Ugly Hands

[MarionC]

People in their 50’s complaining here that they have ugly hands. Get a grip! To someone my age your hands look beautiful, smooth and spot free.
Here is what your hands will look like in time, so enjoy your youth while you have it.

 

[missy]

I don't love my (man) hands because they often hurt and swell and one finger and nail is disfigured from a myxoid cyst. I have Raynauds and it is not a mild case and my fingers have a mind of their own. They fluctuate greatly from one hour to the next and change colors too. Not pretty and not pleasant.

However, I am super grateful I can use them to do many things and occasionally they do look nice. I do enjoy my long fingers and the real estate it affords me for rings etc. I also loved having long fingers and big hands when I played the piano and organ. My music teacher was jealous of my reach and often said so lol. My hands have served me well and still do despite the challenges.

My motto when they are hurting or looking swollen and red is wait a minute and they will change so not all bad. Plus they do display my beautiful rings so cannot complain there.

Making lemonade out of lemons. It's what I try to do.


Sharing my favorite hands photo from just a few months ago. This was a good moment.





ETA: I voted but really my top choice was not there which would have been I sometimes hate them and sometimes don't lol.

 

[Gussie]

I can't cast a vote here. What about, "meh, they're ok"

 

[MarionC]

I can't cast a vote here. What about, "meh, they're ok"

Hey...me too!
Edit:
But I think we should be kind to our selves
My hands have made art, cooked for loved ones, comforted sick children and pets. Seen that way, they are beautiful.
And as Missy pointed out they provide real estate for bling!

 

[missy]

ETA: I voted but really my top choice was not there which would have been I sometimes hate them and sometimes don't lol.

I can't cast a vote here. What about, "meh, they're ok"

Hey...me too!

I think you can change the poll choices still if you want to as you are still within the time frame to edit I believe...

 

[Slickk]

I don't love my (man) hands because they often hurt and swell. I have Raynauds and it is not a mild case and my fingers have a mind of their own. They fluctuate greatly from one hour to the next and change colors too. Not pretty and not pleasant.

My motto when they are hurting or looking swollen and red is wait a minute and they will change so not all bad. Plus they do display my beautiful rings so cannot complain there.

Making lemonade out of lemons. It's what I try to do.


ETA: I voted but really my top choice was not there which would have been I sometimes hate them and sometimes don't lol.

Three-hour delay so I’ll play.
I could have written much of what MIssy wrote. I also have hyper-sensitive, weather-sensitive hands and living in the Northeast doesn’t help. They can be red and swollen one minute and change the next. The swelling comes and goes hourly at times too.
On an interesting note, I moved my DD to AZ a few years back (she’s back now ) and we drove. As soon as we got into the warm dry sun, the swelling and redness went away. I should move....ya know for my fingers/rings sake!

But, thank goodness I have my hands to wear my favorite pieces of jewelry and to live, of course.

Well, sometimes I can’t wear them....and for this reason, I don’t like my hands.

EDITED for grammatical errors.

 

[chrono]

I still think my hands are ugly but they are what they are so I accept them as is.

 

[MeowMeow]

I think for me its neither. It's not that I like my hands at all. It's just that I am working on not insulting myself anymore, even over text. So neither choice works for me. I will always be the first to admit I have an eating disorder and major issues with my body. I will always have problems.

But once I had my daughter I realised if I kept calling myself and my body parts including hands fat and ugly and huge and all manner of awful even though my ring size (6.5 to 7 depending on stacking) is completely average. She is probably going to see it, hear it, and learn it. Obviously I don't want her to develop the same bad relationship with food that I have. So I just quit saying things like that about myself, even over the internet because at the rate my kid is going she's going to be following along with me here at PS someday lmao. Maybe even have her own account someday if we are still around and thus reading what I say.

But yeah. As far as aging? Yup gunna happen. I really only tend to apologise for my chapped hands because it seems like if I don't live in Florida its a permanent problem and can look rather gross since for me it means cuts on my skin every single night even with heavy moisturiser. Which is not the same as looking at a hand that belongs to a lady who has "wrinkly" hands. I almost never even pay attention to peoples hands. Neither here nor any other jewellery section. I am more interested in the shineys! The hand is just the resting place for me

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

Ugly hands with premature wrinkling are a work related phenomena for me. We nurses wash our hands and use alcohol based sanitizer upteen times a day.
But as someone else mentioned, these hands are my history . They have wiped tears, cleaned wounds, held strangers hands.
So though I wish they were smooth and plump, without dryness, thick knuckles and swelling.... I have to remind myself that these are the hands of someone with history.
(And rings make them look better, imo !)

 

[TooPatient]

I think for me its neither. It's not that I like my hands at all. It's just that I am working on not insulting myself anymore, even over text. So neither choice works for me. I will always be the first to admit I have an eating disorder and major issues with my body. I will always have problems.

But once I had my daughter I realised if I kept calling myself and my body parts including hands fat and ugly and huge and all manner of awful even though my ring size (6.5 to 7 depending on stacking) is completely average. She is probably going to see it, hear it, and learn it. Obviously I don't want her to develop the same bad relationship with food that I have. So I just quit saying things like that about myself, even over the internet because at the rate my kid is going she's going to be following along with me here at PS someday lmao. Maybe even have her own account someday if we are still around and thus reading what I say.

But yeah. As far as aging? Yup gunna happen. I really only tend to apologise for my chapped hands because it seems like if I don't live in Florida its a permanent problem and can look rather gross since for me it means cuts on my skin every single night even with heavy moisturiser. Which is not the same as looking at a hand that belongs to a lady who has "wrinkly" hands. I almost never even pay attention to peoples hands. Neither here nor any other jewellery section. I am more interested in the shineys! The hand is just the resting place for me

I love your decision!
What a wonderful thing to do for yourself and your daughter.

 

[Maria D]

My hands are so pretty compared to my feet!

I think they're pretty normal for a woman in her late 50s.

 

[missy]

Ugly hands with premature wrinkling are a work related phenomena for me. We nurses wash our hands and use alcohol based sanitizer upteen times a day.
But as someone else mentioned, these hands are my history . They have wiped tears, cleaned wounds, held strangers hands.
So though I wish they were smooth and plump, without dryness, thick knuckles and swelling.... I have to remind myself that these are the hands of someone with history.
(And rings make them look better, imo !)

@CHRISTY-DANIELLE thank you for all you do. Nurses do one of the most challenging work of almost any career. Nurses and teachers have my highest respect and admiration.


As for hand washing often I too do that and find moisturizing in between washing every single time (if you are allowed to do that at work) really helps. With moisturizers that have as few ingredients as possible to minimize sensitivity. And moisturizing when you are at home constantly in the dry cold weather works wonders too. Frequent moisturizing has truly helped my hands.

 

[missy]

My hands are so pretty compared to my feet!

I think they're pretty normal for a woman in her late 50s.

Very pretty hands!
Maybe we should start a foot thread but I will have to step out of that one...

 

[lyra]

For me it's the short stubby fingers. Two thin bands will reach my knuckle. In my everyday life I don't think about it at all. But when I come here, I feel envious of everyone else's fingers! Grass is always greener, but no one would trade with me.

 

[jbake]

When I first joined Pricescope, I was so surprised at all the disparaging remarks about posters own hands. I don’t think I’d ever thought about whether hands were pretty or not. Although, I do remember an old boyfriend’s sister telling me I have carrot fingers :roll

I’ve always loved my grandma’s hands and they would not qualify as “pretty” for sure. Even now, sitting with her holding hands is one of my favorite things. I hope my hands age just like hers.

 

[Laila619]

I actually like my hands. They're the only nice and young looking thing on me, haha.

 

[OoohShiny]

When I first joined Pricescope, I was so surprised at all the disparaging remarks about posters own hands. I don’t think I’d ever thought about whether hands were pretty or not. Although, I do remember an old boyfriend’s sister telling me I have carrot fingers :roll

I’ve always loved my grandma’s hands and they would not qualify as “pretty” for sure. Even now, sitting with her holding hands is one of my favorite things. I hope my hands age just like hers.

That is so lovely - we must appreciate our grandparents while they are still around

 

[jbake]

That is so lovely - we must appreciate our grandparents while they are still around

We just celebrated her 96th birthday in February. I live a few hours away from her, so I treasure every visit we get.

I have Raynauds and it is not a mild case and my fingers have a mind of their own. They fluctuate greatly from one hour to the next and change colors too. Not pretty and not pleasant.

I’m sorry to hear about this, Missy. I can commiserate. I have Raynauds too, although mine presents more severely in my toes. It can be so painful and frustrating.

 

[redwood66]

@Jimmianne you earned those hands and they tell your story so they are lovely. I can't vote because I neither hate nor love my hands. They are just middle age hands with scars that are memories.

 

[lissyflo]

But yeah. As far as aging? Yup gunna happen. I really only tend to apologise for my chapped hands because it seems like if I don't live in Florida its a permanent problem and can look rather gross since for me it means cuts on my skin every single night even with heavy moisturiser.

Completely ignore this if your eating disorder history means you don’t want to consciously manage your diet now, but have you tried upping your intake of foods with good fats? This winter, I’ve been trying to eat a much larger range of fruits and veg and to reduce my meat consumption. As a result I’ve eaten lots more avocado, nuts, oils, etc. It may be completely unrelated but it’s the first winter in probably 15 years when my hands haven’t been cracked and bleeding. I’m assuming the ‘good’ oils are effectively acting like internal moisturisers for my skin, but may be totally wrong!

 

[missy]

We just celebrated her 96th birthday in February. I live a few hours away from her, so I treasure every visit we get.



I’m sorry to hear about this, Missy. I can commiserate. I have Raynauds too, although mine presents more severely in my toes. It can be so painful and frustrating.

Awww I’m sorry you’re dealing with this too. I’m ok and in the grand scheme of things it does not affect my life in any substantial way. Just an annoyance most of the time. When it ulcerates I deal with it. And I know there are many worse things so I put it in perspective. I am very sorry it’s in your toes. Painful yes. Sending you warm and healing vibes.

I love what you wrote about your grandma. I feel the same. Big hugs to you and your dear grandma.

 

[jbake]

Awww I’m sorry you’re dealing with this too. I’m ok and in the grand scheme of things it does not affect my life in any substantial way. Just an annoyance most of the time. When it ulcerates I deal with it. And I know there are many worse things so I put it in perspective. I am very sorry it’s in your toes. Painful yes. Sending you warm and healing vibes.

I love what you wrote about your grandma. I feel the same. Big hugs to you and your dear grandma.

Thank you. Mine developed fairly early, I was in middle school when I first had symptoms. So sometimes I’m not sure whether it’s getting better or if I’m just better at the prevention side of things. I’m just thankful either way.

My grandma has always been a safe harbor for me. Love her so much

 

[missy]

Thank you. Mine developed fairly early, I was in middle school when I first had symptoms. So sometimes I’m not sure whether it’s getting better or if I’m just better at the prevention side of things. I’m just thankful either way.

My grandma has always been a safe harbor for me. Love her so much

Me too. I used to ice skate and figure skate multiple times a week and my hands were a terror. Eventually I had to quit my ice skating dreams because of my Raynauds and chilblains but I was quite good. I was under twelve when the symptoms started.

And that’s how grandmas should be, I miss mine. So glad you have your grandma with you. That is a true blessing.

 

[jbake]

Me too. I used to ice skate and figure skate multiple times a week and my hands were a terror. Eventually I had to quit my ice skating dreams because of my Raynauds and chilblains but I was quite good. I was under twelve when the symptoms started.

And that’s how grandmas should be, I miss mine. So glad you have your grandma with you. That is a true blessing.

Thank you, so grateful for her!

 

[MeowMeow]

Completely ignore this if your eating disorder history means you don’t want to consciously manage your diet now, but have you tried upping your intake of foods with good fats? This winter, I’ve been trying to eat a much larger range of fruits and veg and to reduce my meat consumption. As a result I’ve eaten lots more avocado, nuts, oils, etc. It may be completely unrelated but it’s the first winter in probably 15 years when my hands haven’t been cracked and bleeding. I’m assuming the ‘good’ oils are effectively acting like internal moisturisers for my skin, but may be totally wrong!

I just try really hard not to be a calorie counter anymore or try to manage my food because it's a huge trigger. I just try to eat healthily instead. And I already eat most of the veggies in the house anyway. My husband takes huge hunks of meat and a few tiny carrots and broccoli chunks to please me and I'm over there with my bowl full of vegetables and small amount of meat lmao.
I definitely find myself avoiding oil though. I can't eat fast food or even anything out really because I have come home with my lip swelling after eating out. And anytime I let my dad or my MIL cook I get breakouts and red skin at minimum. Both are oil users. Then i come home to my oil-less cooking and not eating out. After a few days I am my normal colour with no extra problems for my face. I don't really do nuts though. Maybe I could see if they have some plain uncooked ones and salt them and roast them in my oven and see if it helps any. You might have a good idea there! Thanks for suggesting it.

 

[elizat]

I think my fingers are short and chubby. But it is what it is. I wear a 6.75ish on my left and a 7 on my right, but they are what they are!

 

[AV_]

Those hands could be my grandmother in her late 90s - I am obviously shrinking with age like her

 

[Snowdrop13]

My hands are so pretty compared to my feet!

I think they're pretty normal for a woman in her late 50s.

Your hands look just like mine!

 

[JPie]

I don't hate my hands, but I would like my skin to be better. I had terrible eczema through my childhood and early adulthood. My hands were scaly and so dry that they cracked and bled, and it took a long time for me to learn how to care for them properly. Even now I have a scaly patch on one hand, and on top of that I developed age spots in my 20s and they've only gotten worse.

 

[MarionC]

I think you can change the poll choices still if you want to as you are still within the time frame to edit I believe...

Hi Missy, I tried when the edit option was still open and could not see how to do it : (