Hands are the first part of our body that shows signs of ageing. This is because we’re constantly working with our hands and they’re practically always unprotected and exposed to external elements. That includes the continuous harmful effects of the sun.
Another reason why hands seem to age faster than other parts of the body is our care – or better said, lack of care – when it comes to the skin of our hands. For instance most of us have special skin regimens our face however no one implements a regular treatment plan for the hands.
Keep reading to find out how to keep your hands looking young and healthy, and hide signs of aging.
TREAT THE SKIN
As we age, our skin becomes thinner and loses fat and with that comes loss of volume and elasticity causing age spots and wrinkles to appear. To prevent this from happening we need to implement an effective skin care regime, which includes:
- Sunscreen protection – use SPF 50 or higher when you know you will be spending a lot of time outside.
- Gloves – if you’re working in the garden or cleaning, wear gloves to prevent harmful chemicals from affecting your skin.
- Exfoliate – dry skin needs to be exfoliated regularly to remove dead skin cells. You have options to choose between homemade or chemical products.
SKIN PROCEDURES
We’re primarily referring to simple surface-level procedures, such as dermabrasion and laser resurfacing. These treatments will quickly improve your skin tone and texture as well as reduce all irregularities on the skin surface.
Of course there are still minor risks associated with these types of procedures, but the overwhelming majority of patients experience no problems or difficulties.
INJECTIONS
Fat injections are not used in the same extent to treat but are very effective. A certified medical professional takes fat from another part of your body and injects it into the back of your hands. This gives the skin volume and thereby a more youthful appearance.
Dermal fillers function similar to fat injections, but they’re synthetic in origin. They help the skin absorb water, which increases their volume and give them a brighter appearance. The longevity of the filler depends on the kind.
THE TREATMENTS THAT ARE LESS ADVANTAGEOUS
Now that you know about all the steps that you can take to improve your skin health, it’s important that we mention the procedures that are less good.
- Botulinum toxin – while it may be the preferred treatment for facial skin, it simply won’t work on hands. This is because it is a neurotoxin that works by inhibiting muscle movement, rather than improving skin volume.
- Skin removal surgery – Skin removal surgery can cause potential scarring and poor recovery after the skin is removed. That is why we don’t recommend it to treat hands.
HOW TO SLOW DOWN HAND SKIN AGEING BY LIFESTYLE CHANGES
Lifestyle as we know plays an important role in skin health and overall appearance. This means that you might need to make some changes in your everyday life.
You can improve your lifestyle and your overall well being by making minor changes. For example, you can give up smoking and implement a more balanced diet that facilitates skin growth and healing.
You can reduce your alcohol and sugar containing drink consumption as well. Remind yourself that your skin needs moisturizing and drink water throughout the day.