by Jed Eane

Created on: May 26, 2007   Last Updated: June 10, 2008

Hands really do give the age game away. As well as being on show all the time, they take such a battering in life from every day tasks, and from the elements, too. And if your job involves having to handle harsh chemicals without the protection of rubber gloves, for example, if you're a hairdresser, then you've got to give them extra attention.

But whatever profession you're in and whatever your hands are subjected to on a daily basis, it's important to keep them soft and supple as they have such an important role to play in our lives. We use them for so many things, some of which are really quite important. For example, touch plays an important part in caring for others and it's a common way in which we can we show those we love that we care for them. But no one wants to soothe their child's brow or caress their spouse with hands that are rough, calloused and have been neglected for many years.

If you want to keep your hands soft then adopt the mantra "moisturize, moisturize, moisturize." As well as moisturizing after washing your hands throughout the day, moisturize every night before going to bed, too. If your hands are in a very bad way, then one remedy is to rub olive oil or Vaseline into them and then put on a pair of "moisturizing gloves," or thin cotton gloves, before going to bed. Look at taking care of your hands in this way as a form of therapy. Those few minutes it takes to moisturize can be spent as quality time with yourself: whether it's a few minutes meditating to help deal with what the day has in store, or how life's treated you today, or just focusing on YOU as opposed to everyone else, it can be time well spent.

Other tips to help keep your hands soft and supple include:

*Always protect your hands from harsh chemicals and pollutants by wearing rubber gloves when washing the dishes, cleaning around the home, and gardening.

*Use mild cleaning detergents and soap to prevent your hands drying out.

*Sun exposure damages skin and it's difficult to keep your hands out of the sun when out and about. That's why it's important to always wear sunscreen when in the sun.

*Avoid using polish remover that contains acetone as this is very drying on the nails and the surrounding skin.

*Keep a bottle of moisturizing lotion in the rooms in the house where you regularly wash your hands, and in your purse, so you can moisturize often. Lightly pat your hands dry after washing them and then apply moisturizer and gently massage it into your hands and cuticles.

*An omega-3 supplement might help if your hands are particularly dry, and shea butter is also reported to be good for very dry hands.

Learn more about this author, Jed Eane.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.