Video Summary
Hands age from three main causes: time (loss of collagen/fat), sun exposure, and frequent washing/irritants.
Prevention is key: apply sunscreen to the backs of hands and moisturize immediately after washing.
Use active topicals at night—retinoids, peptides, and exfoliating acids—to treat crepey skin and dark spots.
Consider in-office procedures (fillers, lasers, microneedling) but expect higher costs and discuss trade-offs with your doctor.
Supplements like bromelain and polypodium leucotomos can help bruising and sun protection; topical arnica is common but less supported.
Hands age mainly due to three factors: the natural loss of collagen, fat, and muscle over time; cumulative sun exposure (especially UVA through car windows); and frequent washing or contact with irritants that dry and thin the skin.
Daily sunscreen on the backs of the hands, moisturizing immediately after washing, using fragrance-free gentle cleansers, and limiting exposure to harsh chemicals are the most effective everyday preventive measures.
Key actives include retinoids (for collagen and cell turnover), peptides (to support collagen), and exfoliating acids (to improve texture); apply these primarily in the evening to the back of the hands.
Procedures like fillers, lasers, and microneedling can improve appearance but tend to be costly—discuss options and expected outcomes with your dermatologist and weigh them against consistent topical prevention.
Bromelain is recommended for bruising, and oral polypodium leucotomos can provide systemic sun-protection benefits; topical arnica is commonly used but has less supporting evidence than oral bromelain.
"There are really three main reasons that our hands start to look older than our face."
Aging hands are often attributed to three primary factors: the natural passage of time, sun exposure, and frequent washing or contact with harsh chemicals.
As we age, we lose collagen, fat, and muscle, contributing to the aged appearance of our hands. Additionally, excessive sun exposure without adequate protection, unlike the care taken for the face, leads to skin damage.
Frequent handwashing can also dry out the skin, exacerbating the aging effects and increasing the visibility of tendons and blood vessels beneath thinner skin.
"One thing that's extremely important to realize, especially when it comes to body care, is that prevention is so much better than anything reactive."
Prevention is crucial in hand care; proactive measures are far more effective than reactive treatments after damage has occurred.
Both the face and hands receive similar sun exposure, yet most individuals protect their facial skin while neglecting their hands, which often leads to more visible signs of aging in this area.
Simple preventive measures like applying sunscreen to the back of the hands and wearing gloves while driving can significantly help mitigate sun damage.
"Whatever you do for your face, you can also do for your hands."
Incorporating sunscreen into your daily routine for hand care is essential; applying it to the back of your hands can protect against sun damage throughout the day.
Another recommendation is to use driving gloves, which can protect hands during the time spent in vehicles, where UVA rays can penetrate windows and contribute to aging.
For those who may not find driving gloves practical, consider using UV-protective window film for your car as a long-term mitigation strategy.
"One of the best things you can do is to use a moisturizer immediately after washing."
Following frequent handwashing or exposure to chemicals, applying moisturizer immediately is vital to maintaining skin hydration and barrier protection.
Integrating moisturizer into your routine not only provides instant hydration but also helps prevent long-term skin deterioration.
Opting for fragrance-free soaps can minimize skin irritation, and substituting alcohol-based hand sanitizers with gentler options like hypochlorous acid can further reduce dryness.
"The three groups of ingredients that I would look for are retinoids, peptides, and exfoliating acids."
After establishing preventive measures, focus on using active ingredients designed to address specific aging concerns such as dark spots and crepey skin.
Key ingredients to consider include retinoids, which help in anti-aging; peptides that boost collagen production; and exfoliating acids like URA, known for improving skin texture.
Applying these active treatments to the backs of your hands in the evening can help maintain the overall appearance and health of your skin.
"Don't neglect your neck, and then bring it to the back of your hands."
"I love products you can bring on the go."
"It's really your all-in-one."
"In our study, people actually showed an improvement in their cuticle and nail quality as well."
"This opening is not intuitive."
"It's easier to be proactive than reactive."
"It would be pretty cost-prohibitive to go and say, 'Hey, I want to get microneedling on my hands or I want to get laser on my hands.'"
The prices associated with procedures like microneedling or laser treatments for hands can be quite high, mostly due to the disposables needed for such treatments.
Patients are encouraged to communicate with their dermatologists about any interest in extending facial treatments to the hands, especially if they have concerns about their hands' appearance.
"You just have to be really candid with what concerns you, what's important to you when you're speaking to your doctor."
Being open with your healthcare provider about your concerns is crucial in the fast-paced healthcare system, where efficiency can sometimes overshadow personal care.
Patients should actively voice their worries and desires for treatment to ensure comprehensive care beyond just the immediate aesthetic concerns.
"If you don't bring them up to me, they're so common... that unless you tell me that you want to do something about them, I'm usually not going to point them out or treat them."
Doctors provide guidance based on what the patient mentions and are less likely to address common conditions unless prompted.
Common skin issues like cherry angiomas and skin tags can often be treated, but the onus is on the patient to raise these topics.
"There's actually a lot of supplements that I have patients ask me about when it comes to the changes in the skin on their hands."
Certain oral supplements, such as bromelain and polypodium leucotomos, can help with bruising and provide sun protection, respectively.
While topical arnica is popular for bruising, bromelain is noted as being more effective based on available data.
"I truly believe that prevention is so important in this category."
Preventative care for aging hands includes using the same skincare products on hands as on the face and employing effective sun protection.
Taking early action on hand care can prevent the need for costly and complex corrective procedures later.
