Kelly Ripa is known for being candid about aging, and her latest confessions are all about the neck. The talk show host, 56, has revealed that she stopped doing crunches on the advice of a plastic surgeon and has changed how she reads in bed, all in the name of avoiding necklines. She even jokes that the neck ages in dog years, aging seven years for every one.
It is relatable, funny, and very on-brand for Ripa. But it raises a real question: do these habits actually work? The answer is a mix of yes and no. One of her instincts lines up well with what dermatologists and spine experts advise, while another is based on a claim the science does not support. Here is what she said, and what the evidence really shows about protecting your neck.
What Kelly Ripa Said About Her Neck Habits
On an episode of Live With Kelly and Mark, Ripa kicked off a skin-focused segment with a memorable line about the neck aging faster than the rest of the body. As she put it, “For every year you age, your neck ages seven more years,” a claim she has repeated for years as a kind of catchphrase.
Her most specific habit involves core workouts. Ripa says a plastic surgeon, Dr. David Rosenberg, told her that “the tighter your core, the worse your neck looks.” Taking that to heart, she gave up crunches entirely. In her words, “So now I haven’t done a crunch in five years. That ended that.”
She has also described changing how she reads in bed to avoid bending her neck forward, lying back and holding the book up overhead instead. As she described it, “I lay back in the bed and I hold the book up until my hands fall asleep, and then I give myself a break.” The goal in both cases is the same: keep the neck from repeatedly folding or straining.
Do Crunches Really Age Your Neck?
This is the claim that does not hold up well. There is no good scientific evidence that doing crunches causes neck wrinkles or lines. The idea that a tighter core somehow worsens the neck is an assertion, not an established dermatological fact.
What is true is that crunches done with poor form can strain the neck. Harvard Health Publishing notes that yanking the head forward with the hands during ab exercises can cause neck stiffness and soreness. But that is a technique problem, not a wrinkle problem, and it is solved by doing the movement correctly rather than abandoning core work altogether. Core strength itself has real benefits for posture, back health, and daily function, so quitting it to protect the neck is not a trade-off the evidence supports.
What Actually Causes Neck Lines
If crunches are not the culprit, what is? Neck lines come mainly from the ordinary drivers of skin aging, plus one distinctly modern habit.
The biggest factors are time and sun. Natural aging thins the skin and reduces collagen and elastin, while cumulative ultraviolet exposure accelerates wrinkling, and the neck is often under-protected compared with the face. Genetics and natural skin laxity play a part too.
The modern addition is constant downward gazing at screens. Dermatologists have linked heavy phone use to deeper horizontal neck lines, largely because of the sheer amount of time people spend with their heads bent forward, repeatedly creasing the skin. One cosmetic dermatologist has noted that this accumulated downward-looking time can deepen fixed horizontal lines on the neck. So the repeated-folding idea behind Ripa’s concern is real; it is just that phones, not crunches, are the main offender.
Does Rethinking Reading in Bed Help?
Here Ripa’s instinct is better supported. Her exact flat-on-the-back, book-overhead method has not been formally studied, but the principle behind it, avoiding prolonged forward neck flexion, aligns with what experts recommend.
Spine specialists advise lifting screens and reading material toward eye level rather than dropping the head to meet them. A Yale spine surgeon, for example, recommends raising screens to eye level, the same idea Ripa is applying to her book. Keeping the head aligned over the shoulders, and propping a book on a stand or pillow rather than craning down at it, reduces both the skin creasing and the muscle strain that come from hours of neck flexion. So while the overhead-until-your-hands-fall-asleep approach is a little impractical, the underlying habit is sound.
The Verdict: Do Her Habits Really Work?
The honest answer is that it depends on the habit.
Her move to reduce neck flexion, by rethinking how she reads and generally avoiding long periods with her head bent down, is genuinely sensible. It aligns with expert advice and may help with both neck lines and neck and shoulder strain. That one earns a pass.
Her decision to quit crunches to save her neck does not stand up. There is no evidence that crunches cause neck wrinkles, and giving up core work has real downsides. If crunches bother your neck, the fix is better form, not quitting. And the playful claim that the neck ages seven years for every one is a punchline, not science. So Ripa is half right, which is better than many celebrity beauty tips manage, but worth separating fact from fun.
What Dermatologists Recommend for Neck Lines
If you want to actually protect and soften the skin on your neck, the evidence points to a clear set of steps.
- Sun protection comes first. Apply sunscreen to your neck and chest daily, not just your face. UV exposure is a leading cause of neck wrinkling.
- Use proven ingredients. Products containing retinoids, peptides, hyaluronic acid, or vitamin C may help soften the appearance of lines over time.
- Moisturize the area. Keeping the skin hydrated supports its appearance and comfort.
- Reduce downward screen time. Since prolonged looking down contributes to neck lines, lifting your phone toward eye level and taking breaks matters. As skincare experts put it, even the best serum cannot outwork a bad habit.
- Consider professional options carefully. In-office treatments exist for more noticeable lines, but these should be discussed with a qualified dermatologist, with realistic expectations.
How To Protect Your Neck in Everyday Life
Pulling it together, a few simple habits protect both how your neck looks and how it feels. Raise your phone, tablet, and reading material toward eye level instead of bending down to them. Take regular breaks from any head-down activity. Wear sunscreen on your neck and chest. Keep doing core and strengthening exercises, but with good form that does not strain the neck. And pay attention to posture generally, since the same forward-head position that strains muscles also creases skin.
None of this requires giving up exercise or adopting an awkward reading pose. Small, sustainable adjustments do more than dramatic ones.
Key Facts About Kelly Ripa’s Neck Habits
- Ripa is 56 and co-hosts Live With Kelly and Mark.
- She says she has not done a crunch in about five years, citing advice from plastic surgeon Dr. David Rosenberg.
- She jokes that the neck ages seven years for every year of life, which is not literally true.
- She has described reading lying flat while holding a book overhead to avoid bending her neck.
- Experts support reducing neck flexion but find no evidence that crunches cause neck lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Kelly Ripa really stop doing crunches?
Yes. Ripa has said she has not done a crunch in about five years, after a plastic surgeon told her that a tighter core can make the neck look worse.
Do crunches cause neck wrinkles?
There is no good evidence that crunches cause neck wrinkles. Poor form during ab exercises can strain the neck muscles, but that is a technique issue, not a cause of lines.
What actually causes neck lines?
The main causes are natural aging, sun exposure, genetics, and skin laxity, along with the modern habit of constantly looking down at phones, which repeatedly creases the skin.
Does reading in bed cause neck lines?
Reading with the neck bent forward for long periods can contribute to creasing and strain. Keeping reading material closer to eye level, as Ripa aims to do, is the sensible fix.
How can I prevent neck lines?
Protect your neck from the sun daily, use skincare ingredients like retinoids and vitamin C, stay hydrated, and reduce long periods of looking down at screens.
Is it true the neck ages in dog years?
No. Ripa’s line that the neck ages seven years for every one is a joke, not a scientific fact, though the neck does tend to show aging and sun damage readily.
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