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AS OUR HANDS AGE

AS OUR HANDS AGE

May 8, 2022   Return

  1. WORDS DR SIEW TUCK WAH

    The skin of our hands age just like that of our face and neck. Furthermore, our hands are often exposed to the ravages of environment—heat, cold, pollutants, germs, and more—so much so that it is said that people can tell our true age by looking at our hands! Despite this, many people still overlook their hands when it comes to their personal care regime. 

    In this article, let’s take a look at some good personal care and aesthetic regimes to address the issue of ageing hands.

    As we age, our hands undergo visible changes in appearance.

    DRY SKIN

    The skin of our hands has fewer sebaceous glands compared to the skin on other parts of our body. Sebaceous glands produce a waxy, oily substance that lubricates the skin. Due to having fewer of these glands, the skin of our hands tend to dry up fast. Furthermore, as we age, the skin on our hands increasingly loses its ability to retain moisture.

    Consequently, as the years pass, our hands will have a higher tendency to become dry and wrinkled.

    THIN, CREPEY SKIN

    The skin loses collagen and elastin as we age. These are proteins that help our skin retain its structure while remaining elastic in order to allow for movement. The loss of these proteins results in the skin of the hands taking on a thin and finely wrinkled appearance that resembles crepe paper.

    PIGMENTATION ISSUES SUCH AS AGE SPOTS

    These are caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, which is present in sunlight as well as certain artificial light sources.

    LOSS OF VULUME

    Ageing can cause our hands to appear bonier, with the veins on the hand becoming more prominent. 

    REVITALIZING OUR HANDS

    Use a good sunscreen to protect our hands from UV damage.

    Consider using antioxidant serums on the hands. My personal favourites are vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid.

    Moisturize hands regularly with a strong and rich moisturizer. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides are beneficial in retaining moisture and repairing skin barrier.

    What are the available aesthetic treatments for ageing hands?

    AGE SPOTS

    Chemical peels. A chemical solution is applied to the top layer of the skin, removing dead skin cells and allowing new skin cells to regenerate. The skin that grows back after a chemical peel is smoother and younger-looking.

    Microdermabrasion. A special device with an abrasive surface is used to gently remove debris from the outer layers of the skin. This treatment works even better when combined with other procedures such as lasers, chemical peels, and LED light therapy.

    Laser skin resurfacing. This technique employs an intense beam of laser light to remove the top few layers of skin. This will promote the growth of new, younger-looking skin. There are several types of laser treatment available—we can consult an aesthetic medicine specialist on the type most suitable for our needs. 

    DRY SKIN

    Skinboosters, which are tiny injections made into the skin to restore hydration and improve skin elasticity. 

    LOSS OF VOLUME AND PROMINENT VEINS

    Biostimulating fillers, when injected into hands, can restore volume and reduce the prominence of veins. The biostimulatory effects of these fillers will also improve the skin texture of our hands.