Hands reveal our age more than any other part of the body. Daily activities like washing hands, using hand sanitizer, and cleaning with chemicals can dry out skin and contribute to signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, loss of volume loss and prominent veins.
Wrinkles may become inevitable as we age, but there are ways to limit their appearance by following an anti-aging hand routine.
1. Exfoliate
Hands often get overlooked when it comes to anti aging skin care. Because their thin skin reveals signs of aging more rapidly than other areas, sun damage, loose and sagging skin and other common signs are likely. With these expert tips in hand skin rejuvenation can make hands look younger and refreshed!
Exfoliating regularly is key to combatting hand skin aging, and can easily be done at home using products you likely already have in your kitchen or bathroom. While exfoliation products designed specifically for hands may provide gentler exfoliation than what might otherwise be offered, exfoliation remains one of the best anti aging skincare techniques out there.
Exfoliation alone won’t suffice; moisturizing is just as vital. Hand skin is thin compared to facial skin, so using a rich hand cream to protect it against dryness and cracking. Furthermore, when heading outdoors it is wise to wear sunscreen to shield hands from sun rays and protect their delicate structures from harm.
Homemade hand scrubs are an effective way to both exfoliate and hydrate skin, with equal parts sugar and olive oil being mixed together and rubbed over your hands for about one minute before rinsing off with warm water and applying hand moisturizer.
Other tips to keep your hands looking young and healthy include using a gentle exfoliating product, wearing gloves when washing dishes or cleaning, drinking plenty of water, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep. It is also wise to avoid smoking or exposure to harsh chemicals, which may damage the skin on your hands.
If you are already showing signs of aging, there are various treatments available to reverse them, from at-home solutions like hand exfoliation to professional services like laser therapy or dermal fillers. A plastic surgeon may perform procedures like fat transfer or hand lifts that may also help.
2. Moisturize
Few body parts reveal your age as quickly as your hands do. As we age, skin loses fat and elasticity – an unfortunate process which may show itself earlier than in other areas of the body, like dry, scaly skin and brittle nails on your hands. Luckily there are numerous treatments to help slow this natural process of aging.
Step one to creating healthier and younger-looking hands is regularly moisturizing with high-quality cream. Avoid harsh scrubs and chemical exfoliants which may be too aggressive on delicate hand skin; opt instead for gentle hand lotion containing shea butter or vitamin E to keep the hands looking their best.
At the start of each day, apply a small dollop of moisturizer onto both palms and fingertips and rub together to evenly disperse it – this way you won’t end up with excess cream clinging to fingers and palms, leaving them looking greasy. Make moisturizing part of your daily routine by applying cream after every handwash and before bed.
When cleaning your hands, be sure to use warm or tepid water so as to not strip your skin of essential oils. Moisturize right after hand-washing while your skin is still damp in order to retain as much moisture as possible – an optimal timeframe would be five minutes post-hand-washing.
Moisturize your nails too, which are made up of flattened dead keratin (the same material found in your hair). To combat dryness, scurvy and flaking on them daily and help prevent dryness or flaking from developing, apply thicker hand cream or an ointment daily – this can keep them hydrated and soft as well as help treat issues related to nail biting or brittleness.
Other ways to keep your hands looking younger include wearing gloves while cleaning or doing yard work, using sunscreen on them, and limiting smoking and sun exposure. For longer-term solutions, speak to a plastic surgeon about surgical solutions like hand lifts or fillers that can tighten loose skin on your hands while improving their overall appearance.
3. Apply Sunscreen
Sun damage to hands is just as detrimental to anti-ageing efforts as sun damage to faces, with repeated sun exposure over time causing brown spots, uneven skin tone and thinning skin – leading to brown spots, uneven tone and thinned-out areas of skin. Therefore, hand sunscreen should form part of your daily anti-ageing regiment; look for products with high SPF levels for broad spectrum protection that you can reapply after handwashing – try CeraVe’s product which has over 8500 five star reviews; its light formula absorbs quickly without leaving residues or residue.
Wrinkles are an inevitable result of natural aging, yet their visibility on your hands can be particularly noticeable. Thin skin on the back of your hand has fewer fat cells and less elasticity, leading to translucent and wrinkled skin. Furthermore, hands tend to age faster due to constant exposure to water and harsh cleaners that increase wrinkle formation.
As you age, you may notice bulging veins appear on your hands due to natural causes as well as sun exposure; these veins are caused by expanding blood vessels due to natural aging process and sun exposure that expands them further, making them appear more prominently. Applying moisturizer or sunscreen might prevent these veins from appearing more noticeable but once they do appear they cannot be eliminated without surgery procedures being undertaken to reduce their size and make your hands appear younger.
Retinol hand treatments or lotions with glycolic acid may help diminish fine lines and wrinkles on your hands, working by encouraging the production of more collagen and elastin by your body to help soften wrinkled hand skin. If more noticeable signs of aging emerge on your hands, FDA-approved dermal fillers such as Radiesse could provide another option to fill in wrinkles and add volume.
Regaining the youthful appearance of your hands can be done through simple preventative skin care regimens and treatments from a dermatologist. From counteracting effects of aging on hands to diminishing existing wrinkles and discolorations, TODAY Style has consulted some experts who offer helpful tips for doing it right.
4. Massage
Hands are one of the first indicators of age. Signs of aging in hands include sun spots, flaky patches, thin skin, wrinkles and loss of elasticity – symptoms which a good hand massage may help reverse. A professional masseuse can use techniques such as stroking, kneading, warming and pressing of muscles and skin as one of their core treatments on spa menus; various forms exist with various intentions – some alleviate pain; others promote energy levels or heal specific conditions.
Rubbishing an area to comfort or reassure another is an instinctive human response, while massage therapy is used to provide both physical and emotional comfort. Massage may soothe muscle pain, reduce anxiety and improve any conditions related to tension.
MS patients prone to edema (swelling caused by accumulation of watery fluid in cells, tissues, or body cavities). A gentle massage may ease some of its discomfort; however, it should never be used as a cure – individuals living with this condition must always remain under medical supervision.
Massage techniques range from light stroking (effleurage), petrissage (squeezing and rolling), friction, as well as various acupressure techniques that use finger pressure on specific points on the body (petrissage). Massage practitioners may use lotions or oils to help their hands glide over muscles more smoothly; vibration therapy and tapping may also be included as treatment plans.
Studies conducted on people suffering from hand arthritis reported less pain and improved grip strength after receiving weekly professional hand massage sessions and daily self-massages for four weeks. People living with this condition can have difficulty performing simple tasks such as opening doors or unscrewing lids, which this therapy could help ease.
Hand massages can be done at any time during the day, although it’s easiest before bed. Apply a few drops of an oil that you have tested on your skin and start massaging the palms of both hands, followed by fingers, thumbs, index and middle fingers and then thumbs as necessary. If your hands feel particularly dry rub in small circular movements.