An Expert Guide To Keeping Your Hands Young
This Is Why Hands Are Prone To Ageing
“Our skin will inevitably begin to age, wrinkle and slacken, but hands are one of the first areas to show it,” advises Nialm Holmes, skin specialist & founder of DermaSpa. “It is said that people can correctly guess someone’s age by simply looking at their hands alone. Why? Because they are put through more daily wear and tear than any other body part. We cook with them, clean with them, always expose them to the elements, and let them come into direct contact with hundreds of different chemicals daily, yet we continue to neglect them. It’s important to think about these factors when caring for our hands and to remember that when it comes to anti-ageing, it’s not just our faces that deserve the best treatment.”
There Are Some Early Warning Signs
“Hands can show pigmentation, sun spots, a loss of elasticity, volume and wrinkles – all of which are signs of ageing,” says Vanessa Charest, aesthetic nurse of London Real Skin. “They are particularly prone to dark spots as the skin here is so exposed to the sun. Just as you would your face, you should be layering on SPF daily to your hands to protect against harmful UV rays that over time break down the collagen and cause pigmentation. Nialm adds: “Surprisingly, hand creams with an in-built SPF aren’t as easy to find as you think. If you’re using a moisturiser already with SPF inside, make sure you’re slathering a small amount onto your hands, too. You should always reapply after you’ve washed your hands to reap maximum benefits.”
Exfoliation Is Important, Too
“You might think you exfoliate enough just by washing your hands, but alcohol-based soaps – particularly now with the pandemic – can dry out the hands and cause irritation,” says Vanessa. “A chemical exfoliant once a week (like a glycolic acid) is a better option as they swiftly remove the build-up of dead skin cells for softer, smoother and brighter-looking skin. You only need to do it occasionally, but it will make a huge difference to their appearance.”
There Are Multiple Options To Consider
“If you’re on a budget, simple tweaks to your daily lifestyle like wearing rubber gloves when washing up and drinking plenty of water will increase hydration,” recommends Nialm. “Likewise, wearing an SPF daily will prevent age spots while unguent creams (which don’t have to be costly) will always deliver the right amount of hydration to counteract the dryness regular washing can cause. However, if you feel the damage on your hands has gone too far, there are treatments that can effectively treat them. Peels, laser resurfacing, microneedling and Lumecca Intense Pulse Light (IPL) are all great ways to treat sun damaged skin and reduce sun spots. The latter is one of the most effective treatments – you can clear up to 90% of pigmentation within two treatments.”
Always Remember It Pays To Start Early
“Prevention is always better (and less costly) than the cure,” finishes Nialm. “With this in mind, it’s key you get into a simple routine early of hand-friendly habits. This will make everything less of a chore when you really need to seek out treatments. Keep a hand cream or serum by your kitchen sink, at your desk, in your car – everywhere you can so that you’re reminded to apply it. Investing in rubber gloves is also the simplest – but most effective – change you can make. This is because water contact strips our hands of natural oils, causing excessive dryness and the effect it has on the skin isn’t pretty.”
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