TOHands up, it must be said, who remembers to apply sunscreen even on their hands in summer. Probably a few. Yet, the extremities are one of the most “forgotten” body areas, like the ears and feet, and left to the damage of photoexposure. However, the small gesture of applying a hand cream with SPF is enough prevent blemishes and signs of aging.
Hands, why not forget the solar
Not only in winter, but also in summer. If in the cold months the main enemy of the skin is the dryness caused by low temperatures, in the heat, it is an inadequately protected exposure.
Applying a hand cream with SPF may seem like an obvious gesture, yet it isn’t. According to a study by Skin Cancer Foundation, hands, feet and ears are among the most often overlooked areas when you apply sunscreen, simply because you forget to include them in your routine.
Nevertheless, these are particularly exposed and vulnerable areas: the hands, above all, they are among the first to show signs of aging and blemishes, while feet and ears have thinner and more sensitive skin, easily subject to sun damage.
They are always exposed
Daily exposure to the sun, even while commuting to the office, playing sports or while riding a scooter, can, over time, cause visible damage to the extremities.
The consequences are not limited to the appearance of sunspotswhich are added to the senile ones, but also involve the very structure of the skin of the hands. Constant exposure to UV rays actually contributes to progressively thin the epidermis: subcutaneous adipose tissue decreases and, as time progresses, collagen and elasticity are also reduced.
The result, on an aesthetic level, is a progressive change in the hands, which appear thinner and thinner, with more evident blood vessels.
Sunspots appearing on the hands
Also called solar lentigo, sunspots appear in areas of the body more exposed to UV rays, such as the face, shoulders, arms and hands.
It’s about the result of a natural defense mechanism of the skin: exposure to ultraviolet rays stimulates irregular production of melanin. When UV rays penetrate the dermis, they activate melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentationwhich begin to produce melanin unevenly.
This localized excess of pigment gives rise to typical dark spots, brown or black in color, visible on the surface of the skin.
It is important to point out that the sunspots are not in themselves dangerous to health, but they represent a visible sign of exposure to UV rays that is not always adequately protected and an invitation to introduce preventive measures into daily skincare.
How to prevent sunspots on hands
Given that the prevention of sun spots should begin around the age of 20, extremity care is a fundamental step in daily skincare. As with the rest of the bodyeven your hands require adequate sun protection.
Because of this, the new hand creams with SPF, generally SPF 15 or SPF 20 for urban use, they become allies on a daily basis. On the beach, instead, it is advisable to opt for SPF 50 protection also on this often neglected area: practical sticks are ideal for delicate areas of the body. Fast, practical, impalpable.
Is it possible to also use classic body sunscreens on the hands? Yes, without contraindications. However, specific formulations are designed to deliver a more targeted action: they help slow down the formation of blemishes, keep the skin soft and hydrated and are designed for frequent application, every time you wash your hands.