Aging Hands: Turn Back The Clock
Posted on: 1 April 2015
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When a person thinks about aging, they think about wrinkles and crow's feet around their eyes. However, aging can easily occur in other places on the body as well – in particular, your hands. Read on to learn more about why and how your hands age and what you can do about it.
Understanding Why Your Hands Age
Most people realize the importance of protecting their face from the sun so that it doesn't get burned by UV rays, which can cause premature aging. However, it isn't common for individuals to think about protecting the back of their hands. Unfortunately, this is a big mistake. The hands are exposed to the sun just as much, if not more, than your face.
The skin on the back of the hand is very fragile and thin, which means it has more difficulty bouncing back from damage. As damage from the sun accumulates, the collagen in the skin will begin to break down. This results in loose skin on already-thin skin.
Simple At-Home Defenses to Minimize Aging of Your Hands
Although the effects of the sun can cause some significant damage, there are ways that you can minimize these effects. For starters, you can start using sunscreen on the back of your hands and not just on your face. When driving, you may want to consider wearing a pair of fashionable driving gloves to help protect your hands as well.
It's also important to keep your hands moisturized. Look for products that contain retinoids, vitamin C and green tea to help reestablish collagen, moisture and glow. You should also limit extended exposure to water. This is particularly true if your hands tend to suffer from redness and irritation, cracking skin or peeling skin.
Professional Solutions for Aging Hands
When the damage has already been done to the back of your hands, there are still options available. Laser treatments can help trigger the production of collagen, thereby firming the skin. This can drastically improve the appearance of wrinkles as well as pigmentation and texture, although multiple treatments are typically necessary.
Another option is a plumping treatment. With this form of treatment, a filler is injected underneath the top layer of skin where fat has been lost, which helps to fill out the wrinkles and "fatten" the skin. It helps to hide bulging veins and reduce almost all signs of aging.
For more information about reducing the effects of aging on the back of your hands, consult with your local dermatologist to discuss what options are available to you.
For more information, contact Thomas P. Senter, M.D. or another dermatologist.