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They say you can tell someone’s age by their hands.
You can moisturize religiously, wear spf And sleep on silk pillows, but if your hands are sunburned, dry, or wrinkled, they’ll slowly reveal what the rest of your skin care is trying to hide.
“The skin on the hands is thin and is affected by aging in the same way as the face,” says Margaret Dabbs OBE, founder of . Margaret Dubs London,
“Oil glands that help maintain elasticity elsewhere in the body are missing from the skin of the hands, accelerating the signs of aging.
“Daily exposure to UV and environmental damage also breaks down collagen over time, and frequent hand washing with poor quality hand wash increases dehydration,” she explains.
It’s a double whammy: thin skin and less protection.
This means that if not taken care of, your hands can often look decades older than your face. So, here’s how to reverse and repair those signs of damage.
Hand care has gone hi-tech
For years, hand cream was something you kept in the car or next to the kitchen sink—a last-minute rescue for dryness. But as the rest of our routines have become more sophisticated, so has hand care.
To treat the signs of aging on the hands, “a combination of targeted skin care and advanced technology gives the best results,” says Dabbs.
“LED light therapy is particularly effective. Red light helps stimulate collagen and reduce inflammation, while near-infrared light works deep into the skin to improve skin elasticity and tighten the skin.
“With continued use, skin texture becomes smoother and tone more even.”
LED therapy may have once been the relic of dermatology clinics, but now it’s a staple of home routines — as anyone who’s scrolled through a nightly routine featuring a futuristic facial mask on Instagram will know.
“LED therapy uses targeted wavelengths to treat various skin concerns,” explains Dubs. “Red light increases collagen production and improves skin density, while the near-infrared ray penetrates more deeply to support structural firmness.”
She says applying even 10 minutes a few times a week can soften fine lines and even fade pigmentation.
Beauty Pie C-Wave Rejuvenating LED Treatment Hand£200
Ingredients to Include
Still, technology can only go so far without proper timely care.
According to dermatologist and founder Dr. Mazin Al-Khafaji Dermatology MThe formula matters as much as the frequency.
“Look for humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, emollients like shea butter or cocoa butter, and antioxidants including vitamin E, lily bulb extract and rose extract,” all of which help even out tone and strengthen the barrier, she says.
He also highlights an ingredient called bakuchiol—a gentle, plant-based alternative to retinol, better suited for mature or sensitive skin.
It targets dark spots and pigmentation. “In more serious cases where you want to get rid of blemishes on your hands, we use bakuchiol,” he says. And SPF is, of course, a non-negotiable.
“Daily use of a broad-spectrum SPF 30-50. A light, non-greasy formula applied every morning and after hand washing is usually sufficient.”
GentleCare & Winter Hand Cracking In 24 Hour Hand Cream, £15
Naturally Balmy Cold Pressed Bakuchi (Bakuchiol) Oil, £9
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Repairing Bomb B5+ SPF50 for Irritation skin£12.50, Look Great
Best Hand Care Routine
A good hand routine is not about a miracle product, but about building habits.
Dabbs recommends approaching it the same way you care for facial skin: cleansing, treating, hydrating, and protecting. “Daily use of a good quality, hydrating hand wash and repair cream will help reduce moisture loss in the skin of the hands, increase skin firmness, improve elasticity and boost collagen production,” she says.
Al-Khafaji also says that sustainability prevails over luxury.
To keep skin from becoming excessively dry, he says, “Wear gloves when washing and cleaning, and apply hand cream immediately after washing hands and before bed.”
“Use SPF daily on the backs of the hands and protect yourself from the cold and wind by wearing gloves in the winter,” he explains. “These small, consistent steps maintain the skin’s barrier, hydration, and even tone better than any topical treatment.”
Margaret Dabbs London Pure Exfoliating Hand Wash, £25
Manicurist Paris Complete Serum, £15
It’s time to treat your hands like your face
Hand care isn’t glamorous—but it may be one of the most obvious forms of maintenance. Hands are constantly exposed, rarely protected, and almost never given as much attention as we give our faces.
As Dabbs says, “Hands are often neglected, but they deserve just as much attention as the face.”
And once you start giving them that attention—with sunscreens, serums, and gentle exfoliation—you’ll see what dermatologists have known for decades: It’s not about chasing youth, but about restoring balance to the skin we use most.