Ageing is a natural process, but we spend a lot of time and money on trying to keep the years at bay. We religiously apply various anti-aging creams and serums to our face and eyes, trust our hairdresser to cover up the greys and try to stick to healthy lifestyle choices to delay the inevitable. However, we often forget about our hands – the first part of the body to show the signs of ageing.
As we age, the natural fat cushions in our hands decrease, resulting in more prominent veins and bones. Constant exposure to UV rays can trigger the occurrence of sunspots, while frequent exposure to the chemicals in soaps and cleaners causes dryness.
In these days of COVID-19, we are all washing and sanitising our hands a lot more frequently. While soap and water effectively wash away germs and dirt, they also strip the natural, protective oils in your skin, causing your hands to get dry, cracked and raw. Ironically, these dry cracks caused by over-washing can increase the risk of contracting infections and can also lead to conditions like eczema.
Keep your hands clean and moisturised
Use a hand soap that is gentle and fragrance-free. You don’t want something strong enough to clean baked on sauce from a pan! Once you have washed your hands for at least 20 seconds, pat them dry rather than rubbing them, as this can irritate the skin. Leave a small amount of dampness and then moisturise to lock in the water. Oil-based creams are better and more effective than body lotions for moisturising because they are more nourishing. Most lotions are primarily water-based and can dry out the skin further as the water evaporates.
Calerase by DMK is ideal as a hand, cuticle and foot crème. It is made from cod liver oil, wheat germ oil and phenol and has been specially designed and formulated for calloused, dry and cracked skin. Calerase crème is very versatile and can also be used to smooth dry knees or elbows. It can even help reduce folliculitis on upper arms and legs and ingrown hairs along the bikini line. It keeps the new cells softened and nourished and helps prevent calluses and ingrown hairs from reoccurring.
Nail your anti-ageing hand care routine
Just like the skin on your face and neck, the skin on your hands has its own unique set of needs. Here are five tips on how to keep your hands looking and feeling younger.
- Protect Your Hands
Try to use gentle, natural soaps when washing your hands. Remember that hot water and abrasive dish soaps strip away the natural oils from your skin and that perfumes can irritate and even exacerbate conditions like eczema. Always use gloves when washing dishes, gardening, or cleaning.
- Wear Sunscreen
Sunspots can be a true giveaway of your age. Ultraviolet radiation causes about 80 per cent of the skin changes that are associated with aging. Cumulative sun exposure over many years can lead to brown sunspots, irregular pigmentation, thinning of the skin and wrinkles. As with most things, prevention is the best cure, so get into the habit of apply sunscreen daily. And make sure to reapply after washing your hands.
- Moisturise like there’s no tomorrow
Thanks to frequent washing, our hands suffer from moisture depletion more than any other part of the body. They definitely deserve a little more TLC, so get into the habit of using a moisturising cream every time after you wash your hands. Night-time is perfect for giving your hands a super hydration boost. Before going to bed, apply a thick layer of cream like DMK’s Calerase, and wear cotton gloves to increase the absorption rate. If you suffer from extremely dry skin, you may also want to consider using a humidifier at night.
- Exfoliate
Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells thereby reducing the dull appearance of your hands. Dead skin cells can not only make your skin look flaky and dull, but they can also keep treatments from sinking in. Make sure you use a gentle exfoliator as the skin on your hands is quite thin. If it is too abrasive, it can scratch the surface of your skin. DMK’s Calerase crème is an ideal product because it not only provides rich, nourishing hydration, but the Phenol in the formulation has strong desquamating (scaling or peeling off) properties to help remove the build-up of dead skin cells.
Another gentle exfoliator from the DMK range is Exodema Peel. It is a versatile gel masque that works quickly at a microscopic level, reaching into the pores to remove dead cell material and eliminate impurities, leaving the skin feeling refreshed and smooth.
- Develop a routine now
Just as you have a routine for your face, develop one for your hands. Keep in mind that prevention is always preferable to cure, so don’t wait until your hands show signs of ageing; start taking care of them now.
If you suffer from eczema or dermatitis, ask your DMK consultant about the Enbioment™ system. It has been created specifically for people suffering from various dermatological disorders due to an imbalance or a deficit in the skin’s microbiome. Aliments like eczema, rosacea, skin fungus, psoriasis or atopic dermatitis all benefit from using Enbioment™ because these conditions are commonly associated with an imbalance in the skin’s microbiome.
Calerase, Exoderma Peel and the Enbioment system can only be prescribed by a DMK Skin Revision Technician. Like all DMK products they have been devised around DMK’s revolutionary concept of REMOVE, REBUILD, PROTECT and MAINTAIN, and work with the structure and function of the skin to generate long-lasting results.
