I have been wrenching since 1978, the last 15 to 20 years, the first thing I do is put on rubber gloves. Between the fumes and chemicals I'm in I have to protect myself, I wish I would have used gloves a long time ago!! Hand cream before bed. Like mentioned I'm very careful of what I reach into, like around fans and such. My hands and hammers don't get along so well though. I'm always hitting them. I also wear leather gloves when using a hammer. Had thumb surgery a year ago. My skin on my thumbs cracks open a lot, I have stock in Band-Aid. LOL