Pretty, Healthy Hands Expert tips for this delicate skin

When it comes to the hierarchy of skincare, our hands often fall to the bottom of the list. If they're lucky, they'll get a dab of leftover face cream-but it turns out they deserve much more than that.

- SHANNEN ZITZ

After all, our hands do a lot for us, and they're exposed to regular abuse (like handling dirty dishes, scrubbing out clothing stains, and lifting dumbbells).

"Many people tend to focus their skincare routines on their faces and may skimp on proper care for their hands," explains Melissa Kanchanapoomi a board-certified derma Levin, M.D., tologist and the founder of Entière Dermatology in New York City. "But neglecting to moisturize, protect, and provide adequate sun protection to the hands can accelerate the aging process."

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For many reasons, "the skin on the hands often appears to age faster than skin on other parts of the body," Dr. Levin adds. This skin is thinner and more fragile, and it contains fewer oil glands two factors that can lead to increased dryness.