Have you paid attention to your hand skin during skincare routines? In reality, very few people focus on caring for their arm skin. Yet, this area is where the first signs of aging often appear on the body. So, what should you do when dealing with aging hands?
Some signs of aging hand skin
Age spots on the hands
Age spots appearing on the hands are one of the most common signs of aging skin. These spots tend to increase in size with age and sun exposure. According to dermatologists, the formation of age spots originates from an increase in melanin pigmentation. The main cause is the effects of UVA and UVB rays.
Dry and rough hands
Entering the aging phase, your hand skin often becomes dry. By using the back of your other hand to feel, you may notice roughness or even a slightly gritty sensation. Dermatologists explain that as we age, our skin retains less water, causing it to become rougher. This characteristic can make your skin look dull and makes it challenging to wear revealing clothing that exposes this area.
Flaky skin on hands
Dry hand skin can lead to thinning skin, which can result in cracks, wounds, or flakiness on the hands. These flaky patches of skin can lead to actinic keratosis (AK) – precancerous lesions. This indicates an increased risk of developing skin cancer in the arm area, not just typical aging.
Wrinkled hand skin
As previously mentioned, each passing year reduces the amount of collagen and elastin in the body by a certain amount. These components play a crucial role in maintaining the structure, making the skin firm and plump. As the aging process progresses, hands lose their youthful appearance. Instead, the skin becomes loose and begins to develop a texture resembling crepe paper, lacking vitality.
Visible veins on hand skin
Wrinkled hand skin makes the veins in this area more noticeable. In older individuals, the appearance of veins on the hands accompanies other signs of aging, indicating a severe deterioration of the skin.
These are five common signs of aging hand skin that many people may experience after the age of 35. When these signs appear, the skin on the arms and hands becomes visibly duller. Many individuals reach out to Love Connection seeking advice on improving the condition of aging hand skin. Will this method truly make a difference?
Can Aging Hands Be Treated?
“Can aging hands be treated?” is a common question among many people, especially women. Over time, we’ve heard about numerous methods for treating aging skin in general and aging hands in particular. The reality is that aging hands can be treated, but only to a certain extent of prevention or improvement. This also means that there is no way to completely treat the condition of aging hands.
While not providing radical results, implementing anti-aging methods for the hands is essential. Below are some approaches you can consider and apply on a daily basis.
Handling Aging Hands
Utilizing Almond Oil
Almond oil is excellent for the skin due to its rich content of vitamin E. This nutrient not only protects the skin from the sun’s rays but also supports collagen production, smoothing and firming the skin.
- Improving dull skin tone: Almond oil has the ability to restore and rejuvenate the skin. It also has softening properties, helping to alleviate roughness in your hand skin.
- Moisturizing the forearm area: Applying almond oil to the skin is a great way to lock in moisture and keep the hand skin softer.
Here’s how to deal with aging hands using almond oil:
Method 1: Direct application of almond oil to the skin
- Cleanse the forearms and hands with warm water, pat dry with a soft towel
- Apply almond oil to the entire forearm area while the skin is still damp
- Wait for about 1-2 minutes after the oil dries before applying hand cream
Method 2: Creating an anti-aging mixture for the hands using almond oil
- Create a mixture of almond oil and vitamin E in a 1:1 ratio
- Cleanse or moisturize the entire forearm or palm area
- Gently pat dry with a soft towel, then evenly apply the mixture to damp skin
- Gently pat and massage the skin for about 2-3 minutes to allow the mixture to penetrate deeper
- With the method of treating aging hands with almond oil, you can perform this 2-3 times a week. The key is to consistently follow the same method for a long period to see significant improvements.
Using Yogurt and Oatmeal
The anti-aging formula with yogurt and oatmeal is something you might have heard of for a long time. The nourishing components in these two ingredients will provide comprehensive care for your hand skin.
- Yogurt: With its high content of lactic acid, yogurt brings excellent benefits in brightening the skin. Moreover, its moisturizing and softening properties add vitality to your forearm skin.
- Oatmeal: Cellulose and fiber from oatmeal can help balance the pH level of the forearm skin, reducing dryness, itching, and flaking. Furthermore, this ingredient helps prevent aging effectively due to its antioxidant properties. It also restores moisture to dehydrated skin and softens the skin.
Here’s how to deal with aging hand skin using yogurt and oatmeal:
- Create a slightly thick mixture of yogurt and oatmeal in a ratio of 2:1
- Cleanse or moisturize the forearm or palm area and pat dry with a soft towel
- Apply the mixture evenly to the forearm skin while it’s still damp
- Massage the forearms gently for the first 1-2 minutes, then continue to leave it on for an additional 5-7 minutes
- Use clean water to remove the mask
- In addition to applying yogurt and oatmeal masks to your hands, remember to use other body care products to take care of your skin comprehensively.
Using Fresh Lemon
Fresh lemon is one of the essential anti-aging ingredients for skin care that cannot be overlooked. The fantastic benefits from the nutrients in fresh lemon will significantly improve your forearm skin.
- Fade age spots: Lemons contain citric acid, which acts as a whitening agent, reducing dark spots on the skin.
- Enhance skin structure: Vitamin C in lemons is one of the nutrients that promote collagen synthesis. This nutrient plays a vital role in enhancing firmness and reducing wrinkles on the skin.
Here’s how to deal with aging hand skin using fresh lemon:
- Mix one part lemon juice with one part distilled water in a 1:1 ratio
- Cleanse or wet the forearm skin and pat dry with a soft towel
- While the skin is still damp, use a cotton pad to soak in the prepared solution and apply it evenly to the entire forearm
- Wait for about 5 minutes or until the solution dries, then you can rinse off with clean water
Lemons are famous for their skin-whitening ability, but along with it comes rapid exfoliation. Therefore, there are two things to note when combating aging hand skin with this ingredient. One is to perform it only 2-3 times a week. Two is to apply sunscreen and protect your hand skin whenever you go outside.
Laser Therapy
Anti-aging laser therapy works by using light containing ultra-short pulses evenly directed onto the skin to stimulate collagen production. This prompts our bodies to generate more collagen, leading to an improvement in signs of aging.
Additionally, this therapy provides several other benefits such as:
- Enhancing the structure and appearance of the skin
- Reducing signs of aging, wrinkles, and dark spots
- Removing hair and skin imperfections
Most individuals pursue laser treatment for anti-aging to make their skin look younger, more beautiful, and healthier. Others may simply want to permanently remove hair to avoid constant shaving around hard-to-reach areas.
There are two main types of anti-aging laser treatments:
- Ablative laser uses erbium or CO2 laser tools to ablate or burn off the top layer of the skin to remove imperfections and address other surface skin issues
- Non-ablative laser does not remove skin layers and instead utilizes pulsed laser light and fractional layers to treat various skin conditions
While laser therapy yields high effectiveness, it requires long-term maintenance, and the cost of implementation is noteworthy. Additionally, you should also apply advanced anti-aging techniques along with natural methods to see results sooner.
Read more: How to Combat Skin Aging at the Age of 45
In conclusion,
In conclusion, caring for aging hands involves a combination of preventative measures and targeted treatments to maintain their youthful appearance and functionality. Incorporating daily habits such as moisturizing, protecting from UV rays, and nourishing from within through a balanced diet can significantly slow down the signs of aging. Additionally, utilizing specialized hand creams, exfoliants, and treatments tailored to address specific concerns like age spots, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity can further enhance the overall health and appearance of hands. Embracing these practices not only helps maintain the aesthetic appeal of hands but also promotes confidence and well-being as we gracefully navigate the journey of aging.
Johnny Jacks was born in 1985 in Texas, USA. He is the founder of Good Health Plan and is passionate about helping people improve their health and physical well-being. With over a decade of experience working in the healthcare industry, he currently works at Goodheathplan.com – a blog that shares knowledge on beauty and health.