Hands are usually overlooked when it comes to skincare. Most women don’t pay much attention to their hands until they start to age – and once this happens, the damage can take hold quickly.
The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to prevent hand wrinkles, reverse the damage, and leave your hands looking and feeling their very best.
What Causes Wrinkled Hands?
The skin on our hands is thinner than the rest of our bodies, so it’s more prone to wrinkling. This is especially true for those with dry or sensitive skin.
But even if you have normal skin, the environment around your hands can cause them to wrinkle faster than other parts of your body.
Here are a few things that can accelerate aging:
Too Much Sun Exposure
Sun exposure causes your skin to lose its natural moisture content, which makes it less able to protect itself from the elements. As a result, your skin becomes drier and more susceptible to cracking and wrinkling.
Smoking
If you smoke, you’re putting yourself at risk for premature aging. Cigarette smoke contains chemicals that increase the production of free radicals in your body, causing cell damage.
These same chemicals also decrease collagen production, making your skin weaker and more likely to break down.
Stress
Stress wreaks havoc on your body, including your face and hands. When your stress levels rise, your adrenal glands produce extra cortisol.
Cortisol breaks down collagen, which leads to sagging skin and wrinkles. It also increases blood pressure, which can lead to the hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis).
Alcohol
Alcohol has been linked to an increased risk of liver disease, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and cancer, but the risks of too much alcohol can also show themselves on your skin; alcohol consumption has been associated with an increased rate of facial lines, particularly between the eyebrows, and can have a negative impact on the overall quality of your skin, including causing a blotchy, red complexion, causing your skin to look gray and tired, and making fine lines and wrinkles more pronounced – including on the hands.
Poor Diet And Nutrition
A poor diet can make your skin appear older than it really is. Eating foods high in antioxidants like fruits and vegetables helps keep your skin healthy by protecting against sun damage and slowing the signs of aging.
A balanced diet also provides essential nutrients that help maintain strong bones and teeth, boost energy, and promote healthy hair, nails, and eyes, as well as reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
How Can I Treat Wrinkly Skin?
There are several ways to treat your hands before they become wrinkled. You can use these tips to slow down the process, minimize the effects, and restore your hands back to their youthful state.
Moisturize Your Hands Regularly
Moisturizing your hands regularly will help keep them soft and smooth. Use a moisturizer specifically designed for your hands, such as one containing vitamin E.
Vitamin E is known to be effective in keeping skin supple and elastic, and daily use can make a significant difference to the appearance of wrinkles.
Alternatively, If you don’t want to use a lotion, simply rub some Vaseline onto your hands when you get up in the morning and again just before bedtime – this is a super affordable way to keep skin soft and supple, while still reducing the appearance of wrinkled hands.
Exfoliate Your Hands
Exfoliating your hands once every week or two will remove dead cells and other impurities from your skin, leaving behind fresh, glowing skin.
To exfoliate your hands, apply a small amount of hand cream or baby oil, then gently scrub your hands using circular motions. Rinse off any residue with warm water.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep plays a key role in maintaining good health and fighting aging. Getting enough sleep each night will give you younger-looking skin because it allows your body time to repair itself and rejuvenate.
Try going to bed at least eight hours earlier than usual, and wake up at least six hours later than normal.
This will allow your body’s natural circadian rhythm to adjust, helping you feel refreshed throughout the day, and will also improve the appearance and texture of the skin all over your body, including the hands.
Exercise
Regular exercise is great for both your body and mind, but it also makes your skin glow. It improves circulation, which increases blood flow to the face and hands, giving them a healthier, smoother appearance.
In addition, regular exercise keeps muscles toned and firm, which reduces sagging skin and gives you a more defined appearance, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the hand.
Reduce Stress
Stress takes its toll on your body, especially if you’re under constant pressure at work or home. When stress builds up, it affects your immune system, causing inflammation and making it harder for your body to fight off infections and diseases.
Chronic stress also causes your body to release hormones that decrease the production of collagen, which contributes to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
Eat Well
Eating well helps you look and feel better. A balanced diet includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, low-fat dairy products, healthy fats, and fiber.
Eating right also boosts your energy levels, combats fatigue, and supports overall wellness, as well as improving the quality and texture of your skin.
Drink Water
Drinking plenty of water is essential to staying hydrated and looking young. Aim to drink half your weight in ounces of water each day.
Keeping yourself properly hydrated is an easy way to maintain youthful-looking skin. Drinking lots of water helps flush toxins out of your body and prevents dry skin, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Oftentimes wrinkles on your hands are accompanied by (unfortunately) veins. Read what you can do here.
Final Thoughts
Wrinkled hands may be unpleasant, but there are a number of solutions that can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and ensure that your hands stay smooth and youthful for longer.
