Something that often gets overlooked when it comes to ageing and skincare is our hands.
In this blog, Rachel Gray, Director of Aesthetics at The Female Health Clinic, shines a light on how our hands age, what contributes to the ageing, and what we can do to keep them looking less aged, healthier, smooth, and radiant for longer.
We invest a great deal of time and money caring for the skin on our faces. From the basics like cleansers and moisturisers to more advanced routines involving products such as serum, sun protection factor, vitamin C, and retinoids. Yet our hands, which are just as exposed and often one of the first areas to show signs of ageing, are frequently overlooked.
When you stop to think about it, our hands are constantly exposed to the elements, frequently washed and rarely protected properly. The skin on the back of the hands is also quite thin and contains less fat and collagen than other areas, so it is more prone to showing veins, wrinkles, and sun spots over time.
What makes hands age?
As with the rest of the body, collagen and elastin levels decline with age, and our skin loses that lovely bounce and plumpness. But external factors such as sun exposure really speed this up. Ultraviolet (UV) rays break down collagen and elastin and can lead to issues like pigmentation, age spots and solar lentigines (liver spots).
Other culprits include cold weather, harsh soaps, exposure to cleaning products without gloves, and even something as simple as forgetting to reapply hand cream or sun protection factor after washing. All of these little habits can slowly chip away at the skin’s health and appearance.
Sun protection factor is not just for the face
I say this to all my patients. If you are applying sun protection to your face every day (which you absolutely should be!), don’t forget to rub a little onto the backs of your hands too. Better still, use a hand cream that contains SPF and keep it in your handbag or car for regular top-ups. A favourite of mine is Heliocare 360o Oilfree Gel which is available to buy at the clinic or you can easily order it yourself online.
When you are gardening or doing housework, wearing gloves is a simple yet effective way to protect the skin barrier from chemicals and rough surfaces. I know it’s not glamorous, but neither are dry and sun-damaged hands!
What treatments are good for sun damaged hands?
Thankfully, there are some lovely, non-invasive treatments that can help rejuvenate the hands, improve texture and tone, and even stimulate collagen production. One of my favourites is microneedling.
Microneedling is not just for the face
Microneedling is a treatment where tiny needles create micro-injuries in the skin. This might sound a bit intense, but it’s actually very gentle and extremely effective. These tiny punctures kickstart your body’s natural healing process, stimulating collagen and elastin production.
When we perform microneedling on the hands, we can target everything from fine lines and crepey skin to mild pigmentation and textural issues. Over a course of treatments, the skin becomes firmer, smoother, and more even in tone.
Jalupro
As mentioned in a previous Blog ‘What is Jalupro’ – Jalupro is a personal favourite of mine as a face treatment – but it can be used to rejuvenate and hydrate the delicate skin on the hands. The product combines amino acids and antioxidants that promote collagen and improve skin elasticity, helping to plump the skin and improve overall texture and tone.
Intense Pulsed Light
Another fantastic treatment for ageing hands is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy. This is ideal if you are dealing with sunspots or uneven pigmentation. IPL uses light energy to target melanin and break down dark spots, leaving the skin looking clearer and less damaged.
It’s also helpful for improving overall skin texture and tone, and many of my patients opt to combine IPL and microneedling for a more comprehensive rejuvenation.
A few ‘handy’ tips to avoid granny hands!
Hydration is key – use a hand cream daily, and look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and ceramides.
Exfoliate gently – a soft exfoliating scrub once or twice a week can help slough off dead skin cells and allow your treatments and products to penetrate more effectively.
Treat your hands like your face – if you are applying a nice serum or night cream to your face, use the leftover product on your hands. Every little helps!
Our hands deserve just as much care as your face, neck, or décolletage. By protecting them daily with SPF and gloves and exploring treatments like microneedling or IPL, you can restore their youthful glow.
If this blog has piqued your interest in giving your hands a bit of TLC, please get in touch and I would be happy to chat about what options might be right for you.
We offer specialised hand rejuvenation packages that target multiple signs of ageing – each addressing different concerns to restore healthy-looking hands.
Packages
Revive Hand Edition
3 sessions of Intense Pulsed Light
2 sessions of Microneedling
2 sessions of Jalupro
Standard fee: £1,175
Refresh Hand Edition (suggested when no pigmentation is present)
2 sessions of Microneedling
2 sessions of Jalupro
Standard fee: £760
To make a complimentary consultation or for more information, you can contact us 01252 915333 to by email to info@thefemalehealthclinic.co.uk
In the meantime, don’t forget the sun protection factor – your hands will love you for it.
Rachel
Director of Aesthetics at The Female Health Clinic
