Don’t let your hands give away your age.

Tips from skin and laser specialist Cherie Cochrane on what’s best for ageing hands.

You work hard to look youthful. You cover your gray hair, apply anti-aging creams and protect your face with sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats when you’re outside.

But if you neglect your hands, they may give away your true age or can even make you look older. They need protection and care to and It’s never too late to start taking good care of them.

Why your hands look older than they should…

The answer is found in the way your body changes as a whole over time. But you can intervene in how it happens. Dry, crepey skin and dark age spots can become problems as people get older.

The term ‘age spots’ is deceiving as these spots are not connected to your age in any way! Excess sun exposure is why you get age spots on your hands and elsewhere. The reason for them being called age spots is because they don’t usually appear till you’re in your 40’s / 50’s when your skin starts to show the signs of many hours spent outdoors in the sun or the use tanning beds

The answer is found in the way your body changes as a whole over time. But you can intervene in how it happens. Dry, crepey skin and dark age spots can become problems as people get older.

How To Make Your Hands Look Younger

Age spots

My favourite go-to treatment- BBL (broadband light).

For best results, a laser treatment like BBL laser can be done to dramatically improve the appearance of dark marks and sundamage. additionally, prescription strength retinol creams can also assist with improving the texture of the skin. I always like to combine both to get the best results.

Crepey skin

My favourite go-to treatment- BBL laser and a Nano-Laser peel combination.

The BBL laser treatment removes brown sunspots while the Nano laser peel removes dead skin and improves the texture of the skin at the same time! You can also use topical retinol or AHA cream to further improve your results

Thin, bony hands

My favourite go-to treatment- Restaylne Skinboosters to plump up thin looking skin and increase hydration levels in the skin.

As you age, your hands also lose fat and elasticity and your skin loses volume. This reduced volume and decreased elasticity produces translucent skin that wrinkles and develops age spots.

Restaylne Skinboosters to plump up thin looking skin and increase hydration levels in the skin.

SkinTyte laser treatment can also be used in combination to stimulate collagen production and tighten loose skin.

What you can do to prevent aging hands (At Home)

Cherie recommends the following:

Sunscreen, Sunscreen, sunscreen
- UV exposure is one of the main culprits when it comes to aging skin. Get in the habit of wearing sunscreen every day. A broad-spectrum sunscreen will go a long way to prevent age spots and wrinkles and crepey skin. Don’t forget that UV rays come through your car window leaving your hands very exposed to damage!

Avoid harsh soaps
- We’re all washing and sanitising our hands a lot more than we used to! This can break down our skins barrier function resulting in rough, dry and inflamed skin that can increase the penetration of chemicals, allergens and other infections. the skin.

Hydrate
- There are two kinds of products to use to help heal your skin. The first are humectants, ingredients like hyaluronic acid that help bind water into the skin to hydrate it. Second, there are products containing lipids or fats that are the emollients that improve the barrier function of the skin, helping to keep all of the unwanted things out. Both are important now more than ever for the health and beauty of your skin and especially your hands. Moisturise the skin after bathing and showering as your skin’s pores are open and more effective at locking in moisture.
- My favourite: I like SBR repair cream to keep the skin soft and hydrated.
- Wear protective gloves while gardening or doing the dishes

Exfoliate
- When you’re exfoliating your body or face, don’t forget about your hands. Don’t forget to moisturise immediately after.

Eat a healthy diet
- A balanced diet with plenty of vitamins antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids nourishes your skin and helps you grow healthy nails. If your diet is low in certain proteins, vitamin C, or vitamin B complex or if you have poor absorption, your nails can become brittle and peel or flake easily. Make sure to eat a balanced diet full of foods that are good for your skin which contain vitamins to nourish your hands from the inside out.

Speak to one of our specialists about how we can help with your skin.

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Written By Skin & Laser Specialist Cherie Cochrane

Cherie specialises in the aesthetic side of Atlantic Dermatology and Laser. With over a decade of experience in skin, laser and aesthetic treatments, a results-driven approach and over 6 years as a business owner, she has created two successful aesthetic businesses.

Cherie has recently moved to Cape Town and is a proven professional with a results-driven approach. Cherie has trained Doctors, Nurses, Therapists and Professionals to become leading experts within their chosen profession and won the prestigious international “Best Results” Laser competition by Sciton, competing against the top 200 clinics from around the world.

After having your first consultation with Cherie, you will leave here educated and with a proper plan to get the best results for your skin

Cherie Fraser