I very highly doubt that using cycling gloves will prevent nerve damage. If you have a good fit to your bike, then gloves or no, you'll be fine. As others mentioned, one of the greatest advantages manifest itself in the event of a crash. Normally, one of the first things people do when falling is to thrust out their hands to help break the fall. Bare skin on the palms of our hands on concrete or asphalt? Well, you know the result.

It's true that most cycling falls happen so fast that one does not have a chance to put their arm out. Still, it is better to have the protection.

Two other less important advantages, (for me), is that I tend to sweat a lot when cycling. Gloves absorb palm sweat and allow a more secure, firm grip on the bars. Then, a lot of gloves have a terry cloth patch at the base of the thumb on the outside of the hand. That is the perfect 'forehead wipe' to pull away some dripping sweat. If you have never experienced salty sweat getting into your eyes . . . count yourself lucky. It's not fun and, (again, for me), it requires stopping the bike, removing the sun shades, and wiping my face and eyes to remove the sweat.

Gloves are not all that expensive and well worth getting a few pair. (Wash after every ride in cold water and allow to drip dry.)

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Right now, I have the most unique suntan pattern on the back of my hands. There are little rows of brown spots running across the back of my hand with a larger, oval shaped brown patch in the middle. It was caused by three days last weekend riding in the sun and with the crochet style gloves that I normally wear.