How to Make Hands Look Younger

Keeping your skin youthful, radiant, and healthy is much easier when you practice a good skin care routine and keep your entire body in good shape. But there are also many factors that make hands look older, including age spots, wrinkles and creped skin, thin skin, dryness, and stained or brittle nails. You can take years off the look of your hands by treating these issues. And by taking care of your hands, eating well, avoiding the sun, and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle, you can have glowing, supple skin for many years to come.

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Rejuvenating Your Hands

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1
Treat age spots. These spots, which are also called liver spots, are caused by neither age nor your liver. In fact, they are areas of hyperpigmentation caused by increased melanin production that occurs because of UV exposure.^{[1]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source} The appearance of sun spots can be reduced with:
- Skin bleaching agents that contain hydroquinone.
- Fading or lightening creams that contain glycolic or kojic acid, vitamin C, licorice, and mushroom extract.
- Laser therapy or intense pulsed light therapy.^{[2]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
2
Address the signs of aging. As we age, the skin on our hands can become wrinkled and creped (looking like crepe paper or streamers) because of fat loss and collagen and elastin depletion.^{[3]XExpert SourceIndy Chabra, MD, PhD
Board Certified DermatologistExpert Interview. 10 March 2022.} Skin can also become saggy, red, or discolored, and develop a poor texture or growths. Dryness and cracking can also make your hands look older. Regular moisturizing and the use of anti-aging creams can prevent dryness and the signs of aging.
- Always moisturize your hands after you bathe or wash your hands. Pat your hands dry and apply your favorite moisturizer while they're still damp.^{[4]XExpert SourceIndy Chabra, MD, PhD
  Board Certified DermatologistExpert Interview. 10 March 2022.}
- Make a moisturizing hand mask with one tablespoon (5.5 grams) of oat flour, and one tablespoon (0.5 ounces) each of rose water and either almond, olive, coconut, or jojoba oil. Warm the mixture on the stove and apply it to your hands. Wrap your hands in plastic wrap and rinse the mask off once it has cooled, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Look for anti-aging creams that contain ingredients such as retinol, antioxidants, and peptides.^{[5]XResearch source}
- To help plump your hands up again, try a retinoid cream,^{[6]XResearch source} a weekly collagen mask on the back of your hands,^{[7]XResearch source} or rub into your hands an eye cream that contains hyaluronic acid.^{[8]XResearch source}
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3
Exfoliate your skin. By removing dead skin cells, exfoliation can make your skin softer and brighter, and help even out the skin tone. You can exfoliate by gently rubbing your skin with kitchen remedies like coffee grounds or oats, or look for an exfoliating product that contains alpha-hydroxy acids, vitamin C, and retinoids.
- Next time you’re exfoliating your face, apply the same product to your hands.^{[9]XResearch source}
4
Massage your hands. Rub a small amount of olive or coconut oil into your hands before bed to help moisturize your skin and improve circulation. Add some sugar to the mix for the additional benefit of exfoliating your skin at the same time. Be gentle as you massage, and be sure to get the back of your hands, palms, fingers, and your cuticles and nails.
- If you used sugar as well, rinse it off when you are finished the massage, otherwise your hands will get sticky. Be sure to moisturize again after washing your hands.
5
Give yourself a manicure. Old manicure styles, chipped nail polish, and ignored cuticles can all make your hands look less than perfect. While professional manicures can be expensive and you run the risk of fungal infections,^{[10]XResearch source} you can achieve many of the same results at home. Every week:
- Remove existing nail polish. Trim and file your nails. Apply a cuticle oil. Once it has been on for a few minutes, push your cuticles back with a cuticle pusher.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Either leave your nails bare to give them a break from the nail polish, or try a bold new color to draw attention to your nails instead of your hands.
- Never cut your cuticles, as this can cause bleeding and leave you vulnerable to infections.^{[12]XResearch source}
For a quick and temporary fix to make your hands look younger, rub a small amount of liquid concealer all over the back of your hands.^{[13]XResearch source} Although the effect isn’t permanent, this will help conceal wrinkles, uneven tone and texture, sun spots, and other signs of aging.
7
Consider a filler or injection. When you age you lose fat in your hands, and this makes the bones and veins more prominent. Fat injections and fillers are designed to plump your hands up again. If you’re going to go this route, choose a filler treatment that includes hyaluronic acid, which is a great moisturizer that helps to plump skin. ^{[14]XResearch source}
- There are also laser treatments you can get done that promote collagen production, which will help plump your skin up again.^{[15]XResearch source}

Part 2

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Keeping Your Skin Healthy

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Since UV exposure causes age spots, the best way to prevent them is to protect your hands from the sun. Wear a sunscreen with an SPF between 30 and 50 all day, every day. And don’t forget to reapply throughout the day. Try to keep your hands out of direct and indirect sunlight as much as possible, especially during the hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.^{[16]XExpert SourceIndy Chabra, MD, PhD
Board Certified DermatologistExpert Interview. 10 March 2022.}
2
Eat the right foods. Many of the foods that are good for our bodies also keep our skin looking younger. Eating a balanced diet that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables of all colors, and healthy fats will help keep your skin looking radiant and youthful. And don’t forget to stay hydrated! Anytime you feel thirsty, drink a cup of water.
- Eat wrinkle-fighting foods that are rich in protein, selenium, antioxidants, and coenzyme Q10.^{[17]XResearch source} This includes whole grains, berries and fruit, beans and legumes, mushrooms, nuts, olive, canola, and sesame oils, and green tea.
- Help increase your body’s collagen and elastin production by eating foods that contain vitamins A, C, and E.^{[18]XResearch source} Try tofu, dark leafy greens, sunflower seeds, avocados, orange fruits and vegetables, bell peppers, and citrus fruits.
- Eat nail-friendly foods that contain omegas and biotin.^{[19]XResearch source} Add plenty of onions and carrots to your meals, and sprinkle flax seeds on your salads and cereals.
3
Exercise regularly. A regular fitness routine is good for your mental health, physical health, and the look of your skin. By improving circulation and bringing more oxygen to your cells, exercise keeps your mind, body, and skin looking and feeling young.
- You should exercise for at least half an hour per day, three to six times per week.^{[20]XResearch source}
- Walking is an excellent, low-impact exercise.
- Swimming gives you a fantastic cardiovascular workout without the strain or impact of other exercise, because the water takes pressure off muscles and joints.
4
Protect your hands. This means protecting them from chemicals, abrasives, detergents, and the elements. Avoid harsh soaps, detergents, heavy-duty cleaning products, and alcohol-based products on your hands. Avoid washing your hands too often, and try to avoid the soaps provided in public washrooms.^{[21]XResearch source}
- Choose gentle, fragrance-free soaps for your hands, face, and body. Look for soaps that contain aloe, vegetable-based oils like olive and coconut, and soothing ingredients like witch hazel and lavender.
5
Wear gloves all the time. Gloves are an added layer of protection against nasty chemicals and the elements.^{[22]XExpert SourceIndy Chabra, MD, PhD
Board Certified DermatologistExpert Interview. 10 March 2022.} Have different gloves for different occasions and seasons, such as:
- Warm gloves in the winter to protect your hands from the cold and wind.
- Rubber or latex gloves when cleaning or washing dishes.
- Sun-protective gloves (when you aren’t wearing winter gloves) to keep your hands safe from UV exposure.
6
Consult a doctor about medical concerns. The signs of aging are a normal part of your skin’s life. There are, however, medical conditions that can cause abnormal problems, and you should be aware of what to look for. Talk to your doctor or healthcare practitioner if you spot any symptoms such as:^{[23]XResearch source}
- Rash or lesions
- Raised dots or blisters
- Excessively dry, red, or scaly skin patches
- Warts or abnormal growths
- Stained nails (a sign of fungal infection)^{[24]XResearch source}

Expert Q&A

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Question
Can you remove age spots from hands?
Indy Chabra, MD, PhD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Dr. Indy Chabra is a Board Certified Dermatologist and a Board Certified Mohs Micrographic Surgeon. He is the Founding Member of DMC Dermatology & Mohs based in Tucson, Arizona. With over 15 years of experience, he provides medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology care for adult and pediatric patients. Dr. Chabra earned a BS in Chemistry and Biological Sciences and an AB in Economics from Stanford University. He also received his MD and PhD in Microbiology and Genetics from Stony Brook University. He completed his Dermatology residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh. While at UPMC, Dr. Chabra received extensive training in complex Medical Dermatology, hair and nail conditions, Pediatric Dermatology, Cosmetic Dermatology, and Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery. Dr. Chabra is a Fellow of the American Society for Mohs Surgery, a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and a Fellow of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Dr. Chabra also provides in-patient Dermatology consults at Tucson Medical Center.
Indy Chabra, MD, PhD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Answer
Yes, you can! They can be treated with liquid nitrogen or laser, destroying them in the process.
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Question
Why do my hands look older then I am?
Community Answer
Hands often take a lot of abuse from activities and from frequent washing (as well as dishwashing and potentially chemicals in cleaning products), and they don't tend to be cared for as much as one's face. Gloves, sunscreen, avoiding harsh chemicals, and keeping your hands well moisturized can all help prevent their premature aging.
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Where do I go for information on filler injections for hands?
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You can visit a dermatologist or consult with a plastic surgeon for recommendations.
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