Simple Tips for Younger Looking Hands
By Jessica, September 27, 2012
Hands are often the last body part we think of when it comes to anti-ageing, but they can be the first feature to give away our real age. Spending copious amounts of time and money on maintaining a youthful appearance in the face can be made completely redundant when a dry, heavily lined hand gives the game away. Try these simple tips to protect the most neglected and exposed parts of our bodies.
Wear Gloves
Of every description. Woolly gloves in harsh winter weather, rubber gloves when doing the washing up and cotton gloves over hand cream for an overnight treatment. Gardening, cooking and cleaning gloves offer more protection, but perhaps the most important of all is driving gloves. Our hands receive the greatest amount of UV exposure when perched at the top of a steering wheel, openly soaking up ageing rays through the windscreen.
Wear Sun Cream
Even the most diligent sun cream devotees will find protecting the hands a challenge. As mentioned above, hands are particularly susceptible to UV rays during everyday activities, but regular washing throughout the day can strip away any protection you have used. Choose a hand cream that contains an SPF and try to apply it every time you wash your hands. Or, for a less greasy alternative, use a sun stick.
Maximise your Manicure
Whether going for a professional manicure or giving yourself a file and polish, the finishing touches can make all the difference to your hand age. Spring for a paraffin wax soak for intensive hydrating and improved circulation, or a hand peel to rejuvenate the skin. If you’re going DIY, simply give your hands a good exfoliation before moisturising – just like on the face, this will eliminate dead skin cells and improve surface appearance.
Laser & Microdermabrasion Treatments
Not just for hair removal, laser treatments can be used to treat age spots and pigmentation. While most spas and salons offer this for the face, they will be more than happy to treat other areas as well. Hands can become speckled with unsightly brown spots as we age and this is the most effective way of removing them. Microdermabrasion is also being increasingly offered as a hand treatment to achieve the same anti-ageing effects as when performed on the face.
