It’s often said that hands can reveal a person’s age, and it’s easy to see why: Our hands are typically active throughout our lives. We regularly expose them to sun, constant typing, cleaning dishes, and other intensive tasks — and they inevitably undergo wear and tear.

But if you’re mindful of how your hands may change with age, you can take steps to prevent future issues and catch age-related hand conditions earlier for better treatment.

1. Decreased Grip Strength

2. Thinner, More Fragile Skin

With age, your skin becomes less elastic, and the subcutaneous fat beneath it thins, says Tyler Pidgeon, MD, an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Duke University School of Medicine in Apex, North Carolina.

“This makes the structures under the skin, like veins, tendons, and bones, more noticeable,” adds Dr. Pidgeon. “The skin also becomes more fragile and prone to tears and bruising.”

You may notice thinning skin on your hands, particularly the backs, says Daniel Baumstark, DPT, a physical therapist based in Washington, DC, who specializes in hand therapy. This is caused by age-related loss of collagen in the deeper layers of the skin and thinning of the outer layer of skin, compounded by exposure to the sun.

“Thinning skin on the hands increases medical risk by reducing barrier function, making the skin more susceptible to trauma, bruising, and delayed wound healing,” says Lycia Thornburg, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Rapid City Medical Center in Rapid City, South Dakota.

3. Lowered Dexterity

Aging reduces the nimbleness of your hands, making movements less precise, explains Pidgeon. “Joints wear out over time, resulting in arthritis; this may reduce motion in the fingers and cause swelling and pain,” says Pidgeon.

4. Less-Elastic Ligaments and Tendons

“Our ligaments and tendons become more brittle as we age, which makes them more liable to experience tendinitis, sprains, and morning stiffness,” says Pidgeon. “Like a set of tires with 60,000 miles on them, our joints, ligaments, tendons, and bones experience wear through many cycles of use.”

Heavy use of the hands over a long period of time can also result in repetitive injuries, adds Pidgeon.

5. Discoloration and Wrinkling

“Sun exposure can accelerate hand aging due to negative effects on the skin,” says Pidgeon. “This might include discoloration, wrinkling, and thinning of the skin.”

“Abnormal changes may present as red, rough, scaly patches with variable thickening, which can be a cause for concern,” says Dr. Thornburg. She recommends that you see your doctor or dermatologist about any sudden changes in coloration, especially if the areas are painful or growing.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Dupuytren’s Contracture

Osteoarthritis

“Wear and tear builds up as we age, so it’s rare to see an 18-year-old with arthritis, but common to see it in an 80-year-old,” says Pidgeon.

Trigger Finger

Rheumatoid Arthritis

“There are many, many people who have no signs of RA in their youth and end up manifesting it later in life,” says Baumstark.

Neuropathy

“I liken [peripheral neuropathy] to trying to remove a splinter with tweezers while wearing winter gloves,” says Baumstark.

It’s perfectly natural for your hands to change over time, both in how they feel and how they look. Still, there are a few steps you can take to keep them healthy.

1. Don’t Ignore Pain or Injuries

If you treat your hand pain with rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medication, and still have pain that lasts for more than a week or two, it’s time for an evaluation from your doctor, even if you think it’s something more minor like a sprain, says Pidgeon.

“Several times a year in my practice, ‘just a sprain’ turns out to be a finger or wrist fracture that should have been treated weeks ago,” adds Pidgeon.

2. Wear Sunscreen

“Thinning skin on the hands occurs due to age-related loss of dermal collagen and epidermal thinning, compounded by chronic UV exposure,” says Thornburg. “Because frequent handwashing removes sunscreen, it’s important to reapply regularly throughout the day.”

3. Stretch Your Hands

“For stiff hands, I am a proponent of stretching both the intrinsic muscles, those that are within the anatomy of the hand, and extrinsic muscles — those that start on your forearm or elbow, but whose tendons insert onto the fingers,” says Baumstark. “Stretching and massaging all these muscles tends to help with stiff hands.”

4. Keep Your Hands Moisturized

Look for moisturizers containing humectants (ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin that attract and bind water molecules to the skin) and occlusives (ingredients like beeswax or petroleum jelly that form a protective barrier) to improve hydration and the integrity of your skin, Thornburg recommends.

“That extra support helps protect the tiny blood vessels near the surface, which may mean less bruising over time,” adds Thornburg.

5. Do Resistance Training With Weighted Gloves

Talk to your doctor first to find out if specific hand exercises and the use of weight gloves (or any other type of support) are appropriate for you.

If you suspect you have an injury or strain in your arms or hands, Baumstark recommends consulting a healthcare provider, which can include a sports medicine or orthopedic doctor, or physical or occupational therapist. This includes issues from overuse.

“I cannot tell you how many people I see on a weekly basis who have no clue that they have developed repetitive overuse injuries in the hands largely because of poor arm placement with typing and handheld device usage,” says Baumstark.

• The natural aging process can cause changes in your hands, like decreased grip strength, fragile skin, and less dexterity.
• Certain hand conditions — such as osteoarthritis, neuropathy, and carpal tunnel syndrome — are more likely as you age.
• As you get older, keep your hands healthy by quickly addressing pain or injuries, stretching your hands regularly, applying sunscreen and lotion often, and doing resistance-training exercises that are appropriate for you.
• Check your hands regularly for issues, and talk to your doctor if you have pain, weakness, skin discoloration, or other concerning symptoms.