Life Extension Magazine®
The skin on the top of your hands can reveal your true age. Yet, it often remains an afterthought in most skin-care routines.
Over time, daily activities and unprotected exposure to sunlight and environmental factors wreak havoc on the thin skin on the hands. The resulting damage manifests itself as age spots, wrinkles, dryness, and crepiness that make you look older than you are.1
Scientists have formulated innovative ingredients that address the underlying causes of these aforementioned tell-tale signs of aging. These topical compounds have been combined in a unique serum to provide an effective, comprehensive approach that can potentially turn back the “hands of time.”
Fade Unsightly Pigmentation
Aging hands often display the cumulative effects of sun exposure, such as hyperpigmentation. Sun-damaged skin stimulates the overproduction of the pigment melanin, which leads to discoloration and age spots.2 The good news is that two ingredients, N-acetyl glucosamine and retinol, are clinically proven to defend against the relentless assault of UV rays and help fade unwanted pigmentation.3,4
While glucosamine is well-known for its joint-protective properties, it has gained attention for its ability to inhibit a key processing step in melanin formation.5 Since glucosamine is unstable in topical preparations, scientists have turned to a more stable form, N-acetyl glucosamine, for human research. In a study involving 50 women aged 25 to 55, topical N-acetyl glucosamine was shown to be superior to a placebo in decreasing hyperpigmentation after eight weeks as assessed by an image analysis technique. The researchers also noted the treatment was well-tolerated.3
Another compound that has shown promise in protecting the skin on the top of the hands is a form of vitamin A called retinol. In humans, topical retinol was found to promptly start the repair process of aged skin by reducing matrix metalloproteinases and enhancing collagen synthesis in just seven days.4
Longer-term studies are equally impressive. In one study, participants using topical retinol for eight to 12 weeks, researchers reported that most participants showed improvement in overall photodamage, crow's feet, elasticity, wrinkles, brightness, and hyperpigmentation at 60 to 80 days.6
Based on these studies, it is clear that N-acetyl glucosamine and retinol effectively repair sun-damaged skin and lighten hyperpigmented spots to give aging hands a youthful appearance.
Topical Compounds For Younger-Looking Hands
- N-acetyl glucosamine modulates melanin production to reduce hyperpigmentation and lighten age spots.
- Retinol stimulates collagen synthesis and prevents its degradation to promptly repair sun-damaged skin.
- Sarsasapogenin and macelignan promote fat cell formation in aging hands to restore fullness and plumpness.
- Macadamia oil contains palmitoleic acid, squalene, and vitamin E to hydrate the skin and retain moisture for reducing dryness.
- Acetyl octapeptide-3 attenuates muscle contraction to smooth out skin crepiness and wrinkling on the top of the hands.
Restore Volume And Youthful Plumpness
As we get older, the loss of subcutaneous fat on the top of the hands gives way to a skeletal-like appearance, with increased visibility of tendons and veins. Although procedures exist for transferring fat from one part of the body to the hand, they are not an option for many due to high cost.7 Scientists have discovered that two plant-based extracts, sarsasapogenin and macelignan, work synergistically to favorably target fat cell (adipocyte) development in aging hands.
Sarsasapogenin is a compound isolated from the roots of the plant Anemarrhena asphodeloïdes. It has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine for combating depression and diabetes.8,9 In the laboratory, researchers have found that sarsasapogenin stimulated the differentiation of adipocytes (fat cells) and proliferation.10 This is important in restoring structural support for tissues in the hands.
Macelignan,a polyphenolic compound from nutmeg seeds, has been shown to switch on genes that traffic fatty acids into these newly formed adipocytes for storage.11,12 This mechanism has been shown to increase adipose tissue volume in human volunteers in less than 30 days.13
Together, sarsasapogenin and macelignan promote fat accumulation in newly formed adipocytes. The topical application of these two compounds may restore the fullness and plumpness usually seen in youthful hands.
What You Need To Know
Minimize Skin Aging On The Top Of The Hands
- The skin on the top of the hands is an afterthought in most skin-care regimens, but it can actually give away your true age.
- The thin skin on the top of the hands is highly susceptible to the damaging effects of excess sunlight and environmental factors, leading to the formation of age spots, wrinkles, dryness, and crepiness.
- Innovative topical compounds, including N-acetyl glucosamine, retinol, sarsasapogenin, macelignan, and acetyl octapeptide-3 work through multiple mechanisms to relieve the aforementioned tell-tale signs of aging often seen on the top of the hands.
Hydrate Dry Skin
The top of the hands is a common site for dry and flaky skin. One solution for this condition is macadamia oil, which contains a high concentration of hard-to-find palmitoleic acid.14 This monounsaturated fatty acid is a component of sebum, an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands that nourishes and hydrates the skin.15 Macadamia oil also contains squalene, a natural emollient,16,17 as well as vitamin E, which plays a crucial role in retaining moisture to reduce dryness.18,19
Smooth Out Wrinkles And Crepiness
Peptides, derived from biological molecules, are quickly becoming mainstay ingredients in skin-care products due to their ability to penetrate more deeply into the layers of the skin where they exert a wide range of biological effects.20 Among peptides, acetyl octapeptide-3 stands out for resolving the issue of wrinkles and crepiness on the top of the hands.
Excessive muscle contractions is one mechanism leading to the formation of wrinkles. Acetyl octapeptide-3, the elongated form of Acetyl hexapeptide-3 (which has been shown in research studies to reduce the depth of wrinkles through inhibition of the formation of the SNARE protein complex and thus inhibits neurotransmitter release) has also been shown to regulate the neuronal exocytosis to inhibit the neurotransmitter release. 21By modulating muscle contraction, this unique peptide smooths out crepiness and diminishes the appearance of wrinkles.
Summary
Scientists have formulated a new serum with all these ingredients to repair skin damage seen on the top of the hands. These topical compounds, including N-acetyl glucosamine, retinol, sarsasapogenin, macelignan, macadamia oil, and acetyl octapeptide-3, have been scientifically proven to lighten age spots, reduce dryness and crepiness, and diminish wrinkles, all of which promote the appearance of younger-looking hands.
If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension® Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.
References
- Stebbins WG, Hanke CW. Ablative fractional CO2 resurfacing for photoaging of the hands: pilot study of 10 patients. Dermatol Ther. 2011 Jan-Feb;24(1):62-70.
- D’Orazio J, Jarrett S, Amaro-Ortiz A, Scott T. UV radiation and the skin. Int J Mol Sci. 2013 Jun 7;14(6):12222-48.
- Bissett DL, Robinson LR, Raleigh PS, et al. Reduction in the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation by topical N-acetyl glucosamine. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2007 Mar;6(1):20-6.
- Varani J, Warner RL, Gharaee-Kermani M, et al. Vitamin A antagonizes decreased cell growth and elevated collagen-degrading matrix metalloproteinases and stimulates collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin. J Invest Dermatol. 2000 Mar;114(3):480-6.
- Bissett DL, Farmer T, McPhail S, et al. Genomic expression changes induced by topical N-acetyl glucosamine in skin equivalent cultures in vitro. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2007 Dec;6(4):232-8.
- Gold MH, Kircik LH, Bucay VW, Kiripolsky MG, Biron JA. Treatment of facial photodamage using a novel retinol formulation. J Drugs Dermatol. 2013 May;12(5):533-40.
- Kuhne U, Imhof M. Treatment of the ageing hand with dermal fillers. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2012 Jul-Sep;5(3):163-9.
- Ren LX, Luo YF, Li X, Zuo DY, Wu YL. Antidepressant-like effects of sarsasapogenin from Anemarrhena asphodeloides BUNGE (Liliaceae). Biol Pharm Bull. 2006 Nov;29(11):2304-6.
- Miura T, Ichiki H, Iwamoto N, et al. Antidiabetic activity of the rhizoma of Anemarrhena asphodeloides and active components, mangiferin and its glucoside. Biol Pharm Bull. 2001 Sep;24(9):1009-11.
- Available at: http://bosommax.com/files/bosommax/volufiline%20study.pdf. Accessed August 8, 2014.
- Han KL, Choi JS, Lee JY, Song J, Joe MK, Jung MH, et al. Therapeutic potential of peroxisome proliferators—activated receptor-alpha/gamma dual agonist with alleviation of endoplasmic reticulum stress for the treatment of diabetes. Diabetes. 2008 Mar;57(3):737-45.
- Yeo J, Kang YM, Cho SI, Jung MH. Effects of a multi-herbal extract on type 2 diabetes. Chin Med. 2011 Mar 4;6:10.
- Available at: http://www.in-cosmeticsasia.com/-novadocuments/12507. Accessed August 8, 2014.
- Akhtar N, Yazan Y. Formulation and in-vivo evaluation of a cosmetic multiple emulsion containing vitamin C and wheat protein. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2008 Jan;21(1):45-50.
- Smith KR, Thiboutot DM. Sebaceous gland lipids: friend or foe? J. Lipid Res.2008;49:271-81.
- Huang ZR, Lin YK, Fang JY. Biological and pharmacological activities of squalene and related compounds: potential uses in cosmetic dermatology. Molecules. 2009 Jan 23;14(1):540-54.
- Maguire LS, O’Sullivan SM, Galvin K, O’Conner TP, O’Brien NM. Fatty acid profile, tocopherol, squalene and phytosterol content of walnuts, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, and the macadamia nut. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2004 May;55(3):171-8.
- Trivedi JS, Krill SL, Fort JJ. Vitamin E as a human skin penetration enhancer. Eur J Phann Sci. 1995;3:241-3.
- Kora RR, Khambholja KM. Potential of herbs in skin protection from ultraviolet radiation. Pharmacogn Rev. 2011 Jul;5(10):164-73.
- Zhang L, Falla TJ. Cosmeceuticals and peptides. Clin Dermatol. 2009 Sep-Oct;27(5):485-94.
- Available at: http://www.lotioncrafter.com/reference/tech_data_snap8c.pdf. Accessed August 8, 2014.
- Available at: http://www.nanotokin.com/downloads/snap8.pdf. Accessed August 8, 2014.