Your hands are one of the most important parts of your body. You use them for everything, from washing dishes to wiping away a child's tears. Over time, though, your hands bear the brunt of age. For many people, they are the first giveaways of their true age.

What Causes Aging Hands?

Look at your hands. What do you see that you feel gives away your true age? If it's age spots, these are caused by unprotected exposure to the sun's UV rays. Does your skin feel dry and loose? The skin on the back of your hands is quite thin and there is very little fat beneath it to add protection. While a good thick moisturizer applied at night can help protect the skin on your hands, most of the dry skin and wrinkles you see are likely caused by the sun as well.

Another powerful contributor to aging hands is housework. All the chemicals you use around the house damage your skin, causing it to dry out. If you haven't been wearing gloves while cleaning windows, mopping floors or washing dishes, your hands have been exposed to powerful and harsh chemicals.

Aging Hands Treatments

To prevent any further damage, always be sure to apply sunscreen to your hands and wear gloves when working around the house. If age spots are your concern, vitamin A based creams such as tretinoin can help fade the spots. Hydroquinone bleaching cream can also be effective to help the spots fade. At CRMC, Colhy Gel, Dermal Fillers, and Photorejuvenation or IPL treatments may be used to remove the spots. These treatments are highly effective and have a very low risk of scarring.

For loose, dry skin, be sure to apply a heavy moisturizing cream after washing your hands, when they are still damp, to seal in the moisture. Wearing a pair of gloves for several hours following this treatment will help the moisture work to soften your skin. For the best results, make this a part of your daily routine.