What's your secret? After many days in the garden, my hands really look it! Gloves are the obvious answer but digging in the dirt with gloves on is like wearing a condom. Or so I'm told. My best friend is my nail brush. I am still working full time in a place where my hands are very visible to customers. I keep polish on just to hide the dirt under my nails. There isn't a hand cream strong enough to keep my fingers and cuticles healthy. Vaseline is too greasy and things slip out of my hands when I use it. I want pretty hands and fingers AND I want to work in my yard. Thoughts? Ideas?

These are great gloves!
http://garden.org/ideas/view/T...

Or, if you aren't worried about nasty sharp things, nitrile gloves are nice, too.

Or there's always the rake your nails across a bar of soap trick, but that doesn't last long. Does Avon still make Silicon Glove? I had a mechanic friend who swore by that!

My hands will get super dry and crack, and my cuticles can get atrocious in the winter. The dermatologist recommended Amlactin http://amlactin.com/ and it really helps. It's not cheap, though - about $16 for a 7.9 oz. bottle of lotion. I use it sparingly, so it goes a long way. Hands, elbows, knees, and feet - for the rest I just use St. Ives oatmeal and shea lotion.

Amlactin has lactic acid in it, which is an exfoliant, and it makes those dry spots soft and supple. I used it after my shower last night, and my hands still feel soft after working around the house and washing dishes today. Try it, and I'm sure you'll be impressed with the changes with your hands and cuticles.

Carol

I have both nitrile and also Atlas whenever I can find them in size small. My MIIL gave me my first pair of Atlas some 15-odd years ago. She kept sending to me since I could never find them in my size locally. I just never have been comfortable wearing gloves. I get hot and I can't feel the soil. I have 3-4 pair laying around here, somewhere. That would be the first defense against the elements. I guess I'd better start getting used to them.

Silicone Glove is not strong enough. Avon used to make an AshTherapy hand cream that had Shea Butter and petroleum jelly in it. I loved it but they discontinued it. I've used Amlactin back when it was RX. It has an Alpha Hydroxy in it. It is very good when used regularly. Actually it is good all over your body. I have had some luck with Udder Balm. I might go back to that and the hoof cream that makes you nails strong, too. It's time to give my hands the treatment they deserve!

I use the Atlas thermal gloves, not for warmth, but because they are one of the few gloves that will protect me from the stickers on the nasty weeds we have here! If I'm careful, I can pull thistles with them. Fortunately, our hardware store carries them in small size.

I wear good flock-lined dish washing gloves for weeding and planting, and leather ones for heavy tasks and working around briars. There's always a risk here of grabbing hidden poison ivy, wasps, spiders, bees, stinging nettles or thorns, so I don't go without.

My hands can get dried out in gloves too, so for a quick and soothing hand refresher I use a warm soak of juiced cucumber with a splash of olive oil.

I can't attest to this but I've read that soaking hands and nails in denture cleaner (like Efferdent) for a few minutes will bubble the dirt off of hands and out from under nails. Anybody tried it? There's also a commercial product called Bubble White which is similar but more expensive. I've tried it and it does work well.
http://www.sallybeauty.com/on/...

Another favorite product is pretty feet and hands. It removes rough, dry, skin with embedded dirt from your hands
http://www.prettyfeetandhands....

Karen

How about good old fashioned Lava soap? You know, the stuff that is meant for a man? I mean, sometimes my hands come back stained with who knows what?!

I always wear Atlas gloves when working in the garden they are very nice and stand up to the heavy use they get fro me plus you can wash them. I keep extras on hand so when they need washing there is a clean pair to wear. The Amlactin lotion is fablous expensive but so worth it if you have dry skin, I use it on my hands if they get super dry and on my heels it works like a charm, read about it in Reader's Digest.

I second the recommendation for Amlactin - it's great. About 6 or 7 years ago, it was prescription only but is now OTC. Also, any lotion with glycerin in it is superior.

I have a box of the hospital plastic gloves that fit like a second skin for weeding and just digging in the dirt. I have to have a second skin feel when I am working in the dirt.

If I am working with plants like roses, bushes then I will pull out the thick leather gloves. But a box of 100 plastic gloves last me all summer.

I know this post is a bit dated and you're talking about protecting your hands. I can suggest a cleaner that will clean under your nails! Yes. But it is being discontinued and they aren't remarketing for a potential new audience, us! GOOP! For men, mechanics. Men now prefer Dawn dish detergent. GOOP is more than getting out grease. It can be used on clothes. It makes stains go away. Of course, Wash your hands with it. Maybe we can save this stuff!