A lot of people do not really pay much attention to their hands. Most are conscious about their hair, face or skin, but only a few are really interested in taking good care of their hands. But come to think of it, the limbs, particularly the hands, are important in going about one's daily tasks. ...A lot of people do not really pay much attention to their hands. Most are conscious about their hair, face or skin, but only a few are really interested in taking good care of their hands. But come to think of it, the limbs, particularly the hands, are important in going about one's daily tasks. A person with no shakers would surely find it difficult to perform even the simplest activities such as eating, brushing the teeth, taking a bath and dressing up.

So if you have not been taking care of your hands lately, you better read on and learn the tips on how you should take good care of them.

Keep Clean At All Times

Your hands are carriers of bacterial, viral and even fungal infections so it is imperative that you wash them every time you use the bathroom, before and after eating anything, after sneezing or blowing your nose and before touching your face. You can protect your family members and yourself from getting sick if only you incorporate this habit in your lifestyle.

Be Careful Of What You Touch

Handles of the stairs to subway stations, doorknobs to public comfort rooms, railings on the park and even your twenty-dollar bill are so full of microorganisms, fecal matter, spit and other disgusting things that you don't want to know about. If you want to prevent your hands from catching fungal infections and your body from ingesting harmful viruses and bacteria, then you should take precautionary measures in handling things in public areas.

Keep Your Hands Hydrated

The secret to having beautiful hands is keeping it moisturized and hydrated at all times. You should drink plenty of water to make sure that your skin is moisturized from within. You should also buy a hand cream or lotion which you can carry at all times so that you can apply lotion or cream on your hands anytime. Most hand soaps contain acidic ingredients, such as triclosan and other bacteria-fighting elements that can make your hands and nails dry and flaky.

Try Different Strokes For Different Seasons

You need to understand that your hands also need some extra care during summer and winter seasons. If you are taking extra precaution to shield your face and neck during extreme weather conditions, you need to understand that your hands also need the same care.

During summer seasons, especially when you are out on the beach, put on a sunscreen with a high SPF not only on your face and neck, but also on your hands. Give special attention to and apply more sunscreen on the back of your hands.

In winter, you need to keep your hands and arms warm at all times, especially when you are going out. Always wear gloves when you are outdoors or mittens when you are inside your home. Arthritic pain can often flare up during the cold weather, so be sure to wrap your hands with a towel or blanket when you go to sleep at night to minimize pain, if you have arthritis.

Pay Attention To Your Nails Too

Fingernails are essential part of your hands so do not forget to keep them clean and dry too. Do not bite your nails because they will chip and become uneven. You should always remember that your nails are not unbreakable, so do not use them to open cans or beer bottles or pry open tight screws and other hard objects.

You should also be aware of your nails' health because sometimes symptoms of diseases are manifested in nails. For example, about 10% of psoriasis cases start from the splitting of the nail bed.

The most common nail problem in the US is nail fungus. Once you see that your nail bed is discolored, or a foul smell is emanating from them, or there is a stark thickening and deformation of your nails, you better go straight to a dermatologist because you may already be suffering from nail fungus. One product that is effective in fighting the microbe that causes this condition is Somasin. For details, check out http://tinyurl.com/8jkw6ma

Author's Bio: 

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine www.thearticleinsiders.com.