How To Make Old Hands Look Younger – It Matters

The best skin care over 50 is more than a pretty face. Our hands matter too. All this talk about improving our faces, but people do move their attention from our face to the rest of our bodies. Since we do use our hands to interact with others…whether it’s talking with our hands or simply handing something to others…people do notice them. And yes, having wrinkled hands does make us look old. So…let’s talk about how to make old hands look younger.

First To Clarify Something

Age spots aren’t actually caused by age. They come from too much exposure to the sun. So why are they called age spots? Because the older we get the more we’re exposed to the sun and the more melanin gathers in concentrated spots.

Well…why didn’t someone tell us before we got to this point? Water under the bridge, I supposed…but we can counter this by using vitamin C, which brightens the skin, remember?

How Can We Combat Those Wrinkles?

Combat? Yes, we’re at war here to take back the hands of our youth. Here are some ways to achieve ageless looking hands:

• Wear sunscreen. Our tendency is to wash our hands after applying sunscreen. Instead, lather the backs of your hands then use a baby wipe to clean your palms and the underside of your fingers.
• Exfoliate. Just like our face, our hands need to be rid of all that dead skin too. There are some really good sugar scrubs out there that will leave your hands smooth and smelling good. Or you can make your own with olive oil and sugar. Exfoliating is also a good time to message your hands, which increases the blood flow to your skin.
• Wear gloves. The best way to protect your hands from chemicals and over exposure to water while cleaning house and washing dishes is to wear gloves. This will help keep your hands from drying out. And if you’re thinking this is so 1950ish then think again. There are some really cute patterns now…mine are animal print.
• Manicures. This doesn’t mean you have to treat yourself every week at the salon…even though that sure is nice. This can be as simple as keeping your nails trimmed and the cuticles pushed back. Don’t forget your polish either. Something simple is best. Those new designs and dark colors may be the thing now, but they can actually make your hands look more wrinkled. Whatever color you chose, just don’t let them get chipped. Not only is that taboo in the nail world, but it will add years to your hands.
• Moisturize. As with the rest of your body, make sure to moisturize often, especially after washing your hands or performing tasks/jobs that are harsh on your skin. For those professions that require more hand washing, be sure to pay special attention to this. If you can’t moisturize during work time then be sure to make up for it when you get home.
• Eat healthy. This one keeps popping up because it is the single most important thing we can do for ourselves.  It applies to our overall physical and mental health, so why not our skin. In particular, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. And don’t forget to drink water, which will hydrate your skin from within.
• Exercise. Yes…there’s that bad word. Even something as simple as walking will increase the amount oxygen to your cells, which in turn will help your skin look younger.

Take Away

I hope this post has been helpful. This is a journey we can all take together, so I hope you’ll read the rest of my posts and follow along as I dive into more topics on the best skin care over 50. Please leave me a comment or ask a question and I’ll be happy to get back with you.

Until next time… Karen