A Melbourne skin expert has revealed the surprising way your favourite perfume could be damaging your skin, and it’s an everyday habit most of us are guilty of.

James Vivian, celebrity facialist and dermal therapist, has warned that spraying perfume directly onto your neck can trigger a chronic skin condition called Poikiloderma of Civatte.

In fact, he’s so passionate about urging Aussies to rethink their spritzing habits that he shared the warning in a recent Instagram video.

In the clipJames said that the issue came up during a recent consultation with a client he was treating.

He said he hadn’t given this particular piece of advice in over six years because it simply hadn’t come up in conversation – but what he saw on his client’s skin made him realise it was time to talk about it again.

The client, he explained, had ‘a whole lot of poikiloderma where there’s reds and browns on the sides of her neck, where she sprays her perfume.’

The discolouration also meant that she was left with a ‘big natural coloured splotch’ in the middle of her neck that wasn’t going away.

According to Vivian, this uneven pigmentation is caused by perfume photosensitising the skin, essentially making it more vulnerable to sun damage.

‘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.’

Poikiloderma of Civatte is a sun-induced skin condition that typically affects the sides of the neck and décolletage and it shows up as patchy, uneven pigmentation.

This can look like a combination of redness, brown hyperpigmentation, lighter patches, spider veins (telangiectasias), and skin thinning.

While it’s not harmful, it can be permanent and notoriously difficult to treat once it develops.

Laser and IPL treatments, along with diligent sun protection, can help improve its appearance, but James stressed prevention is far better than cure.

Many perfumes contain photosensitising ingredients, meaning they make the skin more sensitive to UV rays.

When applied to sun-exposed areas like the neck, these ingredients can magnify the effects of sun exposure, accelerating pigmentation changes and broken capillaries over time.

‘We often see this occurring in the spots where people are spritzing their fabulous perfumes, which make their skin not so fabulously more susceptible to sun damage.’

However, before you start thinking it’s all doom and gloom for your favourite Eau de parfum, there is a simple fix that’s far safer on delicate skin.

‘The tip for spraying perfume is either on the skin, where the sun isn’t shining (like under your collarbone), or directly on your clothing,’ he advised.

‘That way, you avoid compromising the skin on your neck altogether.’

James’ post quickly sparked conversation online, with followers admitting they’d never made the connection between perfume and pigmentation before.

‘I spray it in my hair, clothes and on my wrists because no one is talking about aged wrists lol,’ one person joked.

‘So important. Poikiloderma is so hard to treat,’ another agreed.

Others wanted to know whether the warning applied beyond perfume.

‘I assume that is the same for guys and aftershave as well?’ one follower asked – and the answer, according to the expert, is yes.

So if you love your signature scent, opting to mist your clothes, hair or covered skin can protect against stubborn pigmentation issues later in life – and, most importantly, still leave you smelling just as good.