By Zein Obagi, M.D.
When it comes to skincare, facial products tend to get all the attention, but the body and hands should not be forgotten. Dry, wrinkled and spotted hands can give away a woman’s age quicker than her face, while scaly skin on the arms, legs, and torso can be unsightly as well as uncomfortable. Hands, chest, arms, and legs are also subject to environmental abuse from UV radiation.
Emollients Rule
For treating the skin on your body, use creams that include heavy-duty moisturizers and hydrators like shea butter and plant-based oils. Many hydrating oils sound good enough to eat and include macadamia nut oil, sesame oil, olive oil, almond oil, avocado oil, and sunflower oil. Other varieties include jojoba and argan oils.
Body Perfect
If you are seeking tightening and firming benefits, look for products that feature caffeine, which is included in many cellulite treatments. Also, your arms, legs, and torso can benefit from gentle exfoliation. Many popular body exfoliators contain sugar, salt, pumice, or even grape seed. In addition, Jojoba beads can gently remove dead cells and allow smooth new cells to shine through. Chemical exfoliants include lactic and glycolic acid, which are gentle and effective alternatives to physical sloughers. Getting rid of surface dead cells and flakes will enhance cell turnover that slows down over age 35. This is a wonderful way to reveal new skin underneath.
Better When Wet
It is best to apply lotions and creams right after you shower or bathe while your skin is still slightly damp. Many body products are multi-functional and address several concerns at once. Pick one that fights dryness, dark spots, loss of firmness and elasticity, as well as skin dullness.
Hands Get the Treatment
Hands also benefit from gentle exfoliation. Ingredients to look for are lactic acid, salicylic acid, or even physical exfoliators like sugar. The goal is to gently scrub and slough away rough, dull skin to reveal smoother, more evenly toned hands. Retinol, a clinically proven potent age-reversing ingredient derived from vitamin A, can help decrease the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Oraser® Microderm Hand Renewalby ZO Skin Health will get rid of those dry cells to leave skin moisturized and smooth. For an overnight treatment that addresses lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and loss of firmness and elasticity, try Oraser® Overnight Hand Recoveryfrom ZO Skin Health. In addition to the wrinkle fighting properties of retinol and brightening benefits of vitamin C, this cream contains hyaluronic acid, which binds water to the cells in the epidermis.
Sunscreen From Head to Toe
The finishing touch for any hand or body treatment should always be sunscreen, which you should apply on any part of your body that is going to be exposed to the potentially damaging rays of the sun. Combine spot removal treatment with sun protection. From head to toe, effective treatments have three elements: They exfoliate, treat, and protect.
Zein Obagi, M.D., a Diplomat at the American Board of Dermatology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, is world-renowned for his unique approach to anti-aging skin care. He has maintained a practice at his Obagi Skin Health Institute in Beverly Hills since 1981. Dr. Obagi created ZO Skin Health and his original Obagi Nu-Derm System which he has taught to other dermatologists in training sessions around the globe. Please visit www.zoskinhealth.com.
