How To Get Youthful Hands

THIN AND BONY HANDS:

The Cause: Fat in the hands begins to degenerate with age.
Couple that with photoaging that diminishes collagen and thins the skin,
and you have more visible bones and veins.

TIP: Harsh chemicals and soaps can wreak havoc on your hands. Wearing
rubber gloves lined with cotton every time you wash dishes or clothing can
prevent the chemicals from penetrating deep within the skin.

SPOTTED SKIN:

The Cause: The hands can fall prey to age spots just like the face, but may
be more prone to so-called "Live spots" due to the years. The accumulated
sun damage is a surefire age revealer.

TIP: If youre looking to erase any discoloration on your hands, ask your
doctor about prescription-strength hydroquinone, which will lighten up
dark spots. You can also opt for lighter, paler nail polish shades,
which help detract attention from any red or brown spots on your hands.

CRINKLY TEXTURE:

The Cause: Blame crepey skin texture on collagen, elastin, and volume loss
that occurs over time.

TIP: A nonablative laser can work double duty on the backs of the hands,
treating both crinkly skin and discoloration.

PRsayaINENT VEINS:

The Cause: The same loss of volume that makes bones more visible can
cause bluish veins to become more prominent on the backs of the hands.

TIP: For patients on a budget, very early signs of aging on the hands
can be improved with a series of microdermabrasion treatments.

How To Get Young Beautiful Hands

No matter how well we look after the skin on our faces, our hands betray
our age. After menopause, skin on the palms may thicken and be prone to cracking. Nails suffer, too, becoming more brittle, ridged, or dull.

Deep-Cleansing Nail Soak: This may help to lighten and soften yellowing nails.

Juice of half a lemon
1 tsp avocado oil
1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 drops essential oil of neroli

Add the lemon juice to a bowl of warm water. Stir in the oils until
amalgamated well. Soak the hands for 10–15 minutes.

Hand Scrub: Sugar dissolves in liquid, making it a gentle exfoliator.

1/2 cup full-fat milk, warmed
1/2 cup raw sugar

Pour the milk little by little into the sugar until you have a mixture with
a grainy consistency.Massage into the hands. Plunge hands into a hand bath to rinse.

Milk And Oil Hand Bath: Milk is a natural exfoliator; frankincense oil suits mature skin.

2 cups full-fat milk, warmed
2 drops essential oil of frankincense

Place the milk in a wide bowl, drop in the essential oil, and soak hands for 5 minutes.

Softening Oil For Brittle Nails: This recipe is effective for toenails as well as fingernails.

1 tbsp (colorless) sesame oil
1 tsp each macadamia, avocado, and
wheatgerm oils
2 drops each essential oils of sandalwood and frankincense

Combine the oils in a clean dark glass bottle. Lid and store in a cool,
dark place.Shake before use, then massage into hands and nails.

Step-By-Step Manicure: Avoid nail salons and instead give yourself an all-natural manicure at home.

* Remove nail polish with an acetone-free remover, sweeping from
cuticle to tip. Soften hands and nails in a hand bath for 5–10 minutes.
Pat dry.
* With a cotton swab, ease out dirt from beneath each nail.
Wrap a cotton ball around an orange stick and dip into rosehip oil.
Ease back cuticles.
* File nails with a soft emery board in one direction only,
working from the outside inward. Massage in a little avocado
or rosehip oil.