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www.thevillagenews.co.za
12 February 2020
Mon - Fri: 08h00 to 17h00 Sat: 08h00 to 13h00 Tel: 028 316 1532 | 028 316 4122 Hemel & Aarde Village, Hermanus, 7200
Let’s hand it to you this Valentine’s! By Lindi Prinsloo & Dr Michelle Emett, Refine Clinic Hermanus
Slowly, our elasticity declines as the tightly-knit network of fibres under the skin begins to loosen. The skin at the back of the hands becomes loose and begins to sag. The development of wrinkles or lines is also common. Collagen Induction Therapies: are the best option to tighten skin on the hands through various treatments like Fraxel or Dermapen (skin needling). These treatments stimulate the skin to produce more collagen and elastin, leading to long-term firming of the skin.
H
ave you ever heard the saying, “If you want to really know a woman’s age, look at her hands”? The hands are often amongst the first areas of the body that show off old age.
They are also highly visible in almost everything we do in daily life. One can hide a few extra kilograms with clever clothing and well-applied make-up can make you look years younger, but neglected hands will certainly give away your age. In fact, your hands should get as much attention as your facial care to help prevent the tell-tale signs of ageing. Hand ageing is characterised by a loss of tissue volume and elasticity of the skin, which can increase the visibility of tendons, veins, and bones on the back of the hand. Additionally, years of exposure to UV rays and other free radicals cause the skin on the hands to appear spotted, dull, wrinkled, and/ or crêpey. The good news is that there are many great ways to address hand ageing. The following hand rejuvenation treatment options are grouped according to the specific ageing symptom they address:
Sun damage / Dullness / Roughness The tone and texture of the hands can degrade after years of accumulated exposure to the various elements like radiation from the sun, cold winter temperatures, or pollution. Most individuals will start to notice the accumulation of sunspots and sun damage as early as their late 30s. The skin along the back of the hands can also appear dull and be rough to the touch. Fraxel: is a non-invasive laser treatment that causes sloughing of the outermost layers of the skin to improve both skin texture and tone. The procedure can also minimise the appearance of sunspots on the skin.
Chemical Hand Peel: is a great way to lighten sunspots and refresh the skin. Peels are topically applied formulas that revitalize the skin surface by creating an even and controlled shedding of the skin cells. This allows new layers to be exposed, creating a fresh appearance and smoother texture to the skin surface. IPL: uses precise amounts of visible light to effectively treat pigmentation and sun damage. Loose skin / Wrinkles Over time the skin on the hands (and all other areas of the body) experiences a decrease in the production of collagen and elastin, two proteins that help the skin stay plump and firm.
Bony hands and Protruding veins Normal ageing causes the fat and other tissue below the skin to deplete. This volume loss results in skeletal-looking hands as the bones and tendons of the hand become more prominent. The only way to correct volume loss is to replace it. The normal ageing process results in both the loss of camouflaging tissue and the darkening of veins. This results in another common characteristic of ‘granny hands’: the appearance of unsightly spider veins. Dermal Fillers: Dermal fillers can instantly replace volume, masking tendons and bones on the back of the hands. These fillers have been approved by the FDA for effectively and safely restoring lost volume to the hands. The procedure is relatively painless, requires no downtime, and
results last for up to one year. Dry, crêpey skin The skin on our hands is thinner, constantly exposed to the weather, water, soap and all sorts of chemicals that could result in dehydration and visible signs of ageing. Our ‘magic’ Skinboosting Machine will hydrate and plump up the skin, with immediately visible effect. Results will improve even more over the next few months as the skin’s collagen production increases. The use of a very fine filler will give you a smooth, hydrated finish. What do we recommend? Any facial treatment you are using to improve the signs of ageing, whether it is a chemical peel, IPL, laser or needling, should be used for your hands as well. Ask your therapist to extend your treatment to include your hands – and at a much-reduced price if it’s done in the same treatment! As Valentine’s Day approaches, we at Refine would like to ‘hand you’ a Hand Rejuvenation Workshop on 20 February. Make a booking for a hand rejuvenating filler from R3 000 and receive a Neostrata to the value of R650 absolutely free. Booking is essential as limited space is available. Call Refine to secure your place and spoil your hands this Valentine’s month!
