What can make my hands look younger? (2024)

If age spots, wrinkly skin, or other signs of aging bother you, you can have more youthful-looking hands. Thanks to advances in dermatology, it’s possible to diminish these signs of aging safely and with little or no downtime.

Age spots

Treatment: You have options. A board-certified dermatologist can effectively lighten or remove age spots on your hands with:

• Cryosurgery (freezing)

• Laser therapy

• Chemical peeling

• Microdermabrasion

• Skin-lightening creams and lotions

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The creams and lotions take the longest to deliver results, but they cost less.

Rough, scaly patches (AKs)

These rough patches may be actinic keratoses (AKs), which are precancerous growths. AKs usually develop in fair-skinned people who are 40 years of age or older.

AKs can develop earlier if you used tanning beds or live in a state that gets lots of sunshine, such as Florida or California.

Treatment: To find out how dermatologists diagnose and treat AKs, go to, Actinic keratoses.

Do you feel a rough patch on your hand or elsewhere on your skin? If so, see a dermatologist to find out if it’s an AK. Some AKs turn into skin cancer.

Loss of youthful fullness

Treatment: To restore lost fullness, your dermatologist can inject:

• A filler

• Fat from another part of your body

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved one filler, calcium hydroxylapatite (hi-drox-e-lap-ah-tight), to treat the hands. With this filler, you’ll see more fullness immediately. The results last 6 months to 1 year.

Other fillers are also used to restore youthful fullness to the hands. Sometimes a person’s own fat may be the most effective option.

A board-certified dermatologist who has experience rejuvenating hands with fillers (or fat) can tell you what will work best for you.

Visible veins

If a large vein bothers you, a dermatologist can treat it safely.

Treatment: Laser treatment is often the go-to treatment today. During this procedure, your dermatologist inserts a laser fiber into the vein and then fires the laser. This destroys the vein, which will gradually disappear.

Sclerotherapy (sclare-oh-ther-a-pee) may be another option. During this procedure, your dermatologist injects a substance into the vein to destroy it. This causes the vein to disappear slowly.

Wrinkly skin (looks like crepe paper)

Treatment: Your dermatologist may recommend one or more of the following:

• Lotion containing a retinol or glycolic acid (apply before bedtime)

• Light chemical peel, every 1 to 3 months

• Laser treatment

When treating wrinkling, the lotion and light chemical peel are often used together.

If laser treatment is an option, it can also help diminish age spots.

Loose skin

As we age, our skin loses collagen and elastin, substances that keep our skin firm and plump.

Treatment: Radiofrequency, a procedure that sends heat deep into the skin, can tighten loose skin. Most people need only one treatment on their hands.

A filler or laser treatment can also tighten loose skin.

Roughness

Treatment: To smooth rough skin on your hands, your dermatologist can apply a mild chemical peel.

To maintain the results you get from treatment, it helps to apply a moisturizer every day. Your dermatologist can recommend an effective moisturizer.

Brittle nails

If you have brittle nails, you’ll likely see lines running lengthwise on your nails (ridges), as shown in this picture. You may also notice that your nails peel or break easily.

Treatment: To treat brittle nails successfully, you must stop doing everything that could be causing your brittle nails. Spending lots of time with wet hands or using harsh chemicals without wearing protective gloves can cause brittle nails.

Your dermatologist can help you figure out what’s causing your brittle nails.

After you stop doing what’s causing your brittle nails, you’ll want to rehydrate your nails, cuticles, and the surrounding skin. Your dermatologist will recommend a moisturizer, such as urea cream or mineral oil.

Most people apply the moisturizer before bedtime. After moisturizing, you may need to wear a light cotton glove. This helps your skin and nails absorb the moisturizer. You’ll wear this while you sleep.

For many patients, the above helps diminish brittle nails. Some patients need more help, such as using a special nail enamel. Your dermatologist can tell you what can help treat your brittle nails.

Making your results from hand rejuvenation last

While you cannot stop aging, there are things you can do to make your results last longer. Here’s what dermatologists recommend:

1. Protect your hands from the sun. This is essential if you want to maintain the results you see after treatment. Many dermatologists also recommend wearing a thin, sun-protective glove while driving.

2. Wear gloves while cleaning and gardening. Hot water, detergents, and yard work can dry your skin, which can age your hands.

3. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Applying a lotion or cream after washing your hands and bathing helps to trap water in your skin, which can plump up your skin.

4. Keep appointments for maintenance treatments. If your dermatologist treated you in the office, getting follow-up treatments as recommended can help you maintain your results. For example, if you had a filler, you may need another injection in 8 to 12 months.

To protect your hands from the sun, apply abroad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higherto your hands every day before going outdoors.

Why see a dermatologist

Your results depend largely on the skill and experience of the person performing your treatment, so it’s important to see a board-certified dermatologist. These doctors have the expertise and training necessary to perform these treatments safely. They can also tell you whether a treatment will deliver the results you seek, given the condition of your skin, your age, and your health.

Images
1,2,9: Used with permission of theJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

• J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54:S262-71.

• J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013;68:S2-9.

• J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007;57:31-6.

4: Image used with permission of the American Academy of DermatologyNational Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.

3,5,6,7,8,10: Getty Images

References
American Academy of Dermatology, “Dermatologists have firm grip on new treatments for the aging hand.” News release issued August 4, 2011. Last accessed November 10, 2017.

Ortonne, JP, Pandya AG,et al. “Treatment of solar lentigines.”J Am Acad Dermatol2006;54:S262-71.

Rosen T, Lebwohl MG. “Prevalence and awareness of actinic keratosis: Barriers and opportunities.”J Am Acad Dermatol2013;68:S2-9.

Sadick N. “Arm and hand rejuvenation.” In: Hirsh R, Cohen JL,et al. Aesthetic rejuvenation. McGraw Hill Medical, China, 2009:162-72.

Simonacci F, Bertozzi N,et al. “Procedure, applications, and outcomes of autologous fat grafting.”Ann Med Surg(Lond). 2017;27;20:49-60.

Stern DK, Diamantis S,et al. “Water content and other aspects of brittle versus normal fingernails.”J Am Acad Dermatol2007;57:31-6.

Last updated: 7/17/23