When it comes to skincare and anti-ageing efforts, hands are often overlooked despite being one of the most telling indicators of a person’s age. While we lavish attention on our faces, the hands, constantly exposed to environmental factors and sunlight, can develop wrinkles, age spots, and lose their youthful appearance. This article delves into the world of hand rejuvenation treatments, exploring the causes of ageing hands and the various treatments available to restore their vitality.
The Ageing Hand: A Silent Storyteller
Hands are incredible tools that serve us throughout our lives, yet they can become a silent storyteller of our age. The skin on our hands is thinner and more delicate than that on our faces, making it susceptible to damage. Factors such as sun exposure, frequent washing, and repetitive movements can accelerate the ageing process. As we age, collagen and elastin production diminishes, leading to thinning skin, prominent veins, and fine lines. Age spots, also known as liver spots, can also emerge due to years of sun exposure.
Revealing Hand Rejuvenation Treatments
Thankfully, advancements in cosmetic procedures have made it possible to turn back the clock on ageing hands with hand rejuvenation treatments.
Hand Filler Injection
Dermal fillers are injectable substances used to add volume, smooth wrinkles, and enhance facial features. When applied to the hands, these fillers work their magic by reversing the effects of time.
Restoring Lost Volume
Over time, the fat beneath the skin of our hands diminishes, leading to a gaunt appearance and increased visibility of veins and tendons. Dermal fillers can be precisely injected into the backs of the hands to restore the lost volume, making the veins and tendons less noticeable. The fillers plump up the skin, creating a more youthful and vibrant look.
Camouflaging Veins and Tendons
With age, the skin becomes thinner, making veins and tendons more apparent. Dermal fillers act as a cushion, concealing the prominence of these structures and giving the hands a smoother appearance.
Stimulating Collagen Production
The benefits of dermal fillers for hands go beyond immediate results. Dermal fillers encourage the body to produce more collagen over time. Collagen is a protein that helps maintain the structure and elasticity of our skin, thus contributing to longer-lasting rejuvenation effects.
Dermal Fillers for Hand Rejuvenation Injection
Ellanse is a brand of dermal filler that is commonly used for facial and hand rejuvenation. Hand rejuvenation injection involves addressing the visible signs of aging on the hands, such as volume loss, thinning skin, wrinkles, and prominent veins. Ellanse is unique compared to traditional hyaluronic acid fillers because it contains a component called polycaprolactone (PCL).
Typically, some fillers maintain their effects for about 12-18 months; however, when it comes to the best dermal filler for hands, Ellanse can extend over a significantly prolonged duration, spanning from 2 to 4 years. Additionally, Ellanse functions as a bioresorbable filler, undergoing a gradual absorption process within the body. This gradual absorption of the gel leaves behind a lasting legacy—your body’s own network of collagen.
Ellansé is composed of a balanced combination, comprising 30% synthetic polycaprolactone (PCL) and 70% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). PCL takes the form of impeccably smooth and spherical microspheres, measuring 25-50 µm. These microspheres possess the unique capability to foster the generation of high-quality collagen type 1. In parallel, the CMC gel swiftly imparts an immediate plumping effect and corrects wrinkles.
The flawlessly smooth and round structure of PCL microspheres makes them exceptionally well-suited for aesthetic applications. This is due to the fact that uneven or irregularly shaped microspheres and rough surfaces have a tendency to lead to the development of nodules, which can in turn reduce the deposition of collagen.
Once Ellansé is injected into the hand, the CMC gel promptly addresses areas lacking in volume, providing an instant volumizing effect. Subsequently, the PCL microspheres come into play, actively engaging collagen stimulation over the ensuing 3 to 6 months. This collagen synthesis process serves to replace the gradually dissolving CMC gel.
Laser Hand Rejuvenation
Laser hand rejuvenation, encompassing various types of advanced laser treatments, is a cutting-edge cosmetic procedure specifically tailored to address signs of aging on the hands. Over time, hands can develop age spots, wrinkles, and loss of volume, revealing telltale signs of aging.
Fractional laser therapy, which creates micro-injuries to stimulate collagen production, intense pulsed light (IPL), targeting pigmentation irregularities, and non-ablative laser procedures, promoting overall skin texture improvement, are among the cutting-edge techniques used. These advanced laser technologies penetrate the skin’s surface, addressing age spots, wrinkles, and volume loss. The synergistic effect of these treatments results in the reduction of fine lines, enhanced collagen production, and the elimination of unwanted pigments. This non-invasive approach ensures minimal downtime while achieving long-lasting results, making laser hand rejuvenation an effective and transformative solution for achieving softer, more youthful hands.
Skin Boosters for the Hands
The skin boosters employed in medical settings are distinct from cosmetic products available over the counter. These medical-grade skin boosters such as Profhilo, Sunekos or Redensity 1 are administered through injections, unlike their topical counterparts. Instead of focusing solely on adding volume, skin boosters work to nourish and hydrate the skin from within.
Deep Hydration
Skin boosters are carefully injected into the dermal layers of the skin on the back of the hands. The molecules attract and retain water, providing deep hydration that plumps and firms the skin. This results in hands that feel softer, smoother, and more supple.
Enhanced Skin Texture & Elasticity
As skin boosters encourage collagen production, the overall texture of the skin improves. Fine lines become less noticeable, and the skin gains a rejuvenated appearance. Skin boosters also help replenish skin hydration, enhancing elasticity, and refining the skin’s structure for an improved appearance.
Skin Booster vs Dermal Fillers: Which is Suitable for Ageing Hands?
There could be some uncertainty about choosing between skin boosters and dermal fillers for addressing ageing hands. While personal preferences might play a role, it’s important to understand that the decision depends on the specific situation at hand.
If you’re primarily focused on improving skin texture, hydration, and overall quality, skin boosters might be the better fit. On the other hand, if volume restoration and vein camouflage are your priorities, hand filler injection might be more suitable.
Both treatments offer unique benefits that can harmonize to provide a holistic approach to hand rejuvenation. With the guidance of a skilled practitioner, you can achieve hands that reflect your inner vitality and beauty, ensuring you put your best hand forward.