8 Secrets for Younger Looking Hands

If you're like most women, you tend to scrutinize your face in the mirror for telltale signs of the passing years and plot ways to erase the evidence. But what about your hands? They, too, can give away your age – or (gasp!) make you look older than you are.

Here are eight simple strategies that can help you look more youthful, hands down!

Wear Gloves Be faithful about pulling on gloves as protection whenever you're about to expose your hands to a potential source of damage. Rubber gloves are essential whether you're rinsing dishes for the dishwasher, cleaning the house, coloring your hair, bathing the dog, or wiping down the lawn furniture. Beyond that, be sure to wear warm gloves in cold weather, gardening gloves when you dig in the dirt, and driving gloves every time you get behind the wheel. Your car's windows create a "greenhouse effect" that makes the sun's rays especially good at giving you age spots!

Use Sunscreen Dermatologists recommend that you apply a product that's SPF 15 or higher every day, rain or shine. Even when the skies are overcast, the sun is lurking behind those clouds and penetrating them very effectively. Your hands will thank you if you ward off the UV perpetrators that can wreak havoc with your skin.

Use Mild Soaps and Shampoos Anti-bacterial soft soap is fine for keeping your hands clean but beware of bar soap with harsh chemicals. Also, steer clear of shampoos containing sulfate. It's drying not only for your hands but also for your scalp and hair. Tip: Shampoos for color-treated hair tend to be the most gentle so if you do color your hair, choose one of those and you can kill the proverbial two birds with one stone!

Moisturize for Maximun Softness Treat your hands to lotion after your shower and slather on some more after you've worked out at the gym or gone swimming. Tip: Why not keep pretty bottles of lotion beside the bathroom and kitchen sinks? Also, about once a month cover your hands with Vaseline and put on cotton gloves before bedtime. You'll wake up to amazingly rejuvenated skin.

Eat Your Veggies and Take Your Vitamins Rough skin on your hands along with brittle nails often signals that you're not getting enough vitamins and minerals. Supplements can't take the place of a healthy diet, but they can boost your daily intake of the nutrients you need. Heed your hands' warning signs that you're depriving yourself of the good nutrition you need for overall health and vitality.

Do Your Nails or Get Them Done Well-tended nails and cuticles add to the allure of your hands. Just be sure you don't clip your cuticles, and don't let a manicurist snip at them either. A cuticle cream and gentle pushing with a cotton-wrapped orange stick is the best procedure. If your hands are looking so good that you want to attract attention to them, opt for bold red or metallic polishes. Otherwise, choose quiet, neutral shades.

Camouflage or Lighten Age Spots Your first line of defense is simply to dab concealer over the offending brown blotches. But if you'd rather fade them, do not use commercial products for bleaching your skin! They can cause all kinds of long-lasting problems, including thickened skin and high blood pressure. Stick with gentle home remedies such as lemon juice or tomato juice. They really work! However, if you feel the need to get rid of blemishes and wrinkly skin on your hands once and for all, visit a trusted dermatologist for laser treatments or a chemical peel.

Exercise Your Hands Finally, your hands need exercise just as the rest of your body does. Particularly if you have arthritis or if it runs in the family, make every effort keep your hands and fingers agile. The bonus payoff is that you'll also ward off as much as possible the gnarled look of swollen joints. Playing the piano or another musical instrument can help and so can knitting and crocheting or simply wiggling your fingers and then clenching and opening your fist. You can also buy a "squeeze ball" at any drugstore. You'll be strengthening your hands and making them look a whole lot better at the same time!