How To Keep Your Hands Looking Young: Part I
You may know that a current hot procedure in cosmetic dermatology involves “facial fillers”—artificial and in some cases natural substances, such as one’s own fat cells, injected to expand facial areas that have shrunk as a natural result of aging. But you might not be aware that these same plumping-out techniques are becoming all the rage for a different area—the hands. More individuals, who may have young-looking faces, are directing attention now to their hands, which, they feel, “give away” their age. It’s a valid concern, and they want something done.
As detailed in this New York Times article, more than a few people are spending a small fortune trying to reverse the natural tissue shrinkage (which gives a “bony” or “veiny” look) that occurs in some people’s hands over time. The cost of filling procedures for the hands can range from $3,000 for results that last about a year, to $12,000 for results (using fat) that might last a decade. Certainly not a trivial amount, so you will be happy to know there are several simpler, cheaper, and less painful routes to help prevent, and then treat, some of the age-related changes that might occur.
Besides the atrophy, or shrinkage, problem, other age-giveaways are hand wrinkles and brown spots. Prevention is best of course, and if you are in your 20s or 30s still with perfect hands, notice your grandparents’ hands and consider: sun damage may have caused much of the changes you see, and in large part, it’s preventable.
Point one: faithfully use at least an SPF 15 sunscreen (with both UVA and UVB protection), on the backs of your hands and fingers…wrists and arms too if they are sun-exposed. Do this no matter if you are young and unwrinkled, or already have a problem…even if you already have wrinkles, this will help slow down their progression.
Two: moisturize and hydrate your hands, and your body in general. For a daytime hand moisturizer, best is to use a moisturizer-sunscreen combination. One quality, economical, and convenient choice is Lubriderm Daily Moisture with SPF 15. Leave a 16 oz press-top dispenser handy, and make a habit of using a couple squirts before you go out into the sun and weather.
Then hydrate your skin from inside by drinking enough water. Especially with winter approaching, the indoor heated environment can be very drying, wrecking havoc on your skin, so consider purchasing a portable humidifier or two for your home. It’s slightly inconvenient to deal with filling up the device, cleaning it, changing the filters, etc., but the results are well worth the effort. Your wrinkled skin might noticeably “flesh-out” as the humidity rises in your environment. And the increased humidity has other health benefits that will be detailed in a future post.
On Wednesday… several specific creams that work well for age spots and wrinkles!
