Taking care of your hands is usually one of the last things that come to mind when reducing aging.
Most of us focus on the face and neck, then end up realizing that we have been forgetting a noticeable element of our appearance. Our hands are always showing in almost everything we do.
When we start to get older, the skin on the surface of our hands starts to get thinner. The veins become much more prominent. In addition, sun spots (some call these age spots) will start to appear. Wrinkles and lines will also start to be visible. Each of these things will give the hands a much older appearance.
Let’s take a look at several key points that you should keep in mind when taking care of your hands:
1. Protect
First and foremost, you need to protect the skin on your hands from excess moisture, which can cause premature wrinkling.
Wear gloves if you are cleaning, washing dishes or gardening. The American Academy of Dermatologists reveals that hot water, cleansers and yard work will dry out the skin on the hands, causing them to wrinkle.
2. Exfoliate
Dead skin cells can build up on the hands, giving them a dry, wrinkled and cracked appearance.
Apply a mild exfoliator to the backs of your hands and around the cuticles to keep them smooth and free of flaking and peeling skin.
The best way to do this is to use the leftover exfoliator that you have applied to your face, and rub it into your hands. Focus on the backs of the hands, around the nails and any dry or rough spots.
3. Moisturize
Since we cannot protect our hands from everything all of the time, our hands will still tend to become dry. This is especially true in the winter months, when the heat in our homes remove a lot of humidity in the air.
Always keep hand cream in your car, purse, desk, nightstand and anywhere that is easily accessible throughout the day.
If your hands are extremely dry and cracked, you can take an extra step. Apply a thick, deep penetrating lotion on the hands at night and cover with cotton gloves while you sleep.
Additionally, you can do a paraffin wax dip once a week to give your hands an extra boost of moisture. These machines are available at most department stores, or you can get the service performed at many salons or day spas in about 20 minutes.
4. Prevent
Taking care of your hands is also a way to prevent further sun damage from occurring. Sun damage causes hyperpigmentation and sun spots, as well as increases risks of skin cancer.
Always use a moisturizer that contains an SPF of 50 or higher and apply it often. Our hands are always exposed to the elements, so we need to be vigilant about caring for them.
5. Massage
Sometimes when we age, our fingernails will turn yellow or grey. They may lack the pink healthy tone from when we are younger.
This article suggests that massaging the hands and nails regularly, will prevent the fingernails from changing color and becoming brittle.
Conclusion
Taking care of your hands doesn’t take much time or effort, but it can make a world of difference in your appearance. Aging hands can be a dead giveaway to how old you actually may be.
By taking a few simple steps on a regular basis, your hands won’t give away any tell tale signs. Keep people guessing about your true age.
For further reading, check out: If You Apply Your Makeup Wrong, You Can Add Years To Your Face – Over 50 and The Best Fruits And Vegetables For Making Facial Masks.
Image: Unsplash