Young women - This is a reminder to all young
women - start taking care of your hands now!
Older women - It is never too late to stop the damage and make
your hands look younger.
A lot of us take care of our faces, but forget about our
aging hands. Next to your face, your hands are probably the most visible parts
of your body. The earliest signs of aging will show on your hands. The skin on
the back of your hands is extremely delicate. This skin is very, very thin, as
there is almost no fat under it at all, which is why the veins are so visible.
As we grow older, any fat that is there lessens and the skin becomes dry and
loose, exposing the veins even more. As if that’s not enough, we begin to
develop ugly age spots and sunspots (also known as liver spots). Your hands
need extra care because they’re always doing so much for us and, unfortunately,
so often taken for granted.
Knowing how to maintain your hands as you age is the best
way to make sure they look your best and that you, in turn, look your youngest.
Important Practices for keeping your hands and nails
healthier and younger looking:
Wear a high SPF sunscreen or sun block on the back of your
hands, especially when driving your car. The sun causes 90% to 95% of the
wrinkles lines, discolorations and more to our bodies and hands. Keep some sun
block in your car.
Wear rubber gloves lined with cotton
when your hands are in contact with harsh soaps, detergents or chemicals.Wear gloves
every single time you wash dishes or hand wash clothing. Did you know that
dish washing liquid is alkaline, which is hard on the skin? Cleaning agents can be extremely
harsh on both nails and hands. The nails when exposed to water,
swell and then shrink back as they dry. This contributes to
brittle nails.
Exfoliate. Use a grainy scrub on backs of hands twice a week to
reveal glowing skin. You can either use the same exfoliate that
you use on your face or use a product specifically formulated for your hands and body. Exfoliation of the skin also improves penetration and effectiveness of the treatment products and/or moisturizers you apply to the skin immediately afterwards.
Moisturize, Moisturize! After washing your hands, pat dry and
while moist, use a moisturizer on the hands, cuticles, and nails.
Keeping the thin skin of our hands moisturized is very
important. You can put some cream in small containers. Carry one
in your purse and put the others in strategic places around the
house.
Always wear
protective gloves when gardening or during heavy housework
Wear gloves
to protect your hands from cold weather
Keep your cuticles neat. Cuticles function as barriers to
bacteria and fungus, but they can often overgrow. Use a wooden
cuticle pusher after a shower to keep them in line and NEVER cut
your cuticles. Tiny hangnails and bitten edges can catch on
almost anything, turning into deep tears and possibly leading to infection. Keep them covered by applying a liquid bandage
product as soon as tears develop or you can use any regular
bandage until its heals.
Visit a reputable salon, spa or medical spa every 2-3 months for a manicure and pedicure to keep your hands and feet in optimal condition.
