Hand Rejuvenation
By: Dr. Rhonda Klein, MD, MPH, FAAD
With the end of “glove season” nearing in (yay!) we wanted to draw some attention to the often times unsung heroes of our bodies, the hands. Our hands are exposed to sunlight, extreme temperature and a lot of wear and tear – and so naturally they are one of the areas on our bodies that show their age first. Thankfully, at Modern Dermatology we have an assortment of therapies that can be used individually, or together, to rejuvenate your hands. We asked Dr. Klein to explain further in this Q&A.
Q: What’s happening to my hands!?
A: Just like with the rest of our skin, the skin on our hands starts to lose plumpness due to the breakdown of collagen and elastin, and the loss of fat, that comes with aging. The skin on the top of the hands is thin, so it can show signs of age first. When the skin “deflates” our veins become more visible.
Q: What can I do about it?
A: First of all…prevention with SPF and if you spend a lot of time in the car, UPF gloves like these are a great option. For the damage that is done, we have a lot of therapies available including injectable filler, laser treatment, vein treatment and more!
Q: How can you correct the loss of volume?
A: We can use injectable dermal fillers on the hands. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Restylane Lyft, a hyaluronic acid filler traditionally used in the face for use in hands, as well as Radiesse, which is made from calcium hydroxylapatite. Both hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxylapatite are naturally occurring substances in our bodies, and when injected by a board-certified dermatologist, very safe.
Patients having this treatment will come in 30 minutes prior to their appointment to have topical numbing applied to the tops of the hands. We then make multiple injections in small amounts between the tendons to create a balanced fullness. The pain level is minimal for most patients; however, we are happy to offer ProNox (laughing gas) to help our patients feel as comfortable as possible. Following the treatment swelling and bruising can be expected. On average results last 6-12 months.
Q: What about the other annoying aging signs on our hands, like veins and dark spots?
A: Sometimes we use some of the following treatments to complement dermal filler or in place of it altogether. It all depends on the patient and their desired outcome.
Problem: Visible veins
Solution: Filler injected into the hands will mask the veins, which are more visible because the skin surrounding them has lost volume.
Problem: Dark spots/Sun damage
Solution: Lasers! IPL can be used to address hyperpigmentation, while promoting collagen growth, and enhances skins’ overall complexion, while a more aggressive laser resurfacing approach removes the outer layers of skin to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin tone and texture, correct uneven pigmentation and generate new collagen. Additionally, the Fraxel laser can treat sun spots and scars and is FDA approved to treat pre-cancerous actinic keratoses.
Problem: Skin laxity
Solution: Ultherapy is a non-surgical ultrasound treatment that can be used to tighten the skin of your hands.
If you’re interested in learning more about hand rejuvenation, please call the office to schedule a consultation.