If your hands have visible damage, many signs of aging can be reversed with lasers and chemical peels that remove the skin’s top layer to reveal less damaged tissue beneath.

Lasers are concentrated beams of light. Some, like carbon dioxide (CO2) and erbium (Er:YAG) lasers, are used to treat wrinkles, while Q-Switch (red) and green light lasers target brown spots, or pigmented lesions. People of color, whose skin has greater amounts of pigment cells called melanin and is more sensitive to both injury and scarring, should be cautious with lasers, which can discolor darker skin.

Chemical peels involve application of a chemical (usually a mild acid) solution. This makes sun-damaged skin peel off, leaving newer, smoother skin.

These procedures should cause little discomfort. After treatment, “There might be three to five days of sun sensitivity and light, sunburn-like skin peeling,” says Dr. Sadick. To minimize complications, he adds, “Patients should apply a lubricating ointment, and keep their hands out of the sun!”