4 ways to combat age spots on the hands

Now more than ever, there’s a big focus on our hands. This year we have been washing and sanitising our hands more than ever before, leaving them drier and more vulnerable to the elements. Quite often, hand care is last in line when it comes to skincare allocation. Occasionally, if they’re lucky, they may benefit from a little surplus face cream quickly rubbed in so as not to waste it. Considering the stress they go through, especially at the moment, it’s about time we started to look after them in the same way as we look after the skin on our faces.

Our hands are constantly exposed to the elements – harsh soaps, sanitisers, varying climates and sunlight are all factors that impact the way our hand’s age. Most anti-ageing skincare routines include a slathering of excess serum and moisturiser onto the neck and decolletage, but even the most thorough of people often overlook the backs of the hands, causing a noticeable age difference between the hands and other areas.

Problems that we often see in the clinic are changes in skin quality and hyperpigmentation. On the hands, this usually manifests itself as dark spots (or age spots as they’re commonly known)  – an overproduction of melanin which creates darker spots compared to the background skin tone. The good news is that there are a few preventative measures we can take to ensure happy and healthy hands all year long.

Chemical Peels

One of Dr Sophie’s favourite methods of treating age spots on the hands is by using an innovative technique to specifically target the sunspots before blending with an overall chemical peel to create a fresh, even skin tone. Chemical peels usually contain a combination of alpha-hydroxy acids which deeply exfoliate the skin and are an excellent option for all skin types who are experiencing pigmentation problems.

Cyspera

It’s possible to use products which you may have assumed were only for the face, on the hands. Dr Sophie’s personal favourite is Cyspera cream which is excellent for body pigmentation and can dramatically reduce the appearance of dark patches in as little as 12 weeks of regular use.

Hydration

Extreme temperatures tend to leech moisture out of the skin, and during the winter, our hands often look worse. While keeping the hands hydrated won’t improve existing pigmentation alone, it will keep the hands looking more youthful. Start by swapping generic, stripping soap for a milder formula and follow immediately with a moisturiser. Dr Sophie loves the Neostrata Bionic cream, a high-strength emollient cream designed to provide intensive moisturisation and reduce visible signs of photoaging. But, don’t forget to exfoliate – the product won’t penetrate as deeply if there’s a build-up of dead skin cells. Dr Sophie suggests using an exfoliating product from your usual skincare routine once a week for a primed and prepped base.

Sun Protection

Prevention is better than cure – if you take one thing away from this article, let it be this step. Always make sure you are keeping your hands protected from UVA and UVB rays by wearing broad-spectrum sun protection daily. Dr Sophie recommends applying a generous coating onto the back of each hand after covering the face.