Neck dark skin, Skin discoloration on neck, Tanned neck skin care

This problem is unlikely to be due to any medical disorder; a darker tone to the skin of the neck is in fact quite common and normal. It is simply due to tanning - most people's necks tend to be exposed to the sun a lot more than the other parts of their body, and therefore the skin in this area becomes much darker.

As you probably know, our skin contains cells called melanocytes, which are responsible for producing the skin pigment called melanin. This pigment is what gives our skin its color. People have varied amounts of melanin in their skin - if their skin has lots of melanin, their skin is accordingly dark, and if their skin does not have much melanin, their skin is light. The amount of melanin and hence one's skin color is determined genetically to some extent, but in addition is affected by your exposure to the sun. Melanin is a protective pigment, and when your skin is exposed to the sun, as a protective mechanism the melanocytes produce more skin pigment. This is what causes tanning, and it is not unhealthy or abnormal in any way.

Many people however want to avoid getting tanned, and are even more unhappy with an uneven tan, on one part of the body. It does indeed look quite odd to have a very dark neck if the rest of your skin is rather light. However, the only thing you can do is cover up - this will ensure that your neck is not tanned any further, and once the exposure stops, your skin will return to its natural color. It is also advisable to use a sunscreen, as it is not always possible to cover up your neck entirely. If you wear collared shirts and sunscreen regularly, your neck should start to become lighter in a month or so.