door handle faded / discoloured

the door handles on my black TF have gained a white patina, which appears to rub of, however when I used T cut on the passenger door handle ( probably a bit too enthusiastically!) I think I've gone through to a base layer of the plastic.

Any ideas what the white patina ( age related degradation of the plastic possibly?) and best solution - can they be painted successfully?

Yes they can be painted, but getting a good colour match, will be difficult, you could have the metalised in a chrome finish