Your hands are incredibly important, so take good care of them! Hands are subject to cosmetic damage as you age as well as more serious concerns like arthritis and weakness. The good news is that you can maintain strong, healthy, beautiful hands well into your senior years.
If your hands just need a little pick-me-up, you can give them a deep moisturizing treatment overnight. Exfoliate with a store-bought scrub or make your own from sugar and coconut oil. Give your hands a massage as you remove the dead skin. Next, slather on a thick moisturizing cream.
Now the weird part—put on a pair of latex gloves (or cover your hands in plastic wrap) and put a pair of thin cotton gloves on top. When you wake up in the morning, your hands will feel incredibly smooth!
These dark discolorations are a familiar sight on aging hands. Age spots are caused by sun exposure, and the only sure way to prevent them is to wear sunscreen. You’ll need to reapply every 2-3 hours and after washing your hands. Existing spots can respond well to a fade cream with 2 percent hydroquinone.
Your hands need exercise just like the rest of your body! Try opening your hands as wide as they’ll go, really stretching your fingers, and then making a fist. Do this 10 times for each hands. Next, make a “thumbs up” gesture and then rotate your thumb in circles for 20-30 seconds on each hand.
Another good hand exercise is the “tip touch.” Raise your hand and then tap each finger in turn against your thumb. Press down with your fingertip to get the maximum benefit. A word of caution—if you experience pain during these exercises, ease off or skip them entirely. Always check in with your doctor if you feel like something is wrong.
As we age, our hands often take on a crepey, wrinkled look that makes you feel self-conscious. Dermatologists often recommend retinol creams, which can improve the appearance of your skin and promote collagen production. However, those prescription creams are pricey.
If your hands or wrists are feeling achy, the first thing to do is rest. Use a hot compress for muscle pain and a cold pack for tender joints or tendons. You can also try soaking your hands in a basin of warm water with about a tablespoon of Espom salts dissolved in it. If you really want to pamper your hands, soak them before exfoliating and moisturizing.
Topical ointments can help, too. Most of them contain menthol, camphor, or capsaicin—ingredients that cause your skin to tingle and increase blood flow to the area. The sensation caused by the active ingredients makes it harder to perceive the original pain, but be aware that it won’t actually treat the underlying cause.
