7 Tips for Fixing Dry, Rough Hands That Look Old and Wrinkled

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Fix dry hands and look younger

Do your hands look old? Do you see noticeable wrinkles? Afraid to show them in public? If so, you wouldn’t be alone. One of the easiest ways to tell someone’s age is by looking at their hands.

And can we be honest – it kind of matters.

That’s because dry, wrinkled and cracked hands take away from your appearance. If you believe the research, that means others (straight and gay) make judgements based on looks. That may suck but it’s the reality we live in.

At any rate, when you search around the web, you’ll find a lot of information on preventing wrinkled hands. Some of what’s out there is great but most tips miss the mark because they don’t speak to the unique skin differences between men and women.

Let me explain:

Men have denser, thicker skin than our female counterparts. That means our hands age differently. How so? Essentially, men tend to develop deeper cracks and more pronounced wrinkles.

The good news is you can erase some of these unsightly eye sores and prevent them from forming in the first place. And you don’t have to spend a wad of money to do it!

What follows are 7 tips for fixing (and preventing) old, dry looking hands for men that might surprise you.

Let’s jump right in!

7 anti aging foods — 7 tips to rid dry, old looking hands

1. Exfoliate

One of the best ways to fix wrinkly hands and stop cracks from forming in the first place is to exfoliate. Doing this will get rid of that “scaly” look while also promoting new skin growth.

Here’s how you do it:

Grab a large bowel and fill it with warm water. Not too hot as this can cause damage.
Take one tablespoon of baking powder and stir it into the water.
Have a quarter cup of sugar in a separate, free standing bowel.
Grab a pre-packaged lemon juice bottle. You can get these from most grocery stores. I personally use regular store brand.
Get a quart of milk (whole is preferred).
An empty bowel for the milk.

Soak each hand in the baking soda water for 10 minutes to soften up the skin. When you’re done, sprinkle some sugar atop one of your hands. Then, squirt a little lemon-juice on top of the sugar (just a few drops).

With your fingers, gently rub the sugar mixture in a circular motion on the front of your hand. This will slough off the dead cells and promote collagen growth. Spend a good 3-5 minutes doing this for each hand.

Once both hands are complete, rinse them under cool water.

Finally, pour the milk into the empty bowel. Let each hand soak for at least 5 minutes. The fatty lipids from that milk will help to fill in lines. Also, milk proteins and enzymes will promote new skin growth.

FYI: That lemon juice I mentioned before? It’s clinically known to remove dark spots. That’s why I recommended it!

2. Moisturizing Gloves

When you are done with step number one above, you’ll want to put on a pair of specialized moisturizing gloves. Yes, you can get away with cheap mittens and some over the counter lotion but you won’t get nearly the same result.

There are tons of moisturizing gloves on the market. Most of them are overpriced and don’t do what they promise. I can only speak for myself but I’ve had very good luck with gel moisturizing gloves. You can get these in some stores like Sephora or see what’s available on Amazon.

The reason I like “the gels” is because the gloves are lined with moisturizers. Look for something mineral or aloe based, if possible.

If you get a moisturizing glove, I’d recommend putting them on for at least 20-30 minutes. Some people wear them overnight but whenever I’ve tried it, my paws sweat like crazy!

3. Watermelon Slices

Once you’ve complete the two steps above, you can use water melon two or three times a week as part of maintenance. This tip is very easy.

Simply buy a half a watermelon and cut up a few slices. Then, place a slice over the top of your hand. Leave it there for 5-7 minutes.

When you’re done, wash your hand under cold water.

FYI: The watermelon acts as a natural hyaluronic, meaning that the liquid from the melon osmotically goes into your skin and provides moisture. Sure, you could buy expensive creams with faux versions of this. But why not go natural?

4. Olive Oil

If you live in a cold, dry climate, it’s important to conduct regular preventative maintenance on your hands. As a general rule, the colder the air, the less humidity. In practical terms, this means your hands are more likely to get zapped of moisture.

That’s why at least twice a week, you need to be using a teaspoon of olive oil on the top of your hands, knuckles and fingers.

Using a circular motion, massage in the oil and make sure you hit all of the tiny lines. Leave this on for an hour. When you are done, take a shower or simply rinse under cold water.

This leads us to our next point – hand drying.

5. Pat Dry Hands

One of the worst things you can do to your hands is wipe them dry. The reason being is simple – you are stripping all of the collagen out and removing wrinkle preventing proteins.

To avoid this, pat dry your hands instead. What I usually do is use a towel and mop up the excess water. This leaves the collagen layer intact and doesn’t traumatize the skin.

FYI: If you are in a public restroom and they offer a hand dryer, it’s OK to use this. Use a gentle rubbing motion while you have your hands under the air.

6. Warm Air Humidifier

Another great way to prevent wrinkles on your hands and other parts of your skin is to use a warm mist humidifier in winter, particularly in winter.

Here’s why: Warm mist humidifiers literally heat up the water as it passes through the ionizer. You want this because the warmer the water, the better clings to your skin and infuses moisture.

I personally use the Bionaire Warm and Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier. It’s easy to operate and I like being able to use the warm mist function during winter and switch to cool during summer. Check Amazon for a great deal.

7. Proper Hand Moisturizer

There are more product recommendations for hand moisturizers on the Internet than you can imagine. Here’s the thing – most of these suggestions are targeted towards women.

As mentioned earlier in this article, men’s skin is thicker and denser. That’s why it’s critical to pick a product designed specifically for guys.

I can tell you from experience that one of the most effective hand lotions you can buy is AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream for Men. The reason this product rocks is because it contains which hazel extracts that target dryness and cracking.

I also like that the cream locks in moisture and has a masculine scent. Some department stores carry this as well as Amazon.

If you currently suffer from extremely dry, chapped hands, you may need to reach for a stronger product, like The Hand Stuff. This one is powerful and is particularly useful for guys who work with their hands outdoors.

I’d like to add here that if you are going to be exposed to the sun for an extended period of time, it’s important to protect your hands from ultraviolet light.

In winter time, you’re probably going to be wearing gloves. But in summer, you’ll need to apply a dab of lotion that contains SPF 30 or higher. We know from clinical studies that people who use creams containing SPFs dramatically reduce incidence of sunspots and other signs of aging.

If you are already using this type of product on your face, just take a few small amount and apply to the top of your hands before heading out.

If you’re not sure which SPF lotion to buy, CeraVe makes a great one that dermatologist recommended. Most drug stores carry this brand or you can buy online at Amazon. Check for pricing.

Wrapping Things Up

Hands have a way of telegraphing our true age to the world. While most men focus on other body parts, like the face, we often neglect other areas that are important.

Hopefully, the tips I’ve offered here will help you keep your hands looking young, supple and vibrant for as long as possible!