How Dry Hands Are a Sign of Ageingand What You Can Do About It

Having dry hands can age you by an average of 9 years, says a recent study exploring the impact of excessive hand washing and sanitisation.
 

In research carried out by water specialists Harvey Water Softeners, respondents were invited to estimate the age of people by looking at photos of their hands. Half of the hands in the study were categorised as ‘dry' and the other half as ‘healthy'.
 

Those in the ‘dry' category were on average estimated to be 9 years older than their actual age, while the ‘healthy' hands were judged to be a year younger.
 

According to Google data, searches for ‘dry hands' increased 123% between March 2020 and April 2020, from 12,100 searches in March to 27,100 in April. There were 10,000 searches for ‘dry hands' in July 2020.
 

Despite the importance of regularly washing hands during the pandemic, many regions across the UK have hard water in their homes which can be harsh on hands. Skincare products likeRejuvenating Body Moisturiser by Harley Street Skincare  can go some way to help by preventing the hands from drying out as a result of over-washing. However, for a more youthful appearance for dry or aging hands there are treatment options that will peel back the years.
 

The Expert's Take

Lesley Reynolds is one of the UK's leading beauty and aesthetics experts and the co-founder of the award-winningHarley Street Skin. She said:
 

"With the passage of time, hands lose fat, due to the natural ageing process and UV exposure.
 

"Also, due to ageing, there is actual thinning of the dermis (the deeper skin layer that contains hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin). This results in a reduction of the skin's ability and capacity to hold moisture, therefore the skin looks dryer, coarser and more wrinkly and thin due to the lack of elastin."
 

Lesley adds: "Dryness is a natural feature of ageing, therefore, dryness seen in younger skin is instinctively perceived as older looking skin."
 

How to Rejuvenate Your Hands

For hands that look old, treatments such as Ellansé filler will make them plumper,eliminate wrinkles and give them a more youthful look. It also boosts production of collagen which means there are long-lasting effects for the correction of wrinkles and dry, bony hands.
 

For dark spots which may make hands appear older, intense pulse light (IPL) treatment effectively restores skin to its natural state, removing blemishes including age spots and sun damage.
 

"A reliable way to reduce the signs of ageing on your hands is to use a filler for plumping up skin, IPL for sun spots and pigmentation, C02 laser for thicker and firmer skin and Ellansé treatment to fill out hands, rejuvenating their appearance," says Lesley.

For further information contact Melanie Faldo atredcarpetcomms@gmail.com

Survey Results

For the hands categorised as dry, the study also found:

• Only 5% of respondents guessed the correct age
• 69% guessed higher than their actual age
• 26% guessed lower than their actual age
• The biggest difference when looking at dry hands was 52 years, with a 28 year old estimated to be 80 years old by two of our respondents.

When looking at healthy hands, the study found:

• 56% of respondents guessed lower than their actual age
• 15% guessed the correct age
• 30% guessed higher than their actual age
• The biggest difference when looking at healthy hands was 27 years, with two respondents estimating a 33 year old to be just 6 years old based on their hands alone.