7 Reasons Your Hands Look Old — And How To Fix Them
1. Age Spots
The term ‘age spots’ is deceiving as these spots are really not connected to your age in any way. Excess sun exposure is why you get age spots on your hands and elsewhere, says New York-based MD, Eileen Lambroza (1). The reason for them being called age spots is because they don’t usually appear till you’re in your 50s and your skin has absorbed a lot of sun rays. If you want to keep your hands free of age spots, you should always wear a sunscreen with SPF 30 in it. You can also lighten the age spots you have with a cream that contains either 2% or 3% hydroquinone
2. Wrinkles
Wrinkled skin on the hands can make your mitts look crumpled and old. Fortunately, this can be fixed quite easily with the help of OTC creams. Prescription creams containing retinoid can boost the collagen production of the skin on your hands and take their age away, according to Deborah Sarnoff, an MD from New York University (3). That said, you should consult your dermatologist on how to use them so you can derive its benefits sans any side effects.
3. Bulging Veins
When your hands resemble the webbed mess of a duck, you know you’ve got veins popping out of them more than they should. Of course, they make your hands look older. However, the sad thing is getting rid of them is not easy and you may need to surgically remove veins that sit right on the surface if you want a permanent cure. We’re sure that’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and luckily, there are ways you can hide these veins. Investing in a strong concealer and applying it to your hands whenever you go out should do the trick.
4. Scales On Your Skin
Scaly skin has a rough and dry texture to it. So then, not only does it look unattractive and old, it feels pretty much the same way too! You can restore them to their youthfully smooth state though with a rigorous hand-care bedtime routine. Remove the dead skin cells from your hands with the help of a mild scrub. Then let the skin moisturize all night with the help of a hydrating hand cream that consists of plant oils and glycerin. Wrap your hands in cotton gloves so the moisture is retained overnight.
5. Nail Stains
Multiple factors can impart your nails with an unfavorable brownish or yellowish hue. The best way to regain your nails’ natural color is to figure out the cause and treat it effectively. Some of the reasons that can be behind nail discoloration include a fungal infection, overuse of dark nail paints, and the side effects of medication such as psoriasis (4). Usually fixing the health issue is enough. However, you can also rub a wedge of lemon on your nails to lighten them. A denture cleaner is also an excellent stain remover and you can dip your nails in them for 20 minutes to get stain-free nails.
6. Brittle Nails
Nails can chip or break easily due to a couple of reasons such as your genes, excess wetting and drying of your hands, excessive exposure to chemicals, or even weather changes (5). But there’s nothing to worry about as this problem is easily fixable. Simply having the right supplements can strengthen your nails. For this to happen, you need to have a daily dose of biotin (1g to be exact), which is a type of vitamin B. Your course should continue for at least 6 to 9 months or as long as your dermatologist prescribes.
7. Old-Fashioned Manicures
Not keeping up with the manicure trend of the season can make your hands look old-fashioned and even old. Staying on point though will have the opposite effect! Currently, short nails are all the rage, with nail length not exceeding beyond 1/4th of an inch from your fingertips. Painting your nails with bold colors can also impart youthfulness to your hands and steal the spotlight from wrinkle spots and other problems. Classic shades will be more age appropriate.
Don’t ever ignore your hands and nails in your anti-aging beauty regimen. Youthful hands speak as much as a youthful face!
