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Aussie women are savvy when it comes to anti-ageing. We wear sunscreen, apply serums, day and night creams too.
We book in for regular facials, muscle-freezing injections and laser treatments in order to stay fresh and youthful as long as possible. And it works.
On the whole we look pretty damn good.
But look a little closer and you’ll see one area of our bodies that is nowhere near as youthful as the rest of us. That area is, of course, our hands.
They lose volume, they get wrinkly and they tend to do it faster than the rest of our body. Damn.
And if that’s not bad enough brace yourself – because it gets worse.
“As we get older, we also begin to see pronounced veins and tendons, brown spots, loss of elasticity and wrinkles,” says dermatologist Dr Stern.
And if we don’t focus on this area our real age will be right there for all the world to see. Boo.
This is something entertainer Madonna knows all too well. She has been regularly trolled for the fact that her hands appear so much older than the rest of her. It’s nasty, but also, a little truthful. Just like it is for many of us.
The good news (yes – there is some) is that there is plenty we can do to prevent – even reverse – the ageing of our hands.
“Regular chemical peels can be very successful in brightening and evening skin tone and pigment,” says Dr Stern.
“Chemical exfoliators remove the superficial layer of dead skin cells and can help to improve fine lines, dull skin, and uneven skin tone. They also give you an amazing post-peel glow so that your skin looks healthy and vibrant.”
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) – Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid etc are perfect for this use.
Glycolic acid is the best AHA and although you can get much stronger peels at your dermatologist’s office, there are many at-home glycolic peels that are marketed for the face that are also ideal and appropriate to use on the hands, she adds.
A second option is a prescription for tretinoin or another Retina-A like cream or an over-the counter Retinol, says Dr Stern.
“These creams are true skin care miracle creams that improve wrinkles, dark spots, and even promote collagen growth,” she says.
Of course, our hands also need to be treated with good moisturiser with at least SPF 30 and broad-spectrum protection (Zinc oxide or Titanium dioxide).
“Sun protection is the most important aspect of your anti-ageing strategy for the hands and it needs to be daily, 365 days per year,” says Dr Stern.
She suggests you opt for those that include either Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide. These ingredients are physical blockers and are capable of blocking both UV-B as well as UV-A radiation, thus they are broad-spectrum.
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