How To Keep Your Hands From Revealing Your Age

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The one piece of advice I tend to always hear from older women is to never, ever forget the hands in your skin care routine. It’s so easy to get hypnotized by anti-aging ads or creams designed specifically for your face that you often neglect your hands, which even more than your face, are constantly exposed to everything. No matter how many Botox injections or face lifts you get, if your hands aren’t getting the TLC they deserve, they’re going to be screaming 60 while your face says 40. After all, the saying does go, “if you want to know someone’s real age just look at their hands”.

While there are many factors causing your hands to age every day, it is much easier to prevent than it is to reverse. Whether you’re worried about age spots, dry hands, hyperpigmentation or large veins, there is always a preventative measure you can take. Here are some helpful tips you can add to your daily routine now to keep your hands from revealing all your secrets.

Bring Out The Gloves

When washing dishes or using any sort of chemical cleaner it’s important to always wear gloves. Harsh chemicals, found in most cleaning products, break down into your skin causing irritation and dryness. Moreover, if you have open cuts or lesions on your hands these harsh chemicals can go straight into your blood stream. Hot water is another culprit of aging hands as the elevated temperatures draw out the moisture in your skin to make it look old.

Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen

Unlike other parts of the body, your hands receive the most exposure to the sun and its harmful UV rays. This is why your hands typically tend to age quicker than the rest of your body because they’re not as easy to cover up. Applying SPF daily will be the best and most effective way of preventing any damage caused from the sun, especially before going on a drive. What most people don’t realize is how much time you spend each day commuting to work or sitting in traffic with your hands basking in the sun, a crucial reason to always keep sunblock in your car.

Choose Your Hand Wash Carefully

Much like dishwasher soap, the hand soap you’re using when you wash up can also be abrasive on the skin, stripping away your natural oils. In addition, many hand soaps contain perfumes which can cause skin conditions like eczema to inflame or crack the skin. Instead, opt for a gentle cleanser with less ingredients to keep the moisture in your skin. And if you’re someone who loves to wash with scalding hot water, do yourself a favor and turn down the heat, this will only cause your hands to dry out more.

Always Moisturize

Have you ever thought about how many times a day you wash your hands? Every time you use the restroom, before a meal, after you touch something gross or after handling dishes, are all examples of when you’re most likely to wash your hands. This is also how many times a day you’re zapping the moisture out of your skin. Using moisturizers and hand lotions will help lock in the moisture and plump up the skin after you wash. It also helps to apply any creams you’re using on your face to your hands, especially anything containing retinol or collagen ingredients.

Exfoliate Like Your Life Depends On It

Without properly exfoliating, dead skin cells sit on your skin, blocking any of the creams you’re using from soaking in. Try to exfoliate at least once a week using a gentle exfoliator to keep from scratching your skin. Any glycolic or lactic acids can be applied to your hands as well for an exfoliating mask.

Written By

Raquel Reeves