No sign of aging gives away your age as much as wrinkles do. Fine lines and wrinkles form when essential skin substances called elastin and collagen breakdown and when they are produced in smaller quantities in the body. Wrinkles can form anywhere on your skin, especially on your face and hands. When dealing with hand wrinkles, there are several treatment options available.
Wrinkle Creams
Over-the-counter wrinkle creams are one common option for treating wrinkles on the hands. When purchasing a wrinkle cream, MayoClinic.com recommends looking for active ingredients such as kinetin, coenzyme Q10, retinol, copper peptides, antioxidants and alpha hydroxy acids.
Prescription Retinoids
Retinoids can also be applied to the hands to affect the retinoid receptors of your skin. The receptors then stimulate and accelerate the skin's exfoliation process, as well as affect the skin's production of proteins called elastin and collagen. The exfoliation removes old skin cells, revealing the smoother skin beneath. The production of elastin and collagen helps tighten the skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Prescription tazarotene and adapalene are two of the most common retinoid medications used for this purpose.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels can also be applied to the hands to reduce wrinkles. A chemical peel can be done by your dermatologist using substances such as hydroxy acids or phenol. When applied to the skin, these chemicals cause the outer layer of skin to literally peel off, revealing the smoother skin beneath. Your dermatologist can adjust the intensity and depth of the peel as well, depending on your skin type and desired results. Keep in mind that deeper chemical peels may result in longer healing times due to inflammation and blisters, states the American Academy of Dermatology.
Microdermabrasion
Your dermatologist may also recommend microdermabrasion to lessen the appearance of hand wrinkles. Microdermabrasion uses specialized equipment to propel abrasive crystals, such as aluminum or zinc oxide, at the affected tissue of the hands. As the crystals hit the skin, they sand down the outer layer of skin, leaving the smoother layer beneath. The process also activates the body's natural production of collagen, helping to tighten the skin. More invasive dermabrasion procedures can be used for more serious wrinkles.
Laser Resurfacing
Like dermabrasion and chemical peels, laser resurfacing removes the outer layer of skin tissue to reveal the smoother skin beneath and activate the production of collagen. However, instead of abrasives or chemicals, laser resurfacing uses directed laser energy to vaporize the outer layer of affected skin tissue.
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