Do you have a winter hand care regime? With regular handwashing ingrained in everyday life since the pandemic began, you’ve probably found your hands require a bit more TLC. We asked Award-Winning Aesthetics & Skincare Expert Amish Patel from Intrigue Cosmetic Clinic for his pro tips for keeping your skin and nails in top condition.
I would say that 99% of our clients come to the clinic focusing on getting treatments on their face or neck area. However, your hands are always on show, so looking after the skin and nails can either make a good impression or give away your age!
Wash and dry
With handwashing comes dry hands, and when the skin is dry, it can crack, become sore, and start to wrinkle and age. Choose a nourishing, rich hand cream, to be part of your winter hand care regime, that doesn’t leave a greasy film on your hands. I love Codage Hand Cream. Not only is it enriched with anti-ageing active ingredients which prevent and correct age spots, but it penetrates the skin without leaving a sticky, greasy film. Apply the hand cream to the back of your hands first, work in the cream using the backs of your hands and finish by rubbing it over the whole hand, fingers and palms.
Winter hand care – nail it
Your nails can become brittle and split for several reasons; age, diet, wearing and removing nail varnish and some medical conditions. The leading causes of brittle nails tend to be related to too much moisture. When your nails get wet, they swell up, then as they dry, they shrink. Using detergents, soaps and anti-bacterial gels can dry your nails and make them susceptible to peeling. In some rare cases, poor nutrition can be a factor, so eating a diet rich in leafy greens, fruits, beans, eggs, nuts, and whole grains can help support healthy, stronger nails.
Protect to perfect
Protect your hands from harsh chemicals and the drying effects of water by wearing gloves. Wearing waterproof washing up gloves for cleaning and other household chores can reduce the risk of irritation and the drying effects on your skin.
Using a hand cream with an SPF factor or applying one on top of your favourite hand cream will help reduce the ageing effects of the sun on your hands. The sun’s harmful UV rays cause wrinkles and sunspots (otherwise known as age spots). Keep your hands protected all year round, not just during the hot summer months. The sun is powerful all year round, but you are more likely to be wearing warm winter gloves in the colder months.
Professional beauty treatments
There are various professional treatments available for winter hand care that can turn back the clock on ageing or skin damaged hands. One of the treatments we offer is fillers. Over time your skin will lose its natural plumpness and start to sag and wrinkle. Filler can restore this lost volume and rejuvenate the hands. This filler can last up to 12 months, depending on genes, lifestyle, etc.
We also offer chemical peels at our clinic, and these can be used with much success to rejuvenate the skin on your hands, improve the skin texture, and help reverse the signs of sun damage.
Another popular beauty treatment is laser rejuvenation, which tackles the appearance of lines and wrinkles. At the same time, IPL (Intense Pulse Light) therapy can help even skin tone and smooth skin colour irregularities.
Professional grade retinol skincare products can also improve the skin’s appearance and will have a more significant impact than high-street retinol products due to their strength. We create bespoke skincare programmes for our clients, which often include skincare products only available via a medical professional. These skincare products are prescribed to our clients under our care and carefully monitored and reviewed regularly.
If you buy any retinol or vitamin A creams, even on the high street, make sure you are still wearing sunscreen and reapplying after washing. Retinol will make your skin sun-sensitive and more likely to burn, even in cloudy weather.
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About the Author / Amish Patel
Amish Patel is an award-winning aesthetics practitioner, skincare expert & founder of the South-East’s leading cosmetic clinic, Intrigue Cosmetic Clinic. Amish is a respected expert in his field and regularly features in the national and international press. He is Passionate about greater safety and regulation within this sector and a vocal campaigner for people who have experienced aesthetic complications as a result of poor practice, experience and hygiene.
