Elemental Hands

By channeling the forces of the universe, you surround your hands in elemental energy.  This energy may be restricted to as little just a single mote floating at the end of one finger or expanded to cover the entire forearm as your item interaction or as part of the casting.   When you cast this spell pick an element (see below), the hand used for the somatic component is covered in that element for the duration or until the spell is dismissed. The elemental coating doesn't harm the caster or anything they are wearing or holding, including gloves, unless they wish it to.

Anytime the covered area is subjected to a harmful effect based on that element, the caster takes 5 less damage than they would have (minimum 0).  Since this can at most cover the hand and forearm this doesn't provide protection from attacks or most traps unless they specifically only target the hands and forearms.  It can be used to reach into or hold hazardous substances.

If the element covers at least the entire palm the caster can deal 1d6 damage of that type as a melee attack with that hand. Each element also provides a utility function.

The elements and their special effects, which take an Action or Bonus Action (caster's choice) to use, are as follows:

• Acid: The caster can etch or erase non-magical markings on objects. The magic causes the dissolved material to be redeposited in the same general area it is taken from preventing the object from being worn through from repeated uses.
• Cold: The caster can cool objects and by spending 1 minute touching them can leave a layer of magical frost on them which inhibits their use for 1 hour or until the frost is melted by a heat source. 
• Fire: The caster spreads light like a torch and can ignite flammable substances with a touch.
• Force: The caster can telekinetically manipulate a number of objects equal to Spellcasting Ability Modifier (minimum 1) within 1 foot of their hand applying a total force equal to 10 pounds times their Spellcasting Ability Modifier (minimum 10 pounds).  This can be used to substitute for various small tools at DM discretion.
• Lightning: The character can electrify a touched metal object or pool of water (up to a 10 ft x 10 ft square) such that anyone who touches it directly is subject to the spell's damage.  This effect requires a melee attack against the object or to otherwise press the hand against it.  This can be used to electrify a metal weapon, adding the spell's damage to the weapon's damage on the caster's next attack with it this round. 
• Negative Energy (Necrotic Damage): The caster can cause the negative energy to consume light, reducing the light level in a 20 ft radius by one step. This does not count as magical darkness.
• Poison: The caster can smear poison on a blade adding the spell's damage to the blade's for the next minute. The caster can also permanently poison touched food or drink such that they deal the spell's damage, one hour after consumption, for every quarter pound of poisoned food or drink thus consumed.  Food and drink poisoned this way can be detected by a Wisdom (Perception) Ability Check vs your Spell Save DC.
• Psychic: Creatures that take damage from this effect are given a powerful headache and suffer disadvantage on Intelligence and Wisdom Ability Checks (but not Saving Throws) for the next hour.
• Positive Energy (Radiant Damage): The caster's hand can shed bright white light in a 20 ft radius or, by only emitting light from the palm, in a 20 ft cone .
• Thunder: The caster can choose to create an extremely loud but harmless sound, although the caster can reduce the volume as desired.  This sound is either the sound of a thunder crack or another simple sound; it cannot be a voice.

The caster may cast this again with the other hand, both hands may have an effect active at the same time.

This spell's damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).