Celebrated dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD, of Mount Sinai Medical Center says, “Hands not only are susceptible to the first signs of aging, but very often age even faster than the face.”
Our hands tend to age faster as there is very little fat present on the surface. The amount of elastin and collagen is also present in very little quantity and the same start to break down as we age, progressively.
Our neglect toward our hands can cause more damage than aging and end up making our hands look a lot older. But wrinkles on hands aren’t the only sign of aging and neglect. There are many giveaways of neglected, aging hands.
Age Spots
Contrary to the name, age doesn’t have anything to do with age spots. It mostly happens due to exposure to the harsh sun without any protection. Sun damage can accelerate aging.
Wrinkles
Wrinkles are a direct outcome of aging. But, keep in mind, wrinkles can come earlier than expected due to neglect. Sun damage, lack of moisturization, and dehydration can all accelerate the process of aging several folds.
Dry Skin
Dry skin happens primarily due to lack of care. People who work with harsh detergents, dehydrating agents, etc. are more likely to have a dry skin problem. So, proper derma care is mandatory for such people.
Our hands are the first to take the hit of aging; so it is important that we treat them with special care. Aging cannot be stopped but we can definitely lessen its effects by taking care of ourselves.
Skin Care Tips For Beautiful Hands
1. Exfoliation
It is an essential treatment. For beautiful hands, you must get rid of old and dead cells. Try exfoliation with these simple organic hand scrubs that you can make at home.
Honey-Coconut Sugar Scrub
- Take 1 teaspoon of coconut oil in a bowl. Mix 2 teaspoons of honey in it.
- Mix 1 part salt, 1 part sugar and 1 part lemon juice in another bowl.
- Mix sugar mixture with the coconut oil mixture.
- Use it to scrub your hand.
Baking Soda Scrub 
- Take 1 teaspoon soda and 1 teaspoon water/honey
- Mix it into a paste
- Use this gently to exfoliate your hands.
2. Moisturization
It is of utmost importance that moisturizing your hands becomes an essential part of your beauty regimen. For optimum results, using the right products is absolutely critical. Many dermatological products are available in the market that contain growth factors. These products with growth factors tend to help in the formation of collagen, which is essential in restoring skin vitality. In case you can’t obtain these products, you can always resort to nature.
Essential Oils: Lemon essential oil/Geranium Essential oil/Carrot seed oil can be used. Research shows that these essential oils have properties that can boost collagen formation in our bodies. So, pick one essential oil, mix it with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil, and use it for your hands.
Aloe Vera: It is a youth elixir. Aloe vera is known for its ability to aid collagen production of the skin. So, you can take aloe vera gel, directly from freshly plucked leaves and apply on your hands. If you don’t have access to aloe vera plants, then you can use aloe vera organic products.
3. Eat Wisely
“We are what we eat”, this saying is as true as time. So, eat food that will help you stay fit, healthy and that will also produce collagen in your body. The below list of foods is known to have collagen-producing capabilities.
- Soy products
- Red vegetables and fruits
- Vitamin C
- Beans
4. Hydrate Enough
Keep yourself hydrated enough as dehydration leads to dryness and problem-prone skin. Make sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. An easy hack is to carry a water bottle wherever you go. This way you never forget to hydrate!
5. Sunscreen Is Necessary
Invest in a good sunscreen to avoid sun damage. We cannot stop our biological clock to stop us from aging but taking care of ourselves can definitely help keep our vitality.
