ageing is a natural process. as you age, your body will go through various changes. some of the most visible signs of ageing usually occur on oyur skins surface, especially on your hands.
many of us take care of the skin on your faces as we age. we often neglect our hands. by applying nurturing skin care to your hands, you’re helping them age properly while retaining their natural beauty.
age spots
age spots,also called as sun spots, or liver spots, consist of flat, round blotches on your skin that are brown to black in colour. the hands are common places for age spots to develop, as well as your face and chest.
while there spots can certainly appear with age. the name is a bit misleading as these spots are primarily caused by ultraviolet(uv) ray exposure
prevention
age spots may be prevented by reducing uv exposure. protect your hands by applying sunscreen daily.
when selecting a sunscreen, here are some important things to remember:
treatment
if you have age spots on your hands, you may be able to treat them at home with chemical peel and microdermabrasion treatments.
these treatments work by removing your skin’s top layer so that smoother, more youthful skin underneath is revealed.
dry, scaly skin
dry, scaly skin is often seen with age. but it’s not necessarily inevitable. a lack of water and sleep can dry out your skin worse by removing its natural moisture
poor circulation can also lead to dryness in your skin. it may be brought on by:
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a diet lacking in recommended amounts of certain minerals and nutrients.
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sleep deprivation
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a lack of exercise
cold dry weather may also make dry hands worse.
prevention
you can prevent dry, scaly hands by wing unscented soaps and lotions.
especially if you have sensitive skin.
here are some other ways to prevent dry, scaly hands
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always wear gloves outside during the winter months to prevent further moisture loss.
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apply hand cream every time you wash your hands.
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prevent immersing your hands in water for a prolonged period of time whenever possible.
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if you cant avoid water contact altogether minimize water, selected activities, such as swimming and washing dishes for a few days.
treatment
treatment for dry hands depends on the seventy of the dryness, cracks and scales. a good daytime moisturizes will in water without making your hands oily.
you can apply a thick moisturizer at night, to maximize the effects, wear cotton gloves overnight. extremely dry skin my benefit from products that contain lactic acid which acts as an exfoliant to remove dead skin cells
wrinkles in the skin
wrinkles develop as a result of collagen loss. these protein-based fibers are more readily available when you’re young. however, it’s also possible to lose collagen too early.
prevention:
collagen loss in your hands may be prevented to some degree. smoking for example, is directly responsible for collagen loss. it also causes a reduction in future collagen production.
uv rays exposure may also contribute to wrinkles appearing in your skin of wrinkles as you age. daily sunscreen is must.
treatment
look for a retinol hand cream. used daily, this vitamin a derivative can help make your skin look and feel smoother.
yellow nails
your nails can also show sign of premature skin ageing because the’re actually a part of your skin. nails are made of keratin, which is a protein fiber that naturally grows outward from your fingers.
while nail fungus can turn nails yellow in colour, other case of yellow nails may be related to stress, infection or others underlying medical conditions.
prevention
talk to your doctor if you have yellow nails. they can help determine if this is related to a fungal infection or another type of medical condition. smoking cigarettes can also cause your nails to turn yellow.
treatment
nail fungus may be treated with over the contour products that are used daily until the yellow-hinted fungus goes away. this process can take several weeks.
protruding veins
as you age. your skin becomes naturally thinner, making veins underneath
the surfave more visible. protruding veins in the hands can give the appearance of less youthful skin.
prevention
veins can become more noticeable
due to lack of circulation. you cant necessarily prevent thinning skin.
but you can possibly reduce vein ailation with healthy lifestyle habits, such a exercise, adequate sleep and no smoking.
treatment
the only way you can treat protruding veins at home is with moisturizers and camouflaging makeup to help reduce the appearance of your hands.
you can ask a dermatalogic surgeon about more invasive treatment measure if the veins bother you.
dry, brittle nails
dry, brittle nails are caused by changes in moisture levels. dry nails that split are related to not enough moisture. soft nails are caused by too much moisture. dtyness in your nails can occur with age.
however dryness is made worse by”
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low humidity
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frequent washing
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dry heat
soft and brittle nails, on the other hand are mostly caused by chemical exposure.
example of chemicals include:
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detergents
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nail polish removers
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cleaning products
prevention
you can help prevent brittle nails by :
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wearing cleaning gloves when using household cleaning products.
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wearing glove with moisturizer overnight
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keeping your nails filed and groomed to prevent splitting
treatment
aside from protection, you can help moisture your nails as you would with the rest of your hands.
to maintain youthful hands, consider these steps:
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wash your hands with a mild, unscented soap only immediately follow up with a moisturizer
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use a sunscreen-based moisturizer when outside in the sun. choose a product that has at least spf-30.
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check your nails for any brittleness or snags, file them in one direction to prevent breakage
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wear gloves if your headed outdoors on a cold,dry day
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if you’re cleaing, apply a thicker ointment or cream & slip onn a pair of cotton gloves before bedtime
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consider using an exfoliant every day, consider using a microdermabration or chemical peek once a week.
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use a non-acetone polish remover to prevent brittle nails.it’s also important to maintain an overall healthy lifestyle to prevent ageing skin consider the following tips:
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quit smoking if you smoke.
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drink plenty of water every day.
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get at least seven hours of sleep every night.
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exercise regularly.
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eat a healthy diet full of vegetables and fruits.