Dry, damaged skin? Expert advice on the ultimate hand car routine 

They say you can tell someone’s age by their hands. You can moisturise religiously, wear SPF and sleep on silk pillowcases, but if your hands are sun-spotted, dry or creased, they’ll slowly reveal what the rest of your skincare is trying to hide.

“The skin on the hands is thinner and is affected by ageing in the same way as the face,” says Margaret Dabbs OBE, founder of Margaret Dabbs London. “Oil glands that help to maintain elasticity elsewhere in the body are missing from the skin of the hands, accelerating the signs of ageing.

“Daily exposure to UV and environmental damage also breaks down collagen over time, and frequent hand washing with poor-quality hand wash increases dehydration,” she explains.

It’s a double hit: thinner skin and fewer defences. This means your hands can often look decades older than your face if left unchecked. So, here’s how to repair those signs of damage.

Hand care has gone high-tech

For years, hand cream was something you kept in the car or next to the kitchen sink – a last-minute rescue for dryness. But as the rest of our routines have become more sophisticated, so too has hand care.

To treat the signs of ageing on the hands, “a combination of targeted skincare and advanced technology delivers the best results,” says Dabbs.

“LED light therapy is particularly effective. Red light helps stimulate collagen and reduce inflammation, while near-infrared light works deeper into the dermis to improve elasticity and firm the skin. With consistent use, skin texture becomes smoother and tone more even.”

Still, technology can only go so far without the right topical care.

According to Dr Mazin Al-Khafaji, dermatologist and founder of Dermatology M, the formula matters as much as frequency.

“Look for humectants like glycerine and hyaluronic acid, emollients such as shea butter or cocoa butter, and antioxidants including vitamin E, lily bulb extract and rose extract,” he says, “these all help even tone and strengthen the barrier.” He also highlights an ingredient called bakuchiol – a gentler, plant-based alternative to retinol, which is better suited to mature or sensitive skin.

The ultimate hand care routine

A good hand routine isn’t about one miracle product, but building habits.

Dabbs recommends approaching it the same way you would facial skincare: cleanse, treat, hydrate and protect. “Daily use of a good-quality, hydrating hand wash and repair cream will help to minimise moisture loss through the skin of the hands, enhance skin firmness, improve elasticity and boost collagen production,” she says.

Al-Khafaji also says that consistency trumps luxury. “Wear gloves for washing and cleaning, and apply hand cream immediately after hand-washing and before bed,” he says, in order to avoid the skin getting too dry. Use SPF daily on the backs of hands and protect from the cold and wind by wearing gloves in winter,” he explains. “These small, consistent steps maintain the skin barrier, hydration and even tone better than any occasional treatment.”