An expert has revealed how you can test the age of your hands with four simple home tests.
This comes as an increasing number of people across the globe have taken to using hand sanitiser amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Mr Paul Banwell, a British plastic and cosmetic surgeon who gives worldwide lectures worldwide on aesthetics and advanced skin care, has revealed how disinfectant and increased washing can age the hands.
The visiting Professor of Plastic Surgery to Harvard Medical School spoke to FEMAIL, and revealed the four telltale signs of aging hands, and how to test them.
Take each test and choose a letter, then see which letter you got the most of to reveal your hands’ age.
Signs of Hand Ageing
‘The hands are a major giveaway regarding age, although sun exposure and your job also play a significant role,’ Dr Banwell said.
‘Crepiness, pigmentation, thinning, age spots and increased appearance of veins are tell-tale signs.’
1. Pinch test
Mr Paul Banwell, a British plastic and cosmetic surgeon, has revealed how you can test the age of your hands with four simple home tests – starting with pinching the skin at the tops of your hands and seeing how long it takes to bounce back
‘Other than these appearances, I have always used the pinch test to evaluate ageing.
‘A pinch test time of over a second indicates significant damage from ageing, sun damage or exposure to detergents and soaps.
‘Pinch the skin on the tops of your hands and time how fast it bounces back to complete the first test’.
A 1-2 seconds: under 30
B 3-4 seconds: 30 to mid 40s
C 5-9 seconds: 45-50s
D Longer than ten seconds: 60 +
2. Thin Nails
Next, he revealed how your nails become thinner as you age and revealed how you can judge the age of your hands by the number of breakages
‘As we get older, our nails become thinner. The strength of one’s nails can be a tell-tale sign for their age but using a hand cream daily will help nails from becoming brittle.’
A Strong Nails – Under 30
B Medium Strength – occasional breakages – 30-mid 40s
C Noticeably thinning – 45-50s
D Brittle Nails – 60+
3. Colour test
Another nail test is to test the colour of the nails as your nails are said to discolour once you hit 40
‘Over time nails can become a yellow-ish colour if they’re not looked after correctly.
‘Minor injuries to nails and nail varnish can contribute to the discolouration of nail beds and can indicate how old a person is. Generally, nails start to discolour aged 40 plus.’
A & B Healthy natural glow – Under 40
C Slight discolouration, lacking in shine – 40-50s
D Yellowing/ discoloured – 60+
4. Counting age spots
Meanwhile the number of age spots on your hands can correspond to your age or the age of your hands if you’ve been exposed to sun
‘Age spots are very common in adults older than 50 so as a rule, you can tell someone is 50+ if they have them on their hands.
‘However, younger people with increased sun exposure that don’t cover their hands or wear SPF can enter premature ageing if they don’t use protection.
‘UV lights in sunbeds can also cause premature ageing.’
A No visible age spots – under 30
B Under three or faint spots – 30-40
C Over 5 or in clusters – 50+
D Over 10 – 60+
Dr Banwell added: ‘Jobs can influence hand ageing significantly – surgeons, doctors, nurses, chefs and those working in the food industry wash their hands over 50 times a day with astringent cleansers, soaps and alcohol gels and this has inevitable effects on ageing.
‘The coronavirus scare has increased the public’s awareness of hand washing and use of alcohol gels and as a result we shall undoubtedly see more ageing changes occurring in people’s hands.
‘A huge number of treatments are now available including luxurious mositurisers, hyaluronic acid fillers, plasma shower, medical needling, enzyme reactivators and fraxel which can keep ageing hands at bay.’