For many people especially housewives and manual workers, the hands are the most overworked and ill-used part of the body. They are exposed to all kinds of wear and tear: to the effects of temperature and climate: to frequent wetting: to the onslaughts of harsh chemicals: and to the risk of minor injury and subsequent infection. Yet the care of the hands is often completely overlooked until, say, the skin becomes rough and cracked or a nail is broken. 
 

Chapped hands
The repeated use of soap and water damages the top layer of the skin, and can cause excessive scaling, or chapping. When washing hands lukewarm water and the simplest soap should be used. Exposing unprotected hands to bleaches and other kitchen chemicals, and also to shampoos, can aggravate chapping.To protect hands, wear plastic gloves. Cold weather can also cause chapping of the hands. The skin becomes sore and red and may begin to crack. One has to use cold cream at this time.

Eczema
In some extreme instances, chapping can lead to eczema, or inflamation of the skin. Eczema can also affect people who are allergic to certain materials. As the hands are almost always in contact with some material, the condition can persist. One has to see the doctor in this condition.

Warts
Children in particular are affected by warts, which develop on the hands or fingers and are contagious. Most warts disappear spontaneously, as immunity develops, though they persist for a year or more. There is no way of preventing them. If they cause concern they should be seen by a doctor, who can destroy them with corrosive or freezing fluids. 
 

The main function of the finger nails is to protect the sensitive tips of the fingers and concentrate the sense of touch. On average, a nail grows from its base to its top edge in about six months. If nails are not cut they will become split and broken. 

Flaking nails 
The top layers of nails can seperate and start to flake off if they are exposed to too much soap and water or detergent. If flaking occurs, wear plastic gloves when washing dishes or clothes, and massage nail cream into the nail base each day.

Brittle nails 
When nails easily crack or break they can be a permanent worry. Weak nails are caused by general ill health or a protein defeciency in the diet. You can increase your nutritional intake by eating more lean meat, fish, fresh fruit and vegetables.

Brittle nails could also be suffering from extereme dryness and, if this is the case, rub in a nail cream every morning and night and keep the nails fairly short until the condition improves.

Loose nails
The excessive use of nail hardeners containing formaldehyde can cause the nail plate to seperate from the nail bed. The space beneath the nail may then become infected, causing discoloration. Loose nails can also accompany diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. 

Hang nails 
If the nails are frequently immersed in water the outer skin layer may split away from the cuticle. The splits, or hang nails, are painful and can become infected. They can be snipped off with sharp nail scissors. To prevent them occuring the skin should be kept flexible by nightly applications of cold creams

Black nails 
A heavy blow on the nail---or jamming it in a door---can cause bleeding under the nail which eventually fall off. New growth will cure the condition. If the injury is very painful the nail may have to be removed surgically.

Nail Biting 
In both adults and children, nail biting is a common habit, sometimes stemming from insecurity, boredom, anxiety or excitment. Excessive nail biting results in very weak nails and in extreme cases, damaged fingers caused by chewing the nail down to the quick---the sensitive skin beneath the nail. The best remedy is often to appeal to the individual's vanity. Failing this, the person concerned must use willpower to conquer the habit.