Today’s Question: My hands makes me look old. Are there any non-surgical options to treat the problem? Christina, Winona Lake
Christina, it’s very common for us to become so focused on keeping our faces looking young that we forget all about our hands. However, it’s often our hands that give away our true age.
Back in the Victorian days, woman often wore gloves to protect their hands from the elements to keep them soft and free of any sun spots. If their hands did get burnt and pigmented with brown spots, they would treat them with a concoction of lemon juice and sour buttermilk. Fortunately, today’s advanced technology allows us to effectively treat brown spots on the hands as well as bony hands and protruding veins without surgery, downtime or strange home remedies. Since wearing gloves to hide your hands is not in fashion, or a realistic option, here are three steps to help rejuvenate your hands and make them look younger.
1. Restore the Volume
As we age, we lose volume in our hands. In addition, the skin on our hands is some of the thinnest skin on our body. This can result in your hands looking bony and your veins looking more prominent. By injecting an FDA-approved dermal filler like Radiesse® into the hands, we can add volume and rejuvenate your hands taking years off of their appearance. The filler plumps up the areas in the hand where the volume has been lost and camouflages the protruding veins and bony look. The result is a natural, refreshed appearance with immediate results that typically last about one year.
2. Eliminate the Brown Spots
Overexposure to the sun damages your skin cells causing brown spots of pigment to appear. Those spots can easily and quickly be erased with an FDA-approved laser procedure known as LimeLight®. In as little as one 30-minute laser treatment, your brown spots can be lightened leaving your skin clearer and brighter. The laser works by destroying the discoloration in the brown spots without damaging the skin’s surface. Most commonly, several treatment sessions are required.
3. Protect from the Sun
Daily use of sunscreen on your hands is vital to ensure the brown spots do not come back. Look for a zinc oxide based sunscreen as it contains protection from both UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of 30 or higher. This doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy the summer on the lake or at your grandchildren’s outdoor sporting events. It simply means you will need to wear sunscreen to maintain your beautiful skin! Don’t forget to protect your hands when you are driving too!
Christina, I recommend that you talk to your medical skin care professional about the best plan for your hands. She will help create a treatment plan to address your specific concerns and help turn back the clock for more youthful looking hands.
Jennifer Kauffman is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner, practicing in Warsaw and Ft Wayne. She is a sought after speaker at medical conferences such as the American Academy of Plastic Surgeons. Jennifer is a member of American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and Coalition of Advance Practice Nurses of Indiana. She received her Nursing and Nurse Practitioner degrees from Goshen College, and Indiana Wesleyan University. Jennifer is a Clinical Instructor nationally to physicians and nurses on medical aesthetic procedures.
Do you have a question for Jennifer, about this article or another cosmetic skin care issue? Please call Vein Institute & Medical Spa at 574-267-1900 to have your questions answered and considered for future columns. Questions can also be submitted online at www.veinmedicalspa.com.
