For your Hands only

You know that chemical peels, microdermabrasion and mesotherapy work wonders for your face. But are you aware that today the same treatments are being used to give your hands a rehab? Priti Salian tells you how your nearest skin clinic can help you maintain great looking hands "Damage on the hands could appear in the form of wrinkling, loss of elasticity, textural changes, hyper pigmentation, volume loss and prominent 'ropy' veins," says Dr Jamuna Pai, Cosmetic Physician and Founder, Blush Clinics. While a lot of these changes can be handled with regular care at home (check our article 'Youthful Handover'), some of them do need expert attention. Consult your dermatologist if you see signs of ageing before thirty. And if your hands are someone else's envy even at thirty, begin taking some of these treatments right away. They deserve to be pampered!

Treatments for prevention

"Chemical peels, microdermabrasion and mesotherapy are preventive treatments which you can start taking at 30," says Dr Sharad.

Chemical peels Collagen and elastin fibres begin to degenerate as we age and can be prevented with lactic acid and glycolic acid peels. Lactic acid, which is an alpha hydroxyl acid obtained from fermented milk helps maintain skin pH and moisturises the dry skin on the hands thoroughly. Both these peels also stimulate the formation of new collagen and remove the pigment on the upper layers of the skin easily. So as soon as you see the first dark spot on your hands, rush to a good skin clinic for one of these peels. One session every month could cost you Rs. 1000-1500 and ten sessions are recommended.

Microdermabrasion removes dead skin so that creams penetrate your skin well after that. Taking one session every three months helps. You'll need to pay about Rs. 1500 for a session.

Mesotherapy involves injections of vitamins, nutrients and some other products after anaesthetising the skin. Apart from giving a healthy look with a good amount of hydration, it also generates new collagen for a tighter skin. Four to five sessions costing Rs. 5000 each can work wonders.

Treatments for damaged hands If your hands are showing gross ageing signs and you are touching 40, these treatments could help you.

Laser Resurfacing restores the collagen and elastin in your hands. Half an hour sessions four to five times show great results. After treatment, you could experience some redness, swelling and tiny scabs which disappear in a day. Each session costs Rs. 5000-7000.

Ferulic Acid Peel which costs Rs 3000 per session stimulates new collagen formation and helps in tightening the skin. The Obagi Blue Peel costing Rs. 20,000 per session is also a good option to reduce pigmentation and fine lines.

Radiofrequency is a procedure where the deeper layer of skin is heated without damaging the skin surface to tighten and remodel the collagen. Cost- Rs. 2500-3000 per session.

Dermal fillers like Restylane and Juvederm when injected into the skin absorb the surrounding water and increase in volume, thus making the skin appear plumper. The procedure takes less than 20 minutes and the effect can last for one to two years, longer than it does on the face. Fewer muscles at the back of your hands means less muscular activity which can break down and dissolve the filler, thus making it last. Cost - Rs. 30,000 onwards.

"Fillers with a combination of skin tightening lasers can work wonders on the area," says Dr Pai. So don't throw up your hands in despair when you see fine lines, you know you can treat them now!

Source : I am not the author of this post. I have reproduced this article from Femina website, as I found the information very much useful. Read entire Disclaimer here.