Hide Signs of Age With Hand Care

We go to great lengths to thwart the signs of aging on our faces, but the hands are one of the biggest age revealers on the body. Think of what your hands go through on a daily basis.

For starters, aside from the face, the hands are most frequently exposed to the sun and harsh weather. The hands also spend a lot of time in water. In addition, the skin on the backs of the hands is among the thinnest on the body with very little fat underneath, which is why veins become so prominent with age. If you have age spots (aka liver spots) caused by years of sun exposure, you might find yourself unhappy with the hands you've been dealt.

Energy-Based Treatments
Light-based treatments such as GentleWaves, Intense Pulsed Light or Portrait plasma resurfacing technology can provide improvement for the appearance of the skin on the backs of the hands. These technologies target age spots and help restructure the skin's collagen for a smoother, more even appearance. Look for the new HandSpa, which became available in medi-spas and doctors' offices. This treatment uses red and amber wavelengths of light to reduce the appearance of spots, fine lines, wrinkles and veins. It also helps stimulate collagen production and cellular rejuvenation.

Fat Injections
To rejuvenate the backs of the hands and minimize the bony, veiny
appearance, fat injections offer a long-lasting solution. Your fat is
removed from an area you don't want it using liposuction techniques,
and is then injected into the hands in the same surgical session. You
see results instantly, but overfilling is necessary to ensure that
enough fat takes. Results last indefinitely, although you will continue
to naturally lose fat as you age.

At-Home Products
There is a wide array of products available
to prevent and reverse signs of aging in the hands. Hand cream is a
must, and there are many offerings available that not only moisturize
but also help fade age spots. Juvena of Switzerland's Perfect Hands
($39, Nordstrom.com)
contains a blend of hibiscus flower acids to promote cell turnover
while preventing and lightening spots with SPF and a whitening complex
comprised of naturally derived skullcap, mulberry and grapevine
extracts. The cream doubles as an intensive mask when used with cotton
gloves, and it is water-reactivated, which is ideal for frequent hand
washers.

Take traditional exfoliation to a whole new level by
introducing heat to prepare the skin for treatment. StriVectin-NE
Self-Heating NanoExfoliant for the Hands ($29; strivectin.com) used two or three times per week provides smooth skin and can be used along with other anti-aging hand treatments.

Paige Herman and Marie Kuechel are editors of New Beauty, a semiannual magazine about cosmetic enhancement.

Source: The Augusta Chronicle. Powered by Yellowbrix.