Do your hands give away your age?
No part of the body will tell the story of your age more readily than your hands. The hands suffer environmental damage, and often have less protection than the rest of your body. Dryness, poor skin texture, age spots, uneven skin tone, visible veins, fine lines and wrinkles can all add to the general age appearance of your hands.
Want to know a person’s real age? Just look at their hands.
The natural fat cushion that we’re born with under the skin of the hands begins to lessen in our late twenties and early 30’s. By the time most of us hit 50, all the structures in the hand show up – the tendons, bones and veins.
Help is at Hand
Dr Teri Johnson and her team have been performing hand rejuvenation treatments since 2008. Over the years, they have tried and tested various treatments.
Hand Rejuvenation Treatments can address various concerns and include injectable and non-injectable treatments.
Non Injectable Hand Rejuvenation Treatments
Chemical Peels
Peels are great for fading age spots, smoothing the skin texture, and stimulating new collagen production in the upper skin layers. At Cheshire Lasers Clinic, our favourite treatment for hands is the BioRePeel with TCA. The BioRePeel has a bio-stimulating, revitalising & peeling-like effect. A single treatment often delivers a visible improvement, but for best results, we recommend a course of three every 7 to 10 days.
Microneedling
Microneedling uses tiny needles to create micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating collagen production and improving skin texture and tone. This treatment also is known for its ability to improve skin texture and can lead to a subtle improvement in pigmentation. At Cheshire Lasers, we use the EDS (Electronic Dermastamp) treatment.
Radiofrequency Microneedling
Radiofrequency microneedling combines the skin-renewing benefits of microneedling with the skin-tightening effects of radiofrequency energy. The result is a more effective treatment for improving collagen production, skin texture and firmness. Cheshire Lasers uses Dermaforce to deliver controlled heat energy deep into the skin through tiny needles. This stimulates more collagen production, often with less downtime than microneedling alone.
CACI Hand Rejuvenation
Using advanced microcurrent technology, CACI targets skin cells in the hands, stimulating collagen and elastin production. This non-invasive procedure tones, hydrates and firms the skin, reducing wrinkles and revealing smoother, younger-looking skin.
Laser and IPL Hand Treatment
Laser treatments, intense pulsed light (IPL) and fractional laser therapy can target age spots, sun damage, and uneven skin texture on the hands. They work by breaking down pigment and stimulating collagen production. Here at Cheshire Lasers, we mostly use our IPL on our Linton Lumina AQS System to improve skin texture and improve pigmentation on the hands.
Topical Treatments
It’s also important to consider topical treatment when rejuvenating the hands. Retinoids, vitamin C serums, and moisturizers containing ingredients like glycolic acid or niacinamide can help improve the appearance of the hands over time by boosting collagen production and reducing signs of ageing. Regularly applying hand creams containing sunscreen can help prevent further sun damage and protect the hands from ageing.
Injectable Hand Rejuvenation Treatments
Injectable hand rejuvenation treatments involve injecting products into the skin to create volume in the skin, increase hydration or stimulate collagen production. Most treatments have an effect on all three of these.
The following treatments have all been shown to rejuvenate the hands:
- Dermal Fillers: Dermal fillers, such as hyaluronic acid, plump up thin skin, give hydration, and minimise the appearance of wrinkles and veins.
- Collagen Stimulators: Radiesse, Ellanse and Sculptra all stimulate collagen, creating firmer, tighter, plumper skin.
- Skin Boosters: Restylane Vital, Profhilo, and Sunekos are examples of skin boosters they stimulate collagen and elastin production as well as hydrate the skin.
- Polynucleotides: Made from DNA, stimulate fibroblasts to create collagen and elastin; they also stimulate hydration and have an antioxidant effect.
It’s important to consult with a qualified dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon to determine the most suitable treatment options based on individual needs, skin type, and desired outcomes.
Combination Treatments:
Often, a combination of treatments may be recommended to achieve the best results. For example, combining dermal fillers with laser therapy or chemical peels can address multiple concerns simultaneously and provide more comprehensive rejuvenation.
Examples of Hand Rejuvenation Treatments.
Restylane Vital Skin Boosters
Restylane Vital Skin Boosters contains small molecules of hyaluronic acid filler. When injected under the skin, it improves skin elasticity and deep dermal hydration. By moisturising from within it diminishes the fine crepey lines to give a plump and hydrated appearance.
An initial, intense treatment usually comprises three sessions, 3-4 weeks apart. Each treatment involves a series of very fine micro-injections however Dr Teri is now using a cannula more often for this treatment.
Typically, a maintenance treatment would be required after around 3-4 months.
Advantages:
Restylane Vital remains in the skin for about 4-8 months if not longer. It attracts water for skin hydration and improves skin texture while volumising the skin to help reduce the appearance of unsightly veins and tendons.
It can be dissolved by hyaluronidase.
Disadvantages:
3 treatments are usually required, and regular maintenance every 3-4 months to keep the effect.
Bruising is very common if injected with a needle.
Find out more about Restylane Skin Boosters here.
Radiesse Hand Rejuvenation
Radiesse was launched in 2000 and is FDA approved. It is a non permanent Dermal Filler that contains calcium and phosphate based micro spheres. When injected under the skin micro spheres stimulate your skin to produce new collagen. It is, therefore, more commonly regarded as a collagen stimulator.
The product is injected directly into the skin with a cannula and then firmly massaged to ensure even coverage.
Radiesse gives an immediate improvement due to the presence of the filler. Over a few months, the results reduce slightly as the filler degrades. The results improve again as collagen production occurs creating a volume effect and an improvement in skin texture.
This treatment is great for volume loss to help cover veins and tendons in the hands.
You may only need one treatment. Although if you have older hands or hands with significant volume loss you may need a second treatment.
Advantages:
Typically, results last around 12 months.
You will need a maintenance treatment 9-15 months.
Disadvantages:
This product is not ideal for you if you have thin skin.
Radiesse filler is firm, so you need to apply strong, vigorous massage after treatment to reduce the risk of lumps after treatment.
The product does not give as much hydration.
Find out more about Radiesse hand rejuvenation here.
Profhilo Hand Rejuvenation
Profhilo is a revolutionary injectable product based on hyaluronic acid (HA). After injection, it slowly breaks down so it remains in the skin for up to 28 days. While in place, it stimulates the body’s processes for regenerating skin tissue. It hydrates the skin and stimulates all four types of collagen and elastin. Hence, is why we call it a ‘bio-rejuvenator’ or ‘bio-revitaliser’.
Most people need two treatments one month apart. Older skin or extremely delicate thin skin prone to tearing may need a third.
You will need a maintenance treatment after 4-6 months for best results.
Advantages:
It degrades quickly, which often suits people who like minimally invasive natural treatments.
Treatments are easy and quick and take only 15 to 20 minutes.
The treatment is the best for thin, crepey, delicate skin.
Disadvantages:
The hydration effect creates some volumisation of the skin. However, this is often insufficient to cover visible veins and tendons due to fat loss under the skin.
Find out more about Profhilo here.
Aliaxin SR Hand Rejuvenation
Aliaxin SR is made by IBSA the same company that makes the revolutionary Profhilo. It contains 3 different hyaluronic acid molecules. One of which is the same as the one in Profhilo. The other two act more like a filler designed to hydrate, plump and volumise the skin.
Aliaxin SR is injected in the hands with a cannula. Gentle to moderate massage is then required to make sure the product is distributed evenly in the tissues.
You need one or two treatments for best results, one month apart.
If you have very thin skin a Profhilo treatment is recommended first.
You will need a maintenance treatment after around 6 months for best results.
Advantages:
This product is the best of all worlds, collagen stimulation in the skin itself to improve texture, elasticity. However it also gives volumisation, to plump and hydrated the skin due to the hyaluronic acid filler component.
Disadvantages:
You need to massage after treatment. Massage is not always possible in elderly frail skin unless this is improved first.