Hands are a window to aging. Want to see how old someone really is? Look at their eyes and hands. (Yes, hands. I learned that trick from a bouncer at a bar.) Hands though are forgotten. Do you put sunscreen on them? All your lotions and potions? You should.
I do fat grafting to the hands, and it really rejuvenates them. As you age the skin quality worsens, you get skin pigmentation, and you lose volume so you can see the veins and tendons more. Fat transfer helps add volume to the back of the hand, and the stem cells in the fat improve the actual skin quality.
But what can you do short of surgery?
This was a study in our Plastic and reconstructive Surgery Journal from November 2024, “A Comparative Study of Two Topical Treatments for Photoaging of the Hands.” In this study, they compared Vitamin C (Topical L- ascorbic acid) and Human Platelet Extract. HPE is leukocyte depleted allo genetic product from pooled platelets. Platelet derived growth factors and plasma are used in some other aesthetic treatments with variable successes.
Study:
- 15% Vitamin C + E topical vs HPE
- Used 2 x /daily
- Evaluated at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 26 weeks.
- FINDINGS: Both improved the skin. “Both topical serums yield similar or superior results versus invasive procedures like intense pulsed light in reducing brown spots on the hands.” Skin improvements lasted through 6 months
My thoughts?
I appreciated that they did the study to see if the HPE was superior to Vitamin C and it was not. I also like that the topical did better than more invasive procedures.
We carry a Vitamin C + E product in our office. We are fans. It is a strong antioxidant, which helps with skin texture and pigmentation. PRODUCTS