Your Hands Need Lipstick Too

Aging hands can be refreshed by fillers and laser treatments

(RxWiki News) A fountain of youth has been provided to many patients' faces with fillers. No longer do aging people have to watch idly by as their faces wrinkle and brows furrow.

Now, treatments for the face are making their way down to the hands. In a recent presentation at the American Academy of Dermatology's Summer Academy Meeting 2011 in New York, the newest treatment for aging hands was revealed.

"Ask your dermatologist about fillers and lasers to rejuvenate hands."

Dee Anna Glaser, M.D., F.A.A.D., dermatologist and director of cosmetic and laser surgery, vice-chairman and professor, department of dermatology at Saint Louis University in St Louis, Mo., observes that there is a great emphasis on the face in dermatology, but hands can show aging even more.

The doctor also reports that with aging, hands lose their firmness and volume. Tendons and veins are also quite prominent and texture changes in the skin create a crinkled appearance. The dreaded liver spots also begin to appear.

As more people become aware of how their hands can show their age, Dr. Glaser explains that dermatologists are using therapies that have long been established as successful in face rejuvenation. These filler and laser techniques were approved a long time ago for the face, but are an off-label use for hands.

Dr. Glaser recommends fillers: a nice therapy that can rebuild volume and add shape to the hand when a patient has thin, sunken skin. The filler gives the appearance of a lowered look for the raised tendons and veins. They also add volume to the back of the hand, lifting the skin and diminishing the appearance of the veins and tendons to provide a smoother, more youthful appearance.

Injecting fillers into the back of the hand is a procedure requiring no anesthetic, that takes around 20-30 minutes to complete. Dr. Glaser reports that some patients experience bruising, but injections give immediate results that can last for close to a year. The doctor also reminds that the best way to combat aging is prevention. A sunscreen with at least 30 SPF should be applied all over skin exposed to the sun, including the back of the hands.

Review Date: 
August 4, 2011