The only area of our anatomy where ageing cannot be hidden is our hands. They are always on display hence they show the wear and tear. That is why they need the best care possible.

You can hide behind good clothing and make up, but your hands are out there and will ‘kiss and tell’ if you have not been kind to them.

Why do my hands show ageing sooner?

Well, just think about it, you use your hands for absolutely everything you do and they are seldom idle or ornamental.

Skin on our hands is thinner than on our face.
Hands are constantly exposed and will get more sun damage.
Washing hands strips the skin of natural oils, making them more susceptible to looking older.
The minimal fatty tissue on the hands gets less and less with age, resulting in veins and tendons becoming more visible.

Your ageing hands should receive the same attention and loving care and your face. But in reality, this seldom happens!

How can I ensure proper care of my hands?

The same beauty or rejuvenation treatment you are having on your face should apply to your hands as well.
This will help prevent deterioration on the back of the hands and preserve the plump and smooth skin texture we all admire in the young.
If you are having facial Dermapen, laser, Limelight or peel treatments, extend it to include your hands as well. We have a much reduced add-on price to include hands so ask your therapist to include this in your treatment. After all, your hands are your best friends and cannot be substituted!

How do you rate the ageing of your hands?

This scientific scale shows the ageing process of our hands (from 0 = no volume loss/ signs of ageing to 4 = very severe volume loss/signs of ageing).

What can I do about age spots on my hands?

Age spots can become visible from your twenties, especially if you are in the sun too often and this can lead to an uneven and mottled appearance.

Limelight™, an advanced IPL treatment can be customised to treat the red or brown spots on the skin.
Deeper peels such as Skin Renewal’s 3D Peel or the new Obagi Blue Peel will also target brown marks as well as stimulate collagen to rejuvenate the skin on your hands.

What can I do about wrinkles on my hands?

As we age, skin loses its elasticity and plump appearance. Treatments that will rejuvenate:

Dermapen™Therapy uses tiny, multiple needles to stimulate the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid in the skin to improve texture and appearance. This can be done as a standalone treatment but we recommend adding the face and neck area during the same treatment. Ask for the combination of 6 peptides to be applied after the Dermapen treatment to augment the procedure.
Mesotherapy™with Juvederm Hydrate instantly hydrates and plumps up the skin, but expect even more in a few months when the collagen production has increased.
PDO Threadlifts™ are tiny surgical threads that are inserted into the dermis where it will act as a frame to lift and tightening loose, sagging skin. It also stimulates collagen production in the skin.

What about those prominent veins and tendons on my hands?

With ageing the plump, soft tissue in our hands loses its fullness and skin becomes thinner. This results in the appearance of prominent veins and tendons, which can only be minimised by replacing that lost volume with treatment.

Radiesse® Volumising dermal filler immediately adds volume but also stimulates collagen production. The beauty of this dermal filler is that it has a longer lasting effect than the hyaluronic acid dermal fillers mentioned below.
Dermal fillers containing hyaluronic acid can also be used to plump up the skin to reverse the bony appearance.

Some everyday tips to help prevent hands from ageing

Keep Skin Renewal’s newly formulated “Body Renewal Cream” on your nightstand and apply to your hands and lower forearms it every night before retiring. The combination of 6 “actives”, Glycolic acid, Actiwhite, Arbutin, Delentigo, Matrixyl and Vitamin A, will not only improve discoloration, but will also improve collagen stimulation and texture.
Always wear a good medical grade sunscreen during the day.
Wash your hands with a gentle hand wash liquid.
Keep hand moisturiser everywhere and use it often during in the day!
Wear gloves when working with hot water and detergents.

Article written by Body Renewal.

Click here to find your your nearest Body Renewal.

For more information about Body Renewal, visit their website www.bodyrenewal.co.za

More about Skin, Body and Health Renewal:

Health Renewal forms part of the Skin and Body Renewal brand of aesthetic clinics around the country. Skin Renewal was founded by Dr. Maureen Allem, who started the specialist aesthetic centre after several years of providing injectable aesthetic treatments such as wrinkle reduction and dermal fillers to her patients. The need for a fully-fledged aesthetic centre came about as a result of the advances in aesthetic technologies, which provided alternatives to the more traditional surgical procedures that had been practised for the preceding decades. The development of the new laser, light, radio frequency and ultrasound technologies specifically provided a cost effective means to improve the quality of the skin and also treat a wide range of skin and body conditions. During mid 2009 the new Body Renewal brand was launched in response to a high level of demand for body related services and treatments and this was designed to operate as an independent offering or to be integrated into existing Skin Renewal branches. Skin Renewal continues to research and implement the newest, best and most dependable new technologies and continues to expand the brand across South Africa through partnership with likeminded aesthetic physicians, staff, distributors, suppliers and service providers. In addition to the expansion of the Skin & Body Renewal brands, the Health Renewal brand was launched in September 2013, which focuses on integrative medical health and incorporates bio identical hormone replacement, genetic testing and the use of a wide range of nutraceutical products and supplements.