From a Nature and Health newsletter I receive…
\nIf you’re unsure about a woman’s age, just look at her hands – or so the saying goes. Despite the time we spend fretting over our faces, it’s our hands and nails that tend to show signs of ageing first.
\n\u201cThe skin on the back of your hands is much thinner and therefore more susceptible to showing signs of skin damage faster than other body parts that are more likely to be covered up more often,\u201d explains beauty therapist Andi Butcher. \u201cWrinkling and age spots are far more prevalent on our hands due to lack of moisture and care.\u201d Plus, conventional hand sanitisers probably haven’t helped the situation. \u201cI’ve never seen so many patients with severely dry hands in all my years as a dermatologist,\u201d says Dr Cheng Lim, of the Skin Cancer Clinic. \u201cSome hand sanitisers contain up to 60 percent alcohol, which is why they strip the hands of their natural oils and dry them out.\u201d So, what can you do? Try these tips:
\n\u201cUse gentle, non-drying bar or liquid soaps with plenty of added vegetable glycerin,\u201d says Butcher. \u201cAfter you wash your hands, apply a good hand cream. Avoid products containing petroleum, mineral oil or silicones, as they just sit on the skin’s surface and don’t deliver that much-needed moisture to actually go within the skin. Instead, look for rich, hydrating ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil and avocado oil.\u201d
\nAnother couple of tricks from Butcher: \u201cApply your favourite hand cream before doing the washing-up, then slip on rubber gloves. \u201cWhile you’re scrubbing, the warmth from the water will work to create a super-penetrating deep-moisturising treatment for your hands. Also, when it comes to putting the finishing touch on your hands with some polish, look for brands that don’t use damaging ingredients like formaldehyde and phthalates. Instead, seek out water-based polishes, which offer all the colour without the chemical smell.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
From a Nature and Health newsletter I receive… If you’re unsure about a woman’s age, just look at her hands – or so the saying goes. Despite the time we spend fretting over our faces, it’s our hands and nails that tend to show signs of ageing first. \u201cThe skin on the back of your … <\/p>\n