Spring is here and we made it though another winter unscathed. Or did we? I don’t know about you, but my hands look like they have been on the business end of hard labor in a hostile climate.

As I get older I find my skin is not as resilient as it once was, and I am now paying for careless choices, such as not wearing gloves every time the temperatures were frigid and the winds blustery.

For seniors, taking care of the hands is vital as the skin loses some of its integrity and becomes thin. Not to mention, hands are like calendars and can readily show the passage of time.

So look down. What do you see? Are your hands red, cracked and rough enough to scrape paint off a wall?

If so, think about having regular manicures – many salons are reasonably priced, or do an at-home version yourself.

Manicures are the best way to keep your hands and nails supple and healthy. Since hands are one of the first things people notice about you, it is important to keep them up to par with the rest of your lovely self. Time and money are often spent on hair and make-up, and hands are forgotten.

If you elect the do-it-yourself route, the following steps, done weekly, will reward you with beautiful, soft hands suitable for holding.

By the way, men’s hands can benefit from some attention too. While this may seem like girly stuff, and the whole he-man, tough-and-gruff scenario may be deemed appealing, rough hands are unattractive any way you slice it. So get yourself a good hand cream and take a good look at the steps below:

. File nails gently with a good emery board in one direction, being careful not to file too deeply at the corners. Never see-saw as that can cause splitting.

. Massage a cuticle cream into the cuticles, gently pushing them back with a cuticle stick. It may be tempting to cut the cuticle with scissors, but don’t, as it is easy to cut too closely and this area is prone to infection.

. If your hands are rough and dry, it is important to remove the dead skin. I make my own sloughing cream by mixing sugar – some people use salt but I find it drying – and hand lotion together to form a soft paste. Rub it all over your hands, then wash with a mild soap and rinse well in warm water, never hot.

. To keep this newfound softness, massage a rich, but non-greasy, cream into your hands. There are dozens on the market. It is just a matter of finding one you like.

. Wipe fingertips with alcohol to remove any traces of oil left on your nails by the hand cream, if you are planning to apply polish.

. It’s important to apply a clear base coat so your nails won’t become stained by the colored polish.

. Apply two coats of polish, making sure each one dries thoroughly.

. When the second coat is dry, apply a top coat to increase the shine and protect your color.

Now sit back and relax until the nails are completely dry. You deserve the break.

A couple of tips: If you get nail polish on your fingers, use a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover. And when nails are just about dry but still a bit tacky, gently rub on a bit of oil. It won’t damage the manicure but will prevent smears if you inadvertently touch something.

These tips will make you look like you went south for the winter instead of braving the elements here. It’ll be our secret.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865, toll-free (800) 432-7812, e-mail info@eaaa.org, or log on www.eaaa.org. TTY 992-0150.