How to keep your hands young and wrinkle-free

• Although aging is a natural process, we can delay it or reverse it through healthy lifestyle choices. It’s possible to look 10 or even 20 years younger than your biological age.
• However, due to the different activities our hands perform, this is the first part of the body to show signs of aging. Our hands are frequently exposed to chemicals in soaps and cleaners which dry them.

 As we age, the natural fat cushions in our hands decrease, resulting in more prominent veins and bones. When we frequently expose our hands to the UV lamp during gel manicures, this accelerates the aging process.

Here are five tips to reverse premature aging. 

1. Develop a routine early

Rather than wait until you’re in your 40s or 50s, start taking care of your hands now. Just as you have a routine for your face, develop a routine for your hands.

2. Protect your hands

As much as possible, try to use gentle, natural soaps when washing your hands. Use gloves when washing dishes, gardening, or cleaning. Keep several moisturisers around – one in your car, your handbag, by the sink, at work, and on your bedside table. At night, apply a thick layer of moisturiser and wear cotton gloves when you go to bed.

3. Sunscreen

Just like your face, your hands need sunscreen whenever you go out or when you’re driving. If you prefer not to use sunscreen, you could wear a pair of gloves when driving. Always apply sunscreen when getting a gel manicure.

4. Hand cream tips

Creams help to restore softness giving your hands a more youthful appearance. When choosing hand cream, look for ingredients such as glycerin, which absorbs and retains moisture; or Shea butter, lanolin, and hyaluronic acid. These products will form a protective barrier that prevents moisture from evaporating.

5. Exfoliate

Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin skin cells thereby reducing the dull appearance of your hands. Be gentle as the skin in your hands is quite thin. You can make your own scrub or use the one that you would use on your face. For a DIY scrub, mix brown sugar with olive oil, or coffee ground with coconut oil. The ratio should be 2:1 for the sugar/coffee and oil. Use the scrub weekly to get rid of dull skin.

DIY hand exfoliator

Step 1 - Mix

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.

Step 2 - Apply

Apply to clean hands.

Step 3 - Massage

Rub gently in a circular motion for at least 2 minutes.

Step 4 - Rinse

Wash off with cold or tepid water. Avoid hot water, which is drying to the hands.

Step 5 – Moisturise