do my hands need a skincare routine?

just like your face, hands need the same tlc to resist the signs of aging.

by dr. rohan bissoondath

published may 13, 2021

last updated may 18, 2021

3 minute read

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3 minute read

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how can you stop your hands from looking older than you are?

in this series, dr. rohan bissoondath, founder and medical director of preventous cosmetic medicine & preventous collaborative health, answers your questions about skin health.what can i do to prevent the skin on my hands from aging? when we think about wrinkles and spots, almost all of us think of the face or neck first. however, our hands are also vulnerable to the sign of aging, and like other areas of our skin, there are things you can do to protect them.cover them up
this first one might sound silly — wear driving gloves. our hands get a lot of sun exposure when we’re behind the wheel, even on a cloudy day. just think about how many times you’ve been stuck in traffic with your hands in direct sunlight. the same goes for gardening, which often puts our hands in direct uv ray exposure. a set of gardening gloves will provide protection from the damaging effects of the sun, and also protect from injuries such as blisters.there are a lot of options when it comes to sunscreen like lotions, powders and even moisturizers or foundations with built-in spf. with so many options, it can be confusing to know which is right for you. when it comes to moisturizers and foundations with built-in spf, these formats typically do not offer enough sun protection, so using additional sunscreen is a good idea. we need a minimum of 30 spf with broad spectrum coverage to do the job well. sunscreen powders can also be very effective, especially when the face and neckline is touched up throughout the day.get some cream
we should be treating our hands like we do our face, which means protecting them against sun exposure on a daily basis with sunscreen. the key word here is daily, as many might think we only need spf on a sunny day in the warmer months, but actually spf is needed in colder months too — even when indoors. retinol and vitamin c are other ingredients that are beneficial for the skin. retinol normalizes sebum products and establishes optimal cell renewal, and basically, leads to fewer fine lines, diminished wrinkles, and firmer skin. it also decreases age spots. vitamin c helps neutralize free radicals that degrade collagen fibres and helps activate the process of collagen synthesis which slows down the aging process and improves the texture and tone of the skin.skin health also depends on lifestyle
abiding to a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the signs of aging. this means you’re getting a solid eight hours of sleep every night and sticking to a healthy diet with plenty of antioxidant-rich foods to help decrease sunburn and neutralize the free radicals that lead to skin aging. staying away from alcohol and smoking as well as exercising regularly is extremely important. also, when we exercise and move our body, we’re increasing blood flow which helps to nourish skin cells and keep them vital. plus, exercising regularly can lead to better sleep.
finally, remember to have a positive attitude. our mental wellbeing and factors like stress can show on our face. at the end of the day, walking out of the house with a big smile and positive attitude can go a long way in terms of our emotional health, but also increasing our resilience against the sign of aging.dr. rohan bissoondath, md, is the medical director and founder of preventous collaborative health and preventous cosmetic medicine. he is a board member of the canadian association of aesthetic medicine and is certified by the college of family physicians of canada and licensed through the college of physicians and surgeons of alberta.