therefore better absorbed and used than mineral oil and petroleum based products.  

Most importantly, I found this weird exercise called "Mewing" which has worked impressively well for me.  Doing this exercise has helped immensely with my breathing, and tightening up the muscles in the jaw and neck area.  Another benefit is that doing the exercise prevents Resting B**ch Face!  Hope this helps!