It is often stated that old age leaves a mark on the face; however, today, the sign of aging is found in the hands. The standards of beauty change with time, and while before only having a glowing face was enough, now even spotless hands are part of the requirement list. It is time to examine the effect of hand-shaming fears on the billion-dollar business industry.

In recent years, foreign media and social networking sites have started focusing on the hands of celebrities, finding fault with each wrinkle and vein. In cases where a celebrity has a perfectly smooth face but aging hands due to visible veins or skin sagging, this is considered “old lady hands.”

This comparison has instilled an unseen fear in women. Experts believe that the visible age difference between the face and hands is becoming increasingly concerning, leading people to resort to cosmetic solutions.

The beauty industry, sensing this fear, has launched a flood of specialized hand products. Ordinary hand creams have now been replaced by premium creams containing ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, and collagen, previously found only in expensive face serums.

Market data is astonishing. The premium handcare market has grown by 23% in just three years. Today, the global handcare market is worth millions of crores of rupees. Furthermore, people are no longer limited to creams; LED hand masks, laser treatments, and even fat transfer surgery are also on the rise. In this surgery, fat is extracted from other parts of the body and injected into the hands to make them appear fuller and younger.

The question arises: Is this expensive hand care really necessary? Some experts believe that frequent handwashing and the use of hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused dry skin, drawing people's attention to their hands.

On the other hand, some experts say this is a deliberate strategy by beauty companies. They are inciting fear of aging in women's minds to sell them new products. Therefore, it's important to understand that aging is a natural process.