Move over “looksmaxxing,” the latest trend is “neck-maxxing” — an effort to prevent or reverse the visible signs of “tech neck” through skincare routines, laser treatments, posture gadgets, red light therapy, and even specialized pillows.
For some workers, it has become an expensive pursuit. Reports suggest people are spending anywhere from a few hundred dollars to more than $5,000 on creams, collagen treatments, lasers, and wellness products designed to reduce neck lines.
Much of the conversation is driven by aesthetics. Social media is full of warnings about horizontal neck wrinkles supposedly caused by staring at laptops and smartphones all day. Younger workers, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, are increasingly worried about preventing the problem before it starts.
But while the wrinkle obsession may be overblown, the workplace issue behind it is very real.
The Big Risk Isn’t Wrinkles
“Tech neck” isn’t a formal medical diagnosis, but healthcare professionals widely use the term to describe the combination of forward-head posture, rounded shoulders, neck stiffness, and muscle strain associated with prolonged screen use.
Those physical changes matter far more than whether someone develops a few extra skin creases.
Hours spent leaning toward a laptop places increasing stress on the cervical spine and surrounding muscles. What begins as occasional stiffness after a long workday can gradually develop into persistent discomfort, reduced mobility, headaches, and chronic neck or upper back pain. Wrinkles may sell skincare products, but poor ergonomics can create years of physical problems.
Modern Work Is Built For Looking Down
Hybrid work has given employees greater flexibility, but it has also increased the amount of time many people spend working from makeshift home offices, kitchen tables, couches, and coffee shops. Even traditional office workers often bounce between laptops, phones, and tablets throughout the day.
That constant downward gaze has turned poor posture into one of the most common side effects of knowledge work.
Some younger professionals are already treating posture as a workplace wellness priority rather than simply a cosmetic concern. Standing desks, monitor risers, a vertical mouse, external keyboards, ergonomic chairs, strength training, yoga, and regular movement breaks are becoming just as common in discussions about “tech neck” as skincare routines.
Ironically, many of those changes are exactly what ergonomists have recommended for years.
Stop Buying Creams Before Fixing Your Desk
There is nothing wrong with wanting healthy skin, but no neck cream can undo eight or ten hours spent hunched over a poorly positioned laptop.
If organizations genuinely want healthier employees, the first investment should be ergonomic, not cosmetic. (Not to mention, having neck lines is simply a part of being human.)
Simple adjustments can make a meaningful difference:
- Position monitors at eye level.
- Keep shoulders relaxed instead of rounded forward.
- Use external keyboards and mice when working on laptops.
- Alternate between sitting and standing when possible.
- Take frequent movement and stretching breaks throughout the day.
These habits may not eliminate every neck wrinkle, but they can reduce the physical strain that causes far more significant long-term problems.
The Workplace Conversation Needs A Reality Check
The “neck-maxxing” trend reflects a familiar pattern in workplace wellness. Job market pressures and workplace expectations are rising. In offices and Zoom rooms alike, appearance has become a bigger part of professional performance, shaping how people get noticed, remembered, and rewarded in the future of work. So much so that another emerging trend is for coworkers to book Botox appointments together.
Visible signs of work often receive more attention than the invisible damage developing underneath. Workers should not feel pressured to spend thousands chasing perfectly smooth skin because they answer emails all day. They should, however, pay attention to the posture and workstation habits that could determine how their neck, shoulders, and spine feel years from now.
