Beauty Doc Blog

July 23.2008

The hardworking hands… just like our face are immediately visible to people at almost all times, and therefore, aging of the hands is a concern for many. The noticeable results of aging are age spots, loose skin, think skin, wrinkling and enlarged veins on the back of the hand. Plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures can treat all of these problems, though there is some controversy concerning the effectiveness.

Bleaching Creams Can Help

Treatment methods include bleaching creams which may or may not work. If they lack effectiveness then chemical peels and laser treatment can be used. The problem with large veins can be treated with small incisions made in the crease lines on the back of the hand. The surgeon must take extra care to preserve enough veins to assure drainage of blood to avoid prolonged swelling. The skin is then tightened through transverse incisions made along the tension lines on the back of the hand or on the wrist. Unfortunately a scar may be obvious after the procedure.

The problem of thin skin cannot be solved by making skin thicker. However some surgeons have had good results with fat grafts to create an illusion of increased fullness. But these results for many have not been predictable.

Treatment of Wrinkling

Wrinkling is often treated through resurfacing using light chemical peels. These include trichloroacetic acid or TCA. An unfortunate side effect of this however is often scarring and noticeable lines between the treated and untreated areas. Dark brown spots that occur on the hand can be treated through daily application of hydroquinone cream. Fine wrinkle problems and pigmentation problems may both be treated through a chemical peel. Light peels using TCA are effective for elimination of uneven pigmentation. Blycolic acid based skin creams that contain vitamin C, vitamin E and Beta carotene are often recommended.

The Problem of Skin Atrophy

Skin atrophy is also a problem approached through cosmetic procedures. Aging and sun exposure contribute to atrophy of the skin, fat and the musculature. The result is that hands will appear old and bony. A possible treatment is transplantation of fat cells from the thighs or the abdomen to the back of the hand. When the graft is successful the fat cells will give lasting results. Laser treatment is not recommended for hands due to the thin skin, but swollen veins can be removed safety using surgical techniques and a local anesthetic.