Our hands are our body’s treasure. They are one of the most intricate aspects of our anatomy comprising of 27 bones. Take a look at your hands, they’re remarkable. It is the only part of our body that is capable of fine, meticulous work. Think how often you use them, to cook, to type, to eat, to try on clothes, to fix our hair and the list goes on. It is also an area besides the face that sometimes can appear older than the rest of our body. This is because too often this most used body part is also the most neglected.

Our hands are exposed all the time, whether it be the environmental elements, hazardous materials like dish washing soap. Okay, maybe dish washing soap isn’t hazardous I just hate washing dishes; however the chemicals and products we use to keep our house clean can be drying to our hands.

To prevent the ravages that chemicals can have on our hands it is important to wear gloves while doing housework. I know there are some puritans that feel you can’t clean as well with gloves on, I used to be one of them. Believe me when I tell you you can and your hands will thank you for it. When shopping for rubber gloves make sure you buy the correct size, this makes a world of difference. You can even give your hands an intense treatment while doing your housework. Slap on some moisturizer and slide your hands into the gloves, by the time you finish, your hands will be soft like butter.

Another aspect of maintaining your hands is to wear gloves in harsh weather conditions. I seem to have a tendency to always misplace my gloves and find them sometime soon after the spring equinox. You can avoid this problem by keeping your gloves in your coat pocket or purse.

Moisturizing your hands is also often overlooked. The reasons most people don’t moisturize their hands, is that they don’t like the greasy feel that most hand moisturizers have. Newsflash…you don’t have to use a moisturizer specifically geared for your hands. Although they do tend to be richer than other moisturizers, more often than not, the richer formulas are better suited to when you are at home relaxing. You can use the same moisturizer you use on your body or face. I like to buy the travel size version of lotions and keep it handy in my purse. When it comes to you hands you can never moisturize enough at least 4 times daily, especially if you live in a dry or harsh climate.

Another tip to keep in mind is treating your hands the way you do your face. Exfoliate the skin on your hands once a week. Put on a rich moisturizer and cover your hands with cotton gloves at least once a week. Your hands will thank you.