How to reduce the appearance of dark spots on your hands
Our hands are often and overlooked body part that needs our care as much as our face does. In fact your hands may give away your age easier than your face, so preventative care is key. Over the years with sun exposure and other environmental factors dark spots can form on our hands, which can make them look less youthful and less even-toned. We’re giving you the 411 on why dark spots form and outlining a skin care routine that will help fade their appearance over time.
Why Do Dark Spots Form?
Sun exposure can lead to excess melanin production, which can result in brown spots forming on your face, hands, and neck. Another cause of dark spots is skin trauma which can form through picking at your skin, for example when you don’t let a scar heal and pull off the scab.
In your skin there is a substance called melanocyte which produces melanin. If melanocyte becomes overstimulated it can produce too much melanin. The sun is the number one cause of dark spots. The easiest way to avoid dark spots is by being diligent about wearing SPF and limiting sun exposure.
Your Dark Spot Skin Care Routine
With a few simple steps in your skin care routine you can help fade the appearance of dark spots over time.
Step #1: Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands throughout the day to remove dirt and bacteria. If you have dry skin use a product formulated with ceramides or gentle moisturizer to lock in moisture and ensure that your skin doesn’t dry out. Steer clear of antibacterial soaps as they are drying and can throw off your skin’s natural barrier function.
Step #2: Exfoliate
Use a gentle scrub to slough away dead skin cells on the surface of your hands — this will help fade the appearance of dark spots as new skin appears. Make sure you don’t irritate or damage your skin during this time, this should be like a gentle massage to awaken your skin, slough off dead cells. A super easy scrub to make that will have your hands feeling super soft and looking amazing is almond oil mixed with brown sugar. Mix them together and rub over your hands, then wash off with warm water to reveal super soft skin.
Step #3: Use A Dark Spot Corrector
Dark spot correctors aren’t just for your face — you can use them wherever dark spots appear on your body including your hands and your chest. A dark spot corrector formula packed with antioxidants such as Vitamin C or retinol is the perfect way to ensure cell turnover happens in the areas of your hands that have dark spots. They will help reduce the appearance of dark spots and they will gradually fade away.
Step #4: Moisturize
After applying the dark spot corrector make sure the product is fully dry then apply a hand cream of choice. Depending on how dry your skin is you can use something nourishing with emollients or use something light. Products formulated with shea butter are fantastic for dry hands and help get rid of dry, cracked skin. As always products formulated with antioxidants are great for your hands also. Look out for hand creams and lotions with formulas including green tea, reservatrol, vitamin E or retinol to help brighten, smooth and hydrate your skin.
Step #5: SPF
This is probably the most important step of the whole routine. As you probably know sun exposure is the number one cause of aging in skin and even if it looks like a cloudy day you will still be exposed to UVA and UVB rays. Go for something with at least SPF 15. If you’re fair-skinned we recommend at least SPF 30. Smooth SPF gently over your hands if you know you’re going to be spending time in the sun. You’ll help prevent dark spots from forming and sun damage, which will keep your hands from looking old prematurely.
