So THAT'S Why Your Hands Give Away Your Age More Than Other Body Parts
On the TV series ”Younger,” Sutton Foster’s character, Liza, poses as a millennial when she tries to reenter the publishing industry as a 40-something mom. But Liza’s secret almost gets outed in Season 1 because of her hands. “Be careful with your hands, sweetie. They’re a dead giveaway,” a tipsy author played by Jane Krakowski tells Liza.
Her drunken musings might be right.
“It’s thin skin, so it gets worked,” Seattle-based dermatologist Dr. Heather Rogerstold HuffPost. “A little bit of skin elasticity is a good thing for your hands, but then that means they have a little bit of excess wrinkles. The thin skin makes it so it’s more likely to be crepey in appearance.”
And it turns out that some skin types show aging more than others.
“If you are a pale Caucasian woman, you’re going to have crepey, wrinkly hands,” Rogers said. “That’s just a group that has thinner skin. Oftentimes, Mediterranean skin, they are more apt to have brown spots. If you have pigment, you’re good at making pigment. And then darker skin ages much, much less quickly, but it can be dry, ashy [and have] dermatitis.”
Dr. Angela Lamb, a dermatologist and the director of the Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology Faculty Practice in New York, noted that anyone with collagen disorders like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome may be more prone to aging on the hands, as well as anyone taking blood thinners. “If you’re on blood thinners and your skin tends to bruise easily, and if you have more bruises, it might make your hands and arms look older,” Lamb said.
Age, of course, is an important factor. Rogers said aging hands are mostly a concern for women over 50. “In the late 50s, 60s, the loss of estrogen and thinning of our skin [cause people to] get pretty bummed about their hands,” she said.
At-Home Solutions
Aging on the hands can present itself in different ways, including age spots, visible veins, crepey or loose skin, and roughness.
“Once your skin barrier is not intact in your hands, it can be really hard to get that barrier healed because your hands are into so many things,” Rogers said, referring to how frequently people use their hands. “So when your skin is raw, sensitive and itchy, all you want to put on your hands is a really thick moisturizer, possibly a prescription steroid cream from your doctor.”
She recommended applying a topical corticosteroid or petroleum jelly at night and wearing cotton gloves to bed to help moisturize the skin. So-called hand masks can help moisturize hands, too, and make skin look plumper.
Retinol creams can help lessen the appearance of brown spots, plus they can boost the production of collagen to increase elasticity, which can reduce the appearance of aging on hands. Lamb said she particularly likes tretinoin, a retinoid derivative, for this purpose.
When considering the strength of a retinol cream, “I usually actually tell people to start on the lower end,” Lamb said. “You don’t want to go in when you’re starting with retinols with full strength, because they can be very drying and irritating.”
LED products such as the Omnilux Contour Glove and the Celluma Pod can also treat damaged skin. “Low-level light therapy at home, particularly red light and infrared light, does build collagen and actually calms inflammation, so it would help with hand eczema,” Rogers explained.
But don’t keep these products on your skin for too long, and stick to using such devices no more than two or three times a week. With the Omnilux, Rogers suggested applying it for just 10 minutes, while the Celluma can be used for 30-minute sessions.
In-Office Treatments
For anyone seeking medical-grade treatments, dermatologists have plenty of options.
Intense pulsed light —or IPL — therapy targets brown spots, and it can take between one and three applications, at least one month apart, to be effective, Rogers said.
Lasers like those used in Fraxel treatment can also address texture issues on hands. “The problem is, hands heal pretty slowly, and it’s hard to function with your hands being lasered. So it’s not something we do very much,” Lamb said. “IPL is the vast majority of the laser procedures that I do for people’s hands.”
Chemical peels, which can treat brown spots and stimulate collagen, tend to be less popular for the same reason. “People are not going to want your hands peeling a lot, so you would do a superficial one just to address some of the pigmentation irregularities,” Lamb said. “It wouldn’t be my first choice.”
A newer option called PRP — platelet-rich plasma — treatment has also gained popularity, Lamb added. “That’s where we take people’s blood, spin it down to get the platelet-rich plasma and inject those into the backs of the hands,” she said. “It’s going to thicken up the skin and improve its appearance by giving your body the direction to do that. That usually takes at least three treatments, at least a month apart.”
While aging on hands affects men and women equally, Rogers said she sees “95% women” for cosmetic procedures related to the issue. “I really have never had a man be like, ‘Oh, I don’t like my aging hands,’’’ she said. “People find big blood vessels on men attractive — like, ‘Oh look at these big, rough hands.’”
How To Deal With Daily Wear And Tear On Hands
Rogers said that 90% of apparent aging comes from the sun. And hands end up being particularly vulnerable to sun exposure “because they are not protected by clothing most times of the year, and people don’t tend to put sunscreen on them,” Lamb added.
But one of the easiest things you can do is to apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 on your hands, and to use it multiple times daily. The brand Supergoop! even makes sunscreen just for hands.
At this point, more than four years after the World Health Organization declared the spread of COVID-19 a pandemic, everyone knows the importance of washing your hands. But not all of us have incorporated moisturizing into our hand-washing routines.
“From a cosmetic standpoint, if your hands are kind of dry and irritated, it makes them look older,” Lamb acknowledged. “So applying a moisturizer as soon as you get out of the bath or shower, as soon as you wash your hands, is really important.”
While fragrances can be irritating for skin, Rogers thinks you should pick whichever lotion or cream you like to use and will apply regularly after washing hands and bathing. Make sure to get both sides of your hands — with bonus points for using an SPF cream.
“A heavier moisturizer is going to do more for your skin, but you might be less apt to use it because it’s greasy,” Rogers said. “You might be a CeraVe girl. You might be a fancy cream girl. Fragrance doesn’t do anything good for your skin. But if it smells good and it feels luxurious to you, and that means you’re going to use it, fine.”
Add a vitamin C cream into your regular routine, too, to help with the aging process. Vitamin C, a natural antioxidant, protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation and stimulates cells around the blood vessels, which can promote healthy skin.
Ultimately, most signs of aging on hands don’t pose health risks. “You can get skin infections on your hands, so that’s something that we have to look for. And I remove skin cancer from the backs of people’s hands every week,” Rogers said. “In regards to the hand dermatitis, it’s incredibly uncomfortable because ... your hands burn and itch. But a lot of it is aesthetics.”
Want A Hand Cream With Retinol? Here Are Some Suggestions From HuffPost Shopping Writer Lourdes Uribe.
HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Soft Services
Soft Services Theraplush overnight repair treatment
This is the one everyone's talking about. Not only is this night cream for hands formulated with top-notch anti-aging ingredients, but it comes in the cutest reusable vessel I've ever seen. It's a great option for anyone who is serious about repairing and renewing their hands. The cream has a medium-weight density that is soft and slightly waxy, so those who are prone to touching their face or don't like the feeling of freshly lotioned skin might not love it. But if you don't mind it, then your hands will thank you in the long run. It's infused with retinol, colloidal oatmeal and panthenol so you can wake up with youthful, beautiful hands daily.
Promising review: "In love with this product! I've only been using this product for a few weeks and see a difference already. I'm 60 years old and produce food videos so I'm very conscious of the appearance of my 'mature' hands. Theraplush has absolutely enhanced the overall smoothness and texture; so impressed with this lovely cream!I would recommend this product to: Anyone who is aware of the importance of taking extra care of their hands!" — Sheri
Beauty Pie
Beauty Pie Super Retinol Hands anti-aging moisture cream
Get all the benefits of a deeply moisturizing, rich hand cream with the added power of encapsulated retinol with this Beauty Pie cream. It can help with common signs of hand aging, targeting dark spots, smoothing and elasticity. Throw it on before bed and wake up to baby-soft hands.
Promising review: "A must for older hands. Wonderful night time hand treatment for aged hands. Helps with age spots and crepey skin. Also very moisturising without being sticky." — Mary
Sephora
Nécessaire The Hand Retinol
For a fairly high concentration of retinol, consider this hand serum from Nécessaire. it has 0.25% of retinol alongside peptides, AHAs, amino acids, vitamins and glycerin to hydrate deeply. It's a great option for anyone looking to treat or prevent crepey skin, dark spots, scars and even ragged cuticles. You'll feel like you just stepped out of a nail salon every morning.
Promising review: "Absolute wonder! I bought this based on a dermatologist's recommendation, and it really delivers! After a very short time my hands look and feel so much better! I was starting to notice my hands were looking older, and this has really helped." — ROinCo
Nordstrom
Chantecaille Retinol hand cream
If you want something a little less intense than an overnight treatment, try this luxurious hand cream that can be used regularly throughout the day. It's made with retinol and Chilean tree bark extract alongside antioxidants and other hydrating ingredients, so you get all the benefits of a retinol, but it's gentle enough to use regularly.
Promising review: "Best hand cream ever! I've tried every hand cream under the sun and this one is the best by far. My hands were looking very old and wrinkly one winter so I bought this and literally overnight I had hands that looked 20 years younger. The difference was incredible! The thing that impresses me the most is it's effectiveness, but it's also feels very nice to use. It goes on light -- not greasy at all. it's very quickly absorbed but you still feel like your hands are soft so there is no need to keep reapplying all day like with other hand creams. I use it once in the morning and once at night and that's enough. It's pricey but lasts a long time because you don't need to use a lot of it -- 1 tube lasts me all winter." — Productjunkie1
Amazon
A multifunctional retinol and vitamin-enriched hand cream
The glowing reviews speak for themselves when it comes to this anti-aging hand cream. It deeply conditions not just hands, but nails and cuticles as well, drenching the entire area with vitamins and retinol. It boasts a rich and creamy formula that feels luxurious but won't break the bank, so you can show off youthful-looking skin with minimal effort. Just be aware that it has a nostalgic scent that might not be for everyone!
Promising review: "I like the moisture and lively texture of my hands. Before they looked dry and older because of all the hand sanitizer I have used over the last 3 years. Now they look healthy and feels so soft, and I don’t mind shaking hands if needed." — Nene Love it
"I really like this hand lotion. I am 36 and a hairdresser so my hands get a beating daily. I’ve noticed them aging so I wanted something to help slow that. This lotion feels very soft when you put it on. My kids did comment that it smells like a Grandma. And I think it kind of does smell like it too. Not a bad smell just does have a distinctive smell. I do like it!" — Karen
Amazon
Robanda Retinol Anti-Aging hand treatment SPF 15
I came upon this Robanda retinol hand cream during my research and was intrigued by the fact that it contains SPF alongside retinol. Along with antioxidants, it helps to infuse the skin with anti-aging ingredients and can improve the look of wrinkles and sun damage while leaving skin healthy, smooth and safe from the sun's harmful UV rays.
Promising reviews: "Love the creme. Daughter asked to try it and as she was going back home to CT, called for the exact name and a picture. She loved it also. Works good on old hands. Of course mine are a lot older than hers." — Aging
"I have a stress eczema on my hands. This cream healed my hands in 3(!) days! Now I recommend it to everyone! And use the crème on daily basis." — Oyuka
Amazon
NatureWell Clinical Retinol Advanced moisture cream
NatureWell uses advanced micro-encapsulated retinol to help improve skin tone, smoothing texture and boosting firmness and elasticity. The pump dispenser delivers the right amount so you don't worry about wasting product, and helps to lengthen the cream's product life. It's incredibly popular on Amazon, boasting 4.5 out of 5 stars and over 12,100 ratings. It's also the most affordable option on this list and the most versatile, as it can be used on hands, face and body. It's just rich enough to use all over without feeling too greasy, though reviewers find it's great for hands and arms.
Promising review: "Nice smell works well on lighting the spot on my hands and a couple of spots on my face." — Kathleen K. Goodman
"Reduces crepey skin. For 1 week I only put it on my left arm and after a week you can see the difference. The left arm looks so much better and is so much softer than the right." — Debi V.
Amazon
Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Overnight
Lock in that anti-aging and hydrating goodness with this ultra-moisturizing overnight cream from Gold Bond. The retinol-peptide complex can help to lift, tighten and moisturize skin without leaving you feeling greasy or with the irritation that can commonly accompany retinol usage. Pop it on your hands (and beyond) and start to see and feel the difference. While not explicitly a hand cream, reviewers noted that it is just the right texture for hands and leaves their hands looking and feeling as good as new.
Promising review: "It's light and smooth, very comfortable and nonirritating. I use it mostly on my hands and neck. It feels light and very comfortable and it has no scent which is great for those who are sensitive to that. For the price and the amount you get for a body lotion that have great ingredients including retinol and vitamins i say its worth the try and see how much improvement it gives to the look of your hands and/or neck. I havent used it on my other parts of my body since im using a diff product with retinol on my face. They also ship it with tape on the opening so it wouldnt spill out which is great." — Emie
