Your Daily Spritz Could Scar Your Neck for Life: The Perfume Habit That Triggers a Permanent Skin Condition
A Melbourne skin expert warns that spraying perfume directly on the neck can trigger Poikiloderma of Civatte, a sun-induced skin condition. The warning follows a client whose neck showed red and brown patches exactly where she sprayed fragrance. Poikiloderma isn’t dangerous, but it can be permanent and notoriously difficult to treat.
In This Article:
A Real-World Case That Sparked the Warning
During an Instagram video, James Vivian described the case: the client had 'a whole lot of poikiloderma where there's reds and browns on the sides of her neck, where she sprays her perfume.' He hadn’t raised this issue in six years, until the pattern became undeniable. The discolouration left a big natural-coloured splotch in the middle of the neck that wouldn’t fade.
What Is Poikiloderma of Civatte and How Does Perfume Cause It?
Poikiloderma of Civatte is a sun-induced condition that typically affects the sides of the neck and décolletage. It presents as patchy redness, brown hyperpigmentation, lighter patches, spider veins, and thinning skin. While not dangerous, it can be permanent and hard to treat. Perfume ingredients that photosensitize the skin make it more sensitive to UV rays, accelerating pigment changes and capillary damage when applied to sun-exposed areas. 'It's a very poignant point to make because where you spray your perfume really can impact the quality and appearance of the skin on your neck.'
A Simple, Safer Habit to Protect Delicate Skin
The tip for spraying perfume is to apply on skin where the sun isn't shining (like under your collarbone) or directly on clothing. That way, you avoid compromising the skin on your neck altogether. Prevention is far better than cure; laser and IPL can help later, but keeping the neck protected is best.
What People Are Saying—and the Bigger Takeaway
Online, followers noted they hadn’t linked perfume to pigmentation before. 'I spray it in my hair, clothes and on my wrists because no one is talking about aged wrists,' one commenter joked. Others warned that Poikiloderma is hard to treat, and a question about aftershave prompted the expert to confirm that the same risk applies. If you love your signature scent, mist your clothes, hair, or covered skin so you can still smell great without risking stubborn pigmentation later in life.
