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Most of us are concerned about how our faces age but what about our aging hands?
While we may be able to hide our years through use of facial treatments, aging hands are a dead giveaway for how old we really are.
"Hands not only are susceptible to the first signs of aging, but very often age even faster than the face," said Ellen Marmur, MD, chief of dermatological and cosmetic surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, to WebMD.
The skin on the back of our hands is much thinner than on our face and lacks the extra fat to keep it looking plump and full.
As elastin and collagen break down from both the normal aging process and from sun exposure, the underlying bones, tendons and veins become more noticeable.
Brown spots and wrinkles surface add to a less than desired look.
So what can you do about aging hands?
There are various options on how to care for your aging hands along with a range of costs.
Moisturizer
Use a moisturizer to protect your hands from the effects of frequent washing and other effects of exposure. WebMD suggested using one that contains products such as shea butter, macadamia nut oil, olive oil, vitamin E, and glycerin.
Apply the moisturizer to the skin while it is slightly damp. Regularly apply it after showering or washing your hands.
Sunscreen
Using sunscreen on our hands is a pretty obvious way to protect them from direct sunlight. Select a sunscreen that protects your hands from both UVA and UVB rays to help prevent brown spots and wrinkling of your skin. Reapply several times a day.
Wax treatments
Wax treatments can be useful for deep moisturizing of very dry and cracked skin. According to WebMD, a home unit can be purchased for as little as $50 plus the cost of the wax to give your hands some extra pampering. Wax coats the skin giving it more protection that can be achieved with a cream.
Professional options from a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon can be explored if you feel basic treatments are not enough to rejuvenate your hands.
Fillers
According to WebMD, “the No. 1 professional hand care treatment to date is medical fillers, those same wrinkle-filling injections used on the face.” Radiesse, Juvéderm or Perlane are commonly used synthetic fillers.
Once injected, the filler is massaged across the back of the hand to fill out the spaces in the skin. Treatment takes about 20 minutes and the results can be seen in a couple of weeks.
Fillers cost about $1,000 to $6,000 for three treatments. Risks of use of fillers include possible lumps, or scarring, particularly in those with ethnic skin color.
Lasers
Wrinkles and dark spots can be treated using lasers or IPL (a pulsed light treatment similar to lasers). There are different types of lasers used, depending on the type of treatment needed, such as CO2 lasers for resurfacing or Fraxel lasers for wrinkles and dark spot removal.
Lasers cost about $500 a session, with up to three sessions needed. IPL costs around $300 but needs up to eight sessions. Risks of laser treatment are small. There may be discomfort during and after the session with bruising, mild swelling, pigment changes and possible scar tissue if you are susceptible.
Make sure to check the doctor’s credentials and get referrals from others before you have one of these more risk related therapies.
Sources:
Hands Give a Lift, Now They Can Get One. The New York Times. Web. Aug. 31, 2012.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/fashion/Skin-Deep-Treating-Hands-for-S...
Anti-aging Treatments for Your Hands. WebMD. Web. Aug. 31, 2012.
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/features/antiaging-treatments-for-yo...
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele are at www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles
Edited by Jody Smith
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