Signs of aging hands – You treat your face like a work of art, slathering on the best creams, sunscreens, and anti-agers in order to preserve its youthfulness. But what about your hands? Other than the occasional manicure, the delicate skin and nails are often overworked and unprotected.
“Without a targeted regimen to slow down the onset of dark spots and textural changes, the hands can age a person faster than the face,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director or cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Use these derm-recommended strategies to keep your hands looking healthy and youthful to boot.
Sun Spots
The dark spots that mark the backs of hands are caused by years of sun exposure, explains Dr. Zeichner. Prevention is key as they typically become more prominent or multiply with age. Rub on a dime-sized dab of sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher before leaving the house and reapply frequently throughout the day. Choose one that also offers defense against infrared radiation, Dr. Zeichner says, which research shows travels deeper into skin than UVA and UVB rays to further accelerate aging.
To fade existing spots, look for a product with melanin-inhibiting ingredients, such as licorice root, kojic acid, or niacinamide. We like super-silky feel of Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Correcting Hand Cream ($30;sephora.com). Darker, more stubborn spots can be treated with dermatologist-approved fractional lasers (such as Fraxel); you may need up to three treatments at about $500 each.
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