Hand and nail care
by Dr Lina Malek
Many of us are really into skincare regimes and take really good care of our facial skin. But what about our hands? To keep them from getting all chapped and wrinkly, you must have a regime as well, which will help you maintain the delicate but often neglected skin and nails of your hands.
Tips
Age Spots
Sounds like spots that appear as you age, but they actually appear with sun exposure and have little to do with aging. These spots are more common among the 50-plus age group as over the years, they have had more sun exposure.
The healthy thing to do is to apply a small dab of hand cream with SPF 30 before heading out the door each dayand reapplying after you wash your hands or every two hours if youre exposed to even a little sunlight. Existing spots should be cured with a fading cream containing two percent hydroquinone. It is crucial to follow guidelines carefully while using such creams because bleaching ingredients in them can be harmful if not used properly. In case of darker spots, you are advised to visit a dermatologist, who may prescribe a product with three percent hydroquinone solution.
Wrinkly Skin
Using a prescription retinoid cream can help to improve texture and kick-start the progression of thickening collagen that helps improve the look of wrinkly hands. It is always wise to visit your dermatologist as he/she can explain the proper application, ensuring that you get the benefits without skin irritation, which is a common retinoid downside.
Scaly Skin
Dry scaly skin is a major no and to make them smooth-and-plump instantaneously, stick with this quick pre-bed routine: First, get rid of rough, dead skin with a gentle scrub and then make an all-night hydrating mask by applying a glycerine and plant oil-containing hand cream. Cover your hands with plastic wrap and wear cotton gloves over. This step ensures that the moisture is locked in place and not wiped off your hand by coming in contact with clothing.
Noticeable Veins
The only way to permanently banish these them is to have vein removal surgery. Do not worry, the deeper linkage of veins will do the work of taking blood to and from your hands, so you will have functioning hands without the protruding veins staring at you. There are heavy duty concealers available, if you are not up for invasive procedures. Youll have to reapply after washing your hands.
Brittle or stained nails
Exposure to water or chemicals, seasonal weather changes, or even genes, can all lead to fragile, breaking nails. But supplements such as a 2.5 mg dose of vitamin B biotin improves nail strength and reduces brittleness after six to nine months. In case of stained nails, the first step is to figure out the reason behind the discolouration. If the condition persists or occurs simultaneously with pain, most likely it is a fungal infection. If your doctor says it isnt fungal, the discoloration is likely a harmless side effect of things such as psoriasis medication or wearing dark nail polish, which is quite popular nowadays. Using a piece of lemon to rub will lighten the nail bed. Another good way to remove stains is to soak in denture cleaner for 15 is to 20 minutes. Also, apply a base coat before you reapply your favourite dark polish.
Manicure
With the beauty industry evolving every day, nail styling such as shapes and shades are ever-changing, and keeping up with the trend make hands look more youthful. As shorter nails are in right now, they are easier to maintain. Follow up with bold/bright polish which will divert unwanted attention from any wrinkles or spots.
The writer is a consultant dermatologist at Vibes Healthcare Ltd.
