SkinFitnessFacts.com News

The hands don’t get enough credit. We put them through the ringer and then we rarely take the time to care for them — aside from the periodic manicure, of course. As a result, our hands show our age — maybe even more age than our faces.

So what’s the deal? How do we keep our hands looking younger and keep our skin fitness in good shape? Here are a few skin care tips for your hands:

• Sun block. Sun block. Sun block. I can’t say it enough. Just like you put sun block on your face every day, put sun block on your hands too.

• Wash your hands with a moisturizing hand wash followed by an intense hand lotion. Any lotion with shea butter and vitamin E should do the trick.

• Creams with retinol will help smooth out skin tone. I like RoC Retinol Correxion Hand Repair SPF 15. It contains SPF too!
  
• Talk to your esthetician or dermatologist about injectables. Obviously this is more invasive, but you will see results immediately.

• Since the skin in the hands has little collagen and there is not fat beneath the skin, you need to use a treatment that will plump up your hands and promote collagen growth. Try  Elemis ProCollagen Hand and Nail Cream.
  

Skin fitness is not just limited to your face. Care for all of your skin including the skin on your hands.

I came across some information about oxybenzone, an active ingredient in different varieties of sun block. While oxybenzone is deemed safe by the Skin Cancer Foundation, a few studies have shown that there may be a correlation with hormone disruption.

The body misinterprets the chemical to be a hormone. Its even possible that the body could think the chemical is estrogen, which is not good for melasma. Estrogen is one of the reasons why we have melasma in the first place.

So what does this mean for us melasma sufferers who are emphatic about wearing sun block and serious about keeping our estrogen levels down? Unfortunately, its not real clear.

But to me, it’s not worth taking any risks so I won’t be using sun block containing oxybenzone any time soon. Here are a few sun blocks that do not contain oxybenzone, including my favorite tried and true, DDF Organic Sun Protection.

Here’s one you hopefully haven’t heard before: Ichthyosis.

Ichthyosis is a rare genetic condition that affects the skin. Those that have it will notice areas of extremely dry, scaly skin. The skin can become very thick too.

Ichthyosis is not caused by a germ, virus, or bacteria so therefore it is not contagious, but those that suffer from it often feel embarrassment and concern just like those with eczema, psoriasis, and other noticeable skin conditions. Ichthyosis is normally diagnosed based on prevalence among family members and the amount of patchy, dry skin all over the body.

There is no cure only treatments for ichthyosis. While there are emollients and skin care treatments available over the counter and of the do-it-yourself fashion, it’s highly recommended you see a dermatologist to help come up with a treatment plan.

For more information visit the Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types. And for more skin facts, check back with Skin Fitness Facts every Thursday.