Wrinkles on your chest are not unusual and typically do not pose risks to your health. But wrinkles on and around your décolletage can make you feel self-conscious.

Let’s take a look at the causes of wrinkles on your chest, as well as treatment and prevention strategies.

In general, wrinkles (rhytides) are folds on your body where the skin has lost its structure. Collagen and elastin, proteins that give your skin its firm appearance, live in the dermis, your skin’s second layer. Most of the factors that cause wrinkles, including wrinkles on your chest, are connected to these proteins breaking down or slowing down production, resulting in a visible fine line.

These causes of wrinkles on your chest include:

Sun damage

Sunbathing in a low-cut top can give you a flattering tan, but it comes at a cost.

Exposure to the sun’s UV rays produces free radicals, which are toxins that result from your environment. These toxins can then break down the elastin fibers in your skin. UV rays without sun protection speed up wrinkle formation all over your body.

Genetics

Some people are just more prone to getting wrinkles on their chest than others because of genetics. Genetics is the main factor that determines your skin’s texture and structure, so it makes sense that getting wrinkles at a certain age can run in your family.

Significant changes in your weight

When you lose a significant amount of weight, sagging skin and wrinkles can be a side effect. Gaining weight stretches the elastin and collagen in your skin. When you lose fat underneath your skin layer, these fibers don’t always shrink back. This can result in wrinkles in your chest area.

Smoking

Smoking tobacco increases the number of environmental toxins your skin is exposed to. Toxins in the smoke trigger free radical production on your skin, especially on exposed areas of your skin like your fingers, neck, and chest. This can put you at risk of developing wrinkles earlier in life.

Pregnancy

Breastfeeding and pregnancy cause your breasts to swell for a period of time. While your breasts fill with milk, they become heavier, which can put stress on the proteins in your skin layers. Sometimes even after you are done breastfeeding, you will notice that there is a new shape to your breasts and potentially, wrinkles on and between your breasts. Medical research has suggested that pregnancy has more to do with these wrinkles than breastfeeding.

Bras and shapewear

The bras that you wear can influence whether you get chest wrinkles. Some people need a lot of support for their breasts to work against gravity and keep from damaging elastin and collagen in the skin layer. If you wear bras that fit improperly, don’t offer enough support, or crush your breasts down, you may notice wrinkles on your chest over time.

Chest wrinkles from sleeping

If you are a side sleeper, you may be at a higher risk of developing wrinkles on your chest. Sleeping on the same side every night causes your breasts to hang over in one direction for the duration of the night. Over time, gravity can contribute to deep, vertical wrinkles on your chest from sleeping on your side.

Topical steroid side effects

Topical steroid medications are sometimes prescribed to treat skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis. These medications can actually atrophy and thin the skin’s layer. Once your skin layer is thinner, it’s more likely to become “crepey” or wrinkly in the area where these medications have been applied.

Once wrinkles have appeared, you have options for treatment. There is no “one-size-fits-all” method of treatment for wrinkles on your chest and décolletage. You may have to try a few home remedies or speak to a dermatologist if you are invested in making your chest wrinkles less visible.

Wrinkle cream

Wrinkle cream for your décolletage can include many of the same active ingredients that you use on your face. Antioxidant ingredients and retinols can encourage cell turnover while protecting your skin. Soothing natural ingredients, such as aloe and shea butter, can seal in moisture and help skin look more firm. Products with hyaluronic acid also have a hydrating and “plumping” effect on the skin.

Microneedling for chest wrinkles

Microneedling is an in-office procedure where a trained provider uses tiny needles to gently puncture your skin. This treatment is meant to stimulate collagen production and help minimize the signs of aging. You can get microneedling on your chest and breasts, but you’ll need to speak with a provider about special approaches they might take in areas where your skin tissue is extra sensitive.

Chest wrinkle pads

Over-the-counter silicone pads are sometimes used to treat wrinkles in the area right above your cleavage. These silicone pads claim to restore structure to the area. Silicone sheets are recommended for the treatment of hypertrophic scarring, so they do have some impact on the way your skin looks. The success of these types of chest wrinkle pads is mostly anecdotal at this point.

Laser therapy

Intense Pulse Light laser therapy (IPL), photodynamic laser treatment (PDT), and non-ablative fractionated lasers are among the types of laser therapy that are used to treat chest wrinkles and other wrinkles on your body. Laser therapy treatments can improve your skin’s firmness and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, in addition to treating hyperpigmentation or aging spots on your skin.

Botox and dermal fillers

Botox and dermal fillers are sometimes used as a form of temporary treatment for wrinkles above your breasts. These types of treatments are minimally invasive and don’t require a lot of recovery time. They fill in the areas where your skin has lost firmness or elasticity to make it appear firm once again.

The best treatment for wrinkles is prevention. Wrinkle prevention can take a lot of forms, depending on your specific skin type and genetic risk factors. Steps to prevent wrinkles on your chest can include:

Eating a healthy diet

Eating a diet that rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and vitamin E will help protect and brighten your skin. Over the long term, this type of diet may help slow down the process of skin aging.

Protecting your skin from the sun

Sunscreen, hats, and rash-guard style bathing suits can be helpful when working to prevent the signs of aging on your chest.

Avoiding environmental exposure to toxins

Anything that puts you at risk of free radical exposure should be avoided whenever possible to protect your skin. That means avoiding getting smoke, chemicals, heavy metals, and insecticides on and around your skin when you’re able.

Practicing a regular skincare routine

A simple skincare routine that includes a vitamin C or retinol, a moisturizer, and a daily SPF can be applied to your skin every morning — and don’t skip your chest area.

Drinking plenty of water

If you keep your skin hydrated, it will look younger for longer. And the drier your skin, the more wrinkles you will appear to have. Pay attention to your body’s thirst cues, and start and end each day with a drink of water.

For many of us, chest wrinkles are just a natural part of the aging process. Aging can be a wonderful thing, and you can choose to embrace the signs of getting older. If you’re uncomfortable with wrinkles, particularly wrinkles in the area of your chest, you can check out prevention options and treatment strategies to help minimize the impact that your wrinkles have on your life.