Many women are willing to pursue expensive treatment to fight the signs of aging on their faces, but forget that their hands also reveal signs of age. Your hands receive a great deal of exposure--to sun, wind, water and household cleaning agents--and require just as much care as you give the skin on your face.
Aging Symptoms
Your hands are subject to the same processes of aging as your face. With age, collagen fibers break down, leaving the tops of the hands looking loose and lined. In fact, wrinkles may be even more noticeable on the hands than on the face, since there is little fat on the backs of the hands to begin with, and because the skin on the hand is so thin. Your veins become larger as you age, appearing knobby and blue on the backs of your hands.
Age Spots
Age spots, or liver spots, on the hands are another giveaway of aging. These flat brown or black patches are caused by the formation of excess pigment. Age spots are quite common in older people with many years of excessive sun exposure. Genetics may also play a role in their development. Although age spots are harmless, you should have them evaluated by a dermatologist, since they may be accompanied by similar-looking precancerous lesions, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Lotion and Sunscreen
Because the skin on the hand is thin and has few oil glands, hands can quickly become dry. Besides dryness caused by sun exposure, other everyday activities such as cleaning, gardening, dishwashing and hand washing all deprive delicate hand skin of moisture. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the use of a hand lotion rich in emollients such as lanolin and humectants such as glycerin, which will smooth skin and keep it hydrated. Lactic acid and antioxidants, both of which have anti-aging benefits, are other lotion ingredients to look for. Frequent application of sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher will reduce the danger of sun damage and inhibit development of further age spotting.
Treating Age Spots
You can treat age spots on the hands with products containing hydroquinone. Available both over the counter and by prescription, this ingredient works by directly inhibiting the enzyme that produces melanin, according to Good Housekeeping. Apply it carefully, since it acts as a bleach on the skin. Other age spot treatment products found in the drugstore might include kojic acid, vitamin C, soy, licorice extract or mulberry. It is important to apply sunscreen during and after treatment for age spots, otherwise they will eventually reappear. Over-the-counter retinol treatments also help even out the skin's coloring.
Other Treatments
Those seeking younger looking hands may pursue other medical treatments. Just as with the skin on the face, chemical peels applied to the backs of the hands can remove dead skin cells and encourage the growth of new healthy cells. Surgical methods to remove discoloration on the hands include laser surgery. Restoring fat to the hands, by transplanting it from another area of the body such as the buttocks, can give the hands a more youthful look. Dermatologists can use sclerotherapy, long used to treat veins in the legs, to minimize hand veins.
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