Of all of the family chores, washing dishes wreaks a particular kind of havoc in your palms: Soaking your nails in water could cause them to develop and contract, which may make them brittle and weak over time; and the new water temperature, whereas excellent for scrubbing off grime, can strip the pores and skin of its pure oils and lipids. Not to say, even probably the most natural-leaning dish soaps can include drying elements—like vinegar and lemon—which may trigger cracked and scaly palms. Bottom line? You may need to spend money on a set of dishwashing gloves with a purpose to shield your paws as you scrub down the flatware.