What Happens to Your Hands as You Age?
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What Happens to Your Hands as You Age?

What Happens to Your Hands as You Age?
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Updated on December 11, 2025
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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.

5 Ways Hands Change With Age

As we grow older, natural changes like lower muscle mass, thinner skin, and less flexible joints can alter how our hands look and feel. While some changes are a normal part of aging, certain chronic conditions and lifestyle habits can also impact hand health.

1. Decreased Grip Strength

Grip strength tends to decrease over time, with one large study from India finding that people 85 and older are about 12 times more likely to have weaker grips than those ages 60 to 64. What’s more, men 85 and older have a 12-fold higher likelihood of decreased grip strength than women of the same age.

Strong grip strength is associated with higher bone density in the hip and lumbar area of the spine.

 Meanwhile, decreased grip strength of the dominant hand is associated with lower quality of life, including lower scores in social relationships and environmental factors like living conditions, according to a large study of 1,446 older adults in Poland.

 This doesn’t mean weak hands necessarily cause other underlying conditions or lower quality of life (or vice versa).

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.

There may also be a connection between dexterity and aging. A study of 20 participants suggested that lower hand dexterity was associated with markers for neuroinflammation and fine motor skills.

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.”

Applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher can prevent age spots and wrinkles.

“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.

Common Age-Related Hand Conditions

As you grow older, certain hand conditions may become more prevalent. Knowing the risk factors for each can help you and your care provider get a diagnosis earlier and pinpoint treatment options sooner, possibly lessening the severity over time.

 Here are some to be aware of.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

When your hand’s median nerve is squeezed or compressed, the result is carpal tunnel syndrome — a condition that causes numbness, tingling, and pain in your hand and forearm. Risk factors include heredity, repetitive hand use, or health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, in addition to age-related physical changes.

Aging can also cause tissues to become less elastic and more brittle, raising the risk of injury and swelling, explains Pidgeon. “It makes them less pliable, which can result in compression of structures nearby like nerves,” he adds. Carpal tunnel is most common between ages 30 and 60, and is more common in women.

Dupuytren’s Contracture

Dupuytren’s contracture occurs when a layer of tissue called the palmar fascia thickens and tightens, pulling your fingers inward toward the palm. Over time, the fascia bands can grow into thick cords that lock the fingers and thumb into that bent position.

Dupuytren’s usually occurs in those age 40 or older and becomes more common with age, though Pidgeon explains that underlying problems may start decades earlier.

 Gender, heredity, alcohol use, and certain medical conditions like diabetes play a role in risk, alongside aging.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a disease where your joint tissues break down over time, and it’s the most common type of arthritis. It commonly causes joint pain and stiffness in fingers and thumbs.

Changes in your tissue tend to trigger the breakdown, which happens slowly over time as you grow older.

 Osteoarthritis is most common after age 45. By age 85, about 40 percent of adults have osteoarthritis in at least one hand.

“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

Trigger finger affects the tendons that flex the fingers and thumb, causing a feeling of locking when bending and straightening your finger. It can impact any finger but most commonly occurs in the ring finger and thumb. It’s unknown what exactly causes trigger finger, but conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or strenuous hand activities (such as gardening, playing an instrument, or racket sports) can raise the risk.

Trigger finger is most common in adults between ages 40 and 50.

 “I used to see trigger fingers almost exclusively in older adults, but the average age of incidence seems to be creeping down, probably due to large amounts of time spent on the computer and swiping on the handheld devices,” says Dr. Baumstark.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a condition in which your immune system attacks your joint tissue lining. While you can develop it at any age, it usually starts between ages 30 and 60.

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

You can better treat RA by recognizing symptoms and seeing a rheumatologist early in the disease process, adds Baumstark. Symptoms include swelling and pain in both hands, or morning stiffness that lasts more than an hour but gets better with movement.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy is nerve damage outside the brain or spinal cord that can cause symptoms like pain and numbness.

 Peripheral neuropathy involves the peripheral nerves that connect your body to the central nervous system and can specifically affect your hands, causing weakness and clumsiness.

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

About two-thirds of people over 65 show changes in the peripheral nervous system.

 “Neuropathy can occur with type 2 diabetes, and it can also occur for no apparent reason as we age,” says Baumstark.

5 Tips to Maintain Healthy Hands With Age

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.

Early intervention is key to preventing long-term complications from hand injuries and increasing your chances of recovering fully.

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

If you work with your hands often, take breaks to regularly stretch them. Examples of stretches include making a fist and then spreading your fingers wide, gently bending each finger back, and yoga positions like the prayer pose.

“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

Daily activities like washing dishes in hot water, using detergents, and doing yard work can dry out your skin and age your hands. Keep your hands moisturized and youthful by applying lotion or cream after washing your hands and bathing. This helps to trap water and plump up your skin for a youthful appearance.

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

Resistance-based exercise — like using hand weights or machines — may support your health by improving your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, especially for older adults.

 Those benefits can extend to your hands as you age, too, notes Baumstark.
“Working out will keep the hands strong,” Baumstark says. “Use weight gloves to provide stability and cushioning over time.” Weight gloves (also called weightlifting gloves) are designed to improve grip, protect the skin on your hands, and protect your wrists by keeping them in a neutral position.

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.

When to See a Doctor

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.

It’s also important to see a dermatologist if you notice a mole or patch of skin on your hands that has changed in color, size, shape, or symptoms. Ask your doctor how to do regular self-checkups to look for problems that may indicate skin cancer.

The Takeaway

  • 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.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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