Age spots on the hands threaten most of us.
What do our hands see throughout our lives? Shock doses of ultraviolet radiation, hypothermia, heavy bags, caustic household chemicals, constant mechanical impact and contact with water.
It is not surprising that they age faster than the face, early turning into spotted and wrinkled “chicken feet”.
Just don’t need to burn or scrape anything; lasers and mechanical grinding won’t help. There are natural and healthy ways to eliminate age spots and rejuvenate your hands. We'll tell you which ones.
Age spots: what are they?
Skin color is determined by the pigment melanin, which is produced by melanocyte cells (do not confuse both of these terms with melatonin, a sleep hormone that has nothing to do with color).
The place of residence of melanocytes and melanin is the epidermis, that is, the upper layer of the skin. Melanocytes produce melanin granules and, through their processes, inject “grains” of this pigment onto the surface of the skin.
European women have less melanin in their skin, while representatives of the Negroid race have more. This pigment is also responsible for hair color, but that’s not about that now.
In general, the production of melanin in the epidermis is a beneficial process. This is how our skin is protected from ultraviolet radiation. Tanning, in fact, is the result of the active work of melanocytes for a defensive purpose.
But melanin can accumulate in certain areas of the skin. Then pigment spots form. This condition is also called hyperpigmentation.
Often pigment spots appear on the face, décolleté, back and arms.
The production of melanin is controlled by the pituitary gland, thyroid gland and gonads.
Features of aging hands
Have you heard the banal phrase that hands are the first to reveal a woman’s age? Alas, this is the bitter truth.
Look at the celebrities. If the age on the face can be hidden behind makeup, “beauty injections” and braces, then the hands will reveal it instantly. These wrinkled “chicken feet” with age spots literally scream that the young star is no longer fresh. And, most likely, she is interested in artificial “rejuvenation” rather than natural. If you prolong your youth by activating natural physiological mechanisms, this can be seen both in your face and in your hands. And here the face is not organic, and the hands are old. You can't hide the truth.
But first things first.
Why do hands age faster than your face?
- They are most susceptible to the influence of negative external factors.
In summer, the hands are always exposed to the sun; in winter, they often become hypothermic. And what is the cost of constant contact with household chemicals and mechanical impact! How often do you wash dishes, clean plumbing, do wet cleaning, soak stains, do laundry? Do you always wear gloves? Here is the answer. - The skin of the hands differs in its anatomical structure from the skin of the face.
It has fewer sebaceous glands, which means less lipids are produced that protect against negative external factors. And those lipids that exist are constantly washed away and “corroded” by numerous household chores.There is also lower blood circulation in the skin of the hands. And the vessels give strength, renewal, resistance to external negative factors. The less developed microcirculation, the faster the skin fades.
- We pay less attention to our hands than to our face.
As a rule, we leave taking care of them for later.
Types of age spots on hands
Spots on the hands can be of various sizes, from specks to “islands”. Brown, white, yellow, bronze, brown...
They can form for various reasons and look different. What types of age spots on the hands are there:
- Lentigo
– These are age-related brown spots that appear naturally. Most often - due to long exposure to ultraviolet rays and accumulation of photodamage to the skin.Have you noticed your hands, which are covered with small dark brown spots mixed with lighter “islands”? These are “age spots” - the most common type of hyperpigmentation on the hands.
- Chloasma
is dark spots with clear, uneven boundaries, which usually appear due to hormonal changes. A common option is spots on the face during pregnancy or when taking contraceptives. Hands are less susceptible to chloasma. Such spots can be brown, yellowish, or grayish in color. - Vitiligo
is white spots, loss of pigment. Melanin in such areas is usually completely absent. The contrast between healthy skin and vitiligo increases during tanning. One of the main reasons for their appearance is frostbite. - Nevi.
They are also called moles. These are benign pigmented neoplasms with clear contours. They can transform into malignant ones. Dangerous signals are changes in their color, shape, size, structure, as well as peeling, bleeding, itching, pain. - Freckles.
They happen not only on the face, but also on the hands, although much less frequently. These are small pigment dots that become brighter in spring and summer, and fade in autumn and winter. They can have a shade from gray to orange.
Port-wine stains or hemangiomas stand apart. In their case, it is no longer a matter of melanin, but of the expansion and proliferation of blood vessels in a certain area of the body. Hence the specific color of such spots - from red to purple. May be native or acquired.
Relationship between brown spots on the skin and gender and age
Often the first brown spot appears on the hand after 50 years. What is the reason for this phenomenon? This is senile or age-related lentigo. It develops as a result of the loss of the cells' ability to control the production of melanin. Disruption in the process is caused by hormonal changes in the body.
Problems are caused not only by age, but also by gender. Women are more susceptible to the appearance of a cosmetic defect, since hormonal disruption in their body occurs during menopause, pregnancy, and also when taking birth control pills. The pigment attack stops, all its manifestations disappear when the hormone balance is established.
Medical statistics claim that over the past 10 years, more and more people are turning to dermatologists for help to solve cosmetic problems.
During pregnancy, pigmentation begins to manifest itself in the early stages. Numerous lesions affect the wrist, little finger, face and other parts of the body (leg, abdomen, chest). They have an oval or round irregular shape. Their palette ranges from light brown to dark yellow or brown. Often the problem disappears after childbirth, but it happens that the last spot disappears only after a year or several years.
We recommend reading
- Pigmentation on the body: why it appears, types, treatment
- How to get rid of pigmentation on the back
- How to get rid of pigmentation on different parts of the legs
Why do pigment spots appear on the hands?
There are many factors that influence the appearance of age spots on the hands.
Some of them are difficult (or almost impossible) to influence naturally, without medical intervention. For example, if this is a genetic predisposition or the result of diseases of internal organs: liver, adrenal glands, bile ducts, genitals.
But most often we can fight pigment spots on our hands on our own. This applies to cases where they arose for the following reasons.
- Ultraviolet.
As already mentioned, our body actively releases melanin when it needs to protect itself from the aggressive effects of the sun. This is how a tan appears, that is, an increased content of pigment in the epidermis. But with the accumulation of photodamage, the color becomes uneven and spotty.And the hands are the most unprotected part of the body. We protect our face with creams with SPF and hats. What do you do for your hands before every time you go outside?
- Changes in hormonal levels.
Melanin production is associated with the activity of the sex hormones progesterone and estrogen. Therefore, any hormonal imbalance is a risk of increased accumulation of pigment in the skin. This applies to periods of pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, taking hormonal medications and contraceptives. - Stress.
The nervous and hormonal systems are closely related to each other. If the health of the nervous system is disrupted, it will ricochet through the hormonal system. And then read point 2. - Skin inflammation and injury.
This is the cause of the development of so-called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This problem is often encountered by “victims” of aggressive cosmetic procedures: laser resurfacing, injections, chemical peels, etc. The skin reacts to injury by releasing melanin and becoming mottled. This, of course, applies more to the face. But hands are also exposed to dangerous cosmetic effects, which means they run the risk of becoming stained. - Hypovitaminosis.
The appearance of age spots may be associated with a lack of vitamins A, C, E, B12, PP, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and selenium. - Hypothermia.
Injury to the hands from cold can subsequently cause white spots. - Poor microcirculation.
When skin cells do not receive enough nutrients and oxygen, melanin can accumulate in its layers.
Prevention of age spots
It is easier to prevent any trouble than to deal with it later. You can avoid skin pigmentation by organizing proper nutrition and following skin care rules. Among the measures to prevent pigmentation of the skin of the face and body:
- ensuring sufficient intake of vitamin C and nicotinic acid (vitamin PP) into the body with foods and in the form of preparations - daily dose of 1.0-1.5 g and 0.03 g, respectively;
- the use of folk remedies to preserve the whiteness of the skin - milk or whey, wiping the facial skin with lemon and parsley juice (in a 1:1 portion) before applying a nourishing cream, etc.;
- sunscreen cosmetics for the face with a high protection factor against UV rays (the labels indicate the SPF sign with a number from 4 to 60; multiplying this number by 15 calculates the time in minutes during which the skin will be protected);
- sunscreen for hands, which should be used after each washing of the limbs, as well as various whitening and exfoliating agents that allow you to soften dull or dry skin of the hands and retexturize it.
This article is posted for educational purposes only and does not constitute scientific material or professional medical advice.
Causes of age spots on the hands after 40, 50, 60 years
Women after 40, 50, 60 years old often develop pigment spots on their hands - the so-called age-related lentigines. But their real reason is not the number of years you have lived, but the number of photodamages that you have accumulated throughout your life.
After all, the sun leaves a mark on your skin every day, every minute during daylight hours, starting from your infancy. And this ultimately affects the work of melanocytes and the accumulation of melanin.
In 9 out of 10 cases, the main cause of age spots on the hands is ultraviolet radiation. And the older you are, the higher the likelihood of this problem occurring.
Plus, menopause and hormonal fluctuations also make themselves felt.
Another extreme option is possible - frostbite on the hands. Because of it, pigmentation may decrease over time, which will manifest itself in the formation of white spots.
What is it and the reasons for its appearance
The mechanism of formation of age spots on the hands has been well studied by dermatologists. Human skin contains special cells called melanocytes. They produce melanin, a brown pigment. If melanocytes are highly active, a person is born dark-skinned. A child with inactive cells has white skin and is susceptible to burns from prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Pigmentation on the hands is a consequence of malfunctioning melanocytes. Cells are sensitive to negative factors and respond by the appearance of areas with changed color. Factors can be specific, general or medical.
Causes of brown spots on hands:
- problems in the functioning of the digestive system;
- lack of vitamins in the body;
- thyroid diseases and disruptions in the endocrine system. Such violations can provoke the appearance of brown spots on the fingers;
- inflammatory processes;
- changes in hormone levels;
- allergies and individual reactions to external irritants;
- age-related changes;
- burn or other injury;
- diseases of internal organs (spleen, liver, kidneys or other organ). Most often the liver causes problems. If treated and maintained, the skin can clear up without the use of special products and methods.
It is a common belief that spots can only appear on the outer part of the wrist, but this is not true. For some people, dark areas cover the palm.
If you find brown spots on the skin of your hands, do not panic. But their appearance is a reason to visit a doctor to identify the cause. Start your examination with a dermatologist. If the provoking factor is not one of the dermatological ones, the doctor will refer you to an oncologist, endocrinologist and other specialists.
If a mole, freckle or dark area begins to grow, itch, peel, change color to black, or swell, you should urgently visit an oncologist. There is a high risk of developing one of the most serious cancers - melanoma. A thorough diagnosis with tumor markers is necessary.
How to quickly get rid of age spots
If you are the owner of age spots on your hands, then you probably already know about peelings, laser, ultrasound, infrared rays and other cosmetic procedures that promise a quick solution to the problem.
But are they really that good?
First of all, it's not all that fast. For example, after the first laser procedure, spots may only fade, but for them to completely disappear you need to complete a course. As a rule, 3-10 procedures are required with breaks between sessions of 3-4 weeks. That is, wait six months or a year and give back 20-30 thousand.
Secondly (and this is the main thing), all these methods do not eliminate the problem and do not guarantee that the stains will disappear forever. Their effect is temporary, until the sun hits the skin for the first time.
But the procedures have a lot of pitfalls. Let’s take, for example, the most popular option – laser stain removal. What to expect from him?
Treatment of age spots
To remove age spots on the face:
- whitening creams;
- chemical peeling;
- ultrasonic peeling;
- laser facial resurfacing;
- phototherapy.
Whitening creams should be used under the supervision of a cosmetologist. You cannot immediately begin skin treatment with the use of potent creams, since there is a risk of getting the opposite effect - the skin will become even darker. Self-medication can also in some cases lead to dermatitis. Creams containing mercury can only be used after a preliminary test. You need to rub a small amount of cream onto the elbow bend and examine this place in about a day. But even if the testing was successful, you still cannot use such creams all the time, because... mercury is a toxic element.
Creams containing mercury should not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as if you have kidney, liver or gum diseases. They should not be applied to damp or hot skin to avoid irritation.
Cosmetologists advise using whitening ointments based on fatty creams that do not contain water, which facilitates the penetration of toxic substances into the body. When using whitening ointments, for the first two weeks it is recommended to use sour milk and lotions to cleanse the skin, since washing with water can enhance the effect of the ointments and cause irritation.
Therapeutic cosmetics are an alternative to creams containing mercury. It contains lactic or citric acid, perhydrol, hydrogen peroxide or salicylic alcohol. The disadvantage of such cosmetics is their short shelf life.
Chemical peeling has become very popular in recent years; the procedure is offered in many beauty salons and aesthetic medicine centers. Peeling helps get rid of various skin blemishes, including dark spots on the face and body. During the procedure, the top layers of skin are removed using a weak solution of acid (glycolic, trichloroacetic or fruit). Essentially, a chemical peel is a superficial burn of the skin, the depth of which depends on the type and concentration of acid used.
The deepest peeling is carried out with phenol, but it is rarely used due to the high risk of scarring on the skin. To eliminate age spots, a medium or weak peeling is usually sufficient, which is selected individually by a dermatocosmetologist. Superficial peeling is carried out in courses of 4-10 sessions, between which there should be an interval of 10-15 days. A more powerful technique is medium peeling, which is carried out using trichloroacetic acid in 1 session or 2-3 sessions with an interval of 1-2 months between them.
The method is relatively inexpensive and virtually painless, with only a slight burning sensation. Redness and swelling of the skin disappears the next day. After the procedure, it is necessary to monitor your face and protect it from exposure to sunlight, under the influence of which the spots may return.
Laser resurfacing can also restore a uniform color to the skin. The laser helps to discolor pigment spots, renew the skin and improve its tone. Modern erbium lasers are used, which make it possible to significantly reduce the depth of thermal damage and shorten the period of postoperative recovery, compared to carbon dioxide methods, by almost 4 times. The disadvantage of the procedure is its high cost.
Ultrasonic peeling involves the introduction of various cosmetics into the previously cleansed epidermis using ultrasound. The usual course of treatment for age spots on the face is 10 sessions once a year.
Phototherapy, reflecting the famous expression “knocks out the fire,” uses intense pulses of light to treat sun spots. Laser radiation is used, the wavelength of which is selected in such a way that it affects only the skin pigment. During the procedure, a slight tingling sensation is possible; slight redness disappears in 1-2 days. After phototherapy, pigment spots disappear or become significantly lighter. 2-3 procedures are carried out with a break of 3-4 weeks. To avoid the reappearance of spots, you should protect your face from sunlight and use sunscreen with a filter of at least 30.
Treatment of age spots with folk remedies
Folk remedies can be used to lighten age spots:
- A whitening mixture made up of 3 drops of rosemary oil, ½ spoon of vinegar, ½ spoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of horseradish. Apply 1-2 times a day to pigmented areas of the skin with a cotton swab. People with sensitive skin should use the mixture carefully.
- Papaya, the juice of which contains enzymes that can fade age spots. May cause allergic reactions in some people.
- Lotions of apple cider vinegar and onion juice - the mixture is prepared in a 2:1 ratio.
- Rubbing the pigmented areas with fresh cucumber, old kefir, hydrogen peroxide or sour milk are mild remedies, the effect of which becomes noticeable after a few weeks.
If the use of bleaching agents does not help, this means that increased pigmentation may be caused by diseases of the internal organs. Sometimes age spots can indicate the development of skin cancer. If increased pigmentation appears on the body or changes in the appearance of moles, or unpleasant sensations appear in their area, you should consult a doctor.
Laser removal procedure for age spots on hands
The laser is said to destroy melanin and activate skin restoration. As a result, tissues with excess pigment are literally replaced by tissues with normal pigment content.
At the same time, the rhetoric with which cosmetologists present the procedure puts people in a peaceful mood. Allegedly, “the laser is safe”, “the pigment absorbs the light flux and heats up”, “it has a targeted effect only on melanin”, “microthermal treatment zones are created”, etc. Listen to dermatologists, this is just a “thermal resort” for the skin!
But what's really going on? The skin is attacked with a hot ray, burned, and evaporated. The damaged area may be subject to a fragmented effect (fractional thermolysis), or perhaps a total effect (laser resurfacing), but in any case, not only melanin is affected.
The skin is deliberately damaged so that a crust forms, which then falls off and the integument becomes white. Therefore, redness and peeling are inevitable. Scar deformities also develop.
And what was this traumatic procedure with a long rehabilitation period for? So that when you go out into the sun for the first time, your hands become stained again? The reasons for the formation of hyperpigmentation have not been eliminated; the spots have only been “cleaned off” for a while (very short).
The skin has not become younger. On the contrary, the preconditions were only created for its accelerated decline. Acquired scars did not add life to the cells and intercellular matrix, but only interfered with the nutrition of the tissues. And what will the lack of nutrition lead to? Back to the accumulation of melanin.
Therefore, laser is not a solution.
Symptoms of age spots
The main symptoms of age spots:
- formation on the skin of flat colored zones of light brown, gray, reddish, black colors;
- the spots usually take on an oval shape;
- spots that are located in places that are most exposed to sunlight (on the forehead, arms, shoulders, back, forearms, etc.);
- As a rule, age spots are located in groups;
- skin aging;
- dryness of the epidermis;
- deep wrinkles, creases;
- roughening of the skin.
Pigment spots should be distinguished from, for example, flat moles, warts, and lentigo maligna.
If you experience similar symptoms, consult your doctor
. It is easier to prevent a disease than to deal with the consequences.
Should I use cosmetics?
Yes, cosmetics are needed, but alone they cannot effectively cope with the problem. Read about the main way to combat age spots on the hands - self-massage - in the next chapter.
In the meantime, we’ll tell you what cosmetic care we supplement it with.
There are two main tips.
- Apply sunscreen to your hands.
Have you already mastered the healthy habit of applying SPF cream to your face all year round (after all, the winter sun is also harmful)? Now complement the procedure by treating your hands. Do this whenever you go outside without gloves. No matter what is outside the window: heat, rain, wind or snowstorm.Use your favorite sunscreen on your face or body. Beauty365 facial moisturizers, rich in plant ingredients, provide good protection. You can choose the option with SPF15 or SPF25. Look for them at www.beauty365.ru.
- Use anti-pigment cosmetics.
You are unlikely to find whitening cosmetics specifically for hands. Yes, she is not needed. Any face or body product with an anti-pigment effect will do. Creams, serums, oils.Cosmetics should contain high doses of antioxidants to enhance the skin's natural antioxidant defenses.
We advise you to choose organic products rich in vitamins and acids. A great option is Beauty365 camellia sasanqua oil. This universal anti-aging product, among other things, whitens age spots and fights the appearance of freckles during the season.
Any disease is easier to prevent than to treat. This also applies to pigmentation. Therefore, take preventative measures to avoid cosmetic defects.
Cosmetologists advise: in the summer, when the sun is in its active phase, stay more in the shade, wear light clothes, lubricate the skin with creams with a high level of sun protection. Wear sunglasses and hats, and if pigmentation does appear, get a blood test and get a liver test.
In general, there are several ways to combat age spots. This includes proper nutrition, procedures in beauty salons, folk recipes and specialized remedies for age spots on the hands.
Proper nutrition
A proper diet is the basis for treating pigmentation. A balanced diet saturates the body with vitamins and useful minerals. The diet should contain more fruits, vegetables, lean meat, fish, and dairy products.
Avoid fried and fatty foods, which strain the liver. The health, color, and tone of the skin completely depend on the proper functioning of the liver.
Procedures in beauty salons
Noticed hyperpigmentation on your hands? Make an appointment at a beauty salon with a qualified cosmetologist. Several types of procedures are performed here to get rid of skin defects. This:
- Dermabrasion is superficial resurfacing of pigmented areas. These are removed, revealing healthy layers of skin. The epidermis is renewed, becomes smooth, beautiful, and light. The result will be noticeable after 2-3 sessions.
- Chemical peeling is the removal of stains using chemical compounds. The final result will become noticeable a week later, after the skin is cleansed and renewed.
- Cryotherapy is the effect of liquid nitrogen on pigmentation. The tissue freezes, dies and is rejected. The spots disappear along with them.
- Laser removal – destruction of melanin by laser beams. The radiation affects the affected areas and does not affect surrounding tissues. Before the session, a colorless gel is applied to the skin to ensure close contact with the emitter. The number of sessions depends on the severity of the defect. If the pigmentation is in the deep layers and the spots are large, several manipulations will be needed. After each session, you need a break for a month to allow the skin to rest.
Salon methods show good results and allow you to get rid of age spots on your hands in a short period of time. The result will last for a long time, but provided that you stop exposure to the factors that caused the problem.
Cosmetical tools
There is a large selection of remedies for age spots on the hands. Some of them have a pronounced effect, others are less effective. Below are the most popular anti-pigmentation creams that have earned the best consumer reviews:
- SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF Gel. Contains phloretin, ferulic acid, vitamin C. The components of the drug reduce cell damage caused by ultraviolet radiation, activate collagen production, increase skin elasticity and tone.
- Serum Kiehl's, Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution. Helps remove hyperpigmentation caused by photodamage or other factors. Contains vitamin C, peony and birch extract. Evens out skin tone and makes it radiant. Good prevention against hyperpigmentation in the future.
- Cream Garnier Ambre Solaire “Expert Protection”, SPF 50. Contains vitamin E. High sun protection factor. The cream prevents photoaging and hyperpigmentation.
- Hand cream that eliminates pigmentation on hands, South Beach Skin Solutions (USA). A very effective remedy for pigmentation. Complete skin lightening in just 10 days, with a 100% guarantee of effect. The result is noticeable after the first use. The spots become lighter with each procedure, and then disappear completely. It brightens not only the hands, but also other areas of the body. Effectively copes even with freckles. Contains natural ingredients and is therefore safe for health. Not only brightens the skin, but also makes it more elastic, youthful, and radiant.
In general, the effect of masks and creams for whitening age spots is based on the ability of the components included in the preparations to destroy melanin. Interestingly, the main component that destroys pigment is hydroquinone. But hydroquinone is a carcinogen and is not suitable for everyone. Therefore, you need to be extremely careful when choosing funds. By the way, the last cream from our rating, South Beach Skin Solutions (USA), does not contain hydroquinone! It qualitatively brightens due to other components: zinc oxide, glycerin, emulsifying wax and plant components with a whitening effect.
Please note that medications may even contain mercury. It is cheap and is often added to cosmetic products for whitening. So be careful.
Cosmetologists advise choosing masks and creams with plant extracts and natural ingredients. They are safe and effective in treating age spots on the hands of any severity.
Folk recipes
If you can’t afford a hand cream that gets rid of pigmentation on your hands, as well as expensive procedures in beauty salons, you can try folk remedies. Help to whiten hyperpigmentation:
- lemon juice;
- fresh cucumber;
- White clay;
- kefir.
There are many recipes using the listed ingredients to help lighten hyperpigmentation. You need to do the procedures regularly, then the effect will be noticeable.
Recipes for removing age spots:
- Take ½ teaspoon each of clay, baking soda, talcum powder. Mix the ingredients, add 3% hydrogen peroxide. The mixture should resemble thick sour cream in consistency. Apply the composition, leave for 5-10 minutes, rinse.
- Dilute hydrogen peroxide 3% in a 1 to 1 ratio with water. Moisten the skin with a cotton swab. Repeat the procedure once a week.
- Sauerkraut juice and white clay should be mixed and applied for 15 minutes. Then wash off.
- Mix 25 drops of peroxide, 25 drops of ammonia with two tbsp. l. sour cream. Lubricate the stains with the mixture, wrap with plastic wrap and a towel on top. Leave on for 25 minutes, then rinse off.
- Take one part vinegar 9%, one part vodka and half part peroxide. Mix the ingredients, add the juice of one lemon. Pour the resulting lotion into a dark glass container. Use twice daily. Apply for 10 minutes, then rinse and apply moisturizer.
You need to take care of your skin regularly. You must not neglect pigmentation, otherwise it will be difficult to remove stains.
Folk recipes
Pharmaceutical and cosmetic products are multi-component, so one person may react normally to them, while another will have an allergic reaction. Be sure to conduct a sensitivity test before applying a specific drug. It's simple: apply the cream to the inside of your wrist, wait 20 minutes. If there is no rash or redness, the product can be used.
After using whitening creams, you need to stay at home for 1-2 hours, since cleansing the skin causes a reaction to ultraviolet radiation, and exposure to sunlight can cause a burn. If the cream does not contain sun protection, supplement your care with SPF.
Cosmetics or procedures in salons are used only after consultation with a doctor - remember this. The dermatologist will give recommendations on products and cosmetic procedures that are suitable for you, and determine the cause of hyperpigmentation. And don’t forget that the disease is easier to prevent, so don’t neglect prevention.