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dupree
Mar 19, 2002, 4:48 PM
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I recently started climbing again and, in a fit of overenthusiasm, have managed to remove a whole lotta skin from my hands. I'm sure there's not much to do now but let em' heal, but for future reference: Does anyone have any tips for taking care of their paws?
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tavs
Mar 19, 2002, 5:30 PM
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Contrary to what may seem intuitive, one tip I have is to make sure to keep your hands moisturized (come one, guys, lotion isn't only for the chicas!). When your skin gets dry, little rough edges appear, and its these edges that get further roughed up by the rock/plastic, resulting in shredded hands. Keeping the skin smoother can reduce this. The other thing I do is file down any calluses that my appear, again reducing rough edges the rock has to act on and worsen.
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outhere
Mar 19, 2002, 5:47 PM
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Keep it up, its good for ya
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climberdev
Mar 19, 2002, 5:50 PM
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i'm sitting here with a huge gash out of my palm...there use to be a callus there but i think it's on the crag now...i'm having the same problem: every time i think my hands are all callused up and good to go they tear again.
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outhere
Mar 19, 2002, 5:59 PM
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could it be sh_ty rock?
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pianomahnn
Mar 19, 2002, 6:14 PM
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Skin isn't a very strong surface compared to the rock. You're going to tear your hands up if you climb on rough rock, plain and simple. It happens to all climbers. The way of life. Sometimes one just needs to deal and move on.
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dupree
Mar 19, 2002, 6:17 PM
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I didn't mean to suggest that I was desperately trying to eliminate the loss of skin; I'm just looking for ways to minimize it.
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jdtschida
Mar 19, 2002, 6:31 PM
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ways to minimize it?
1. climb less...
2. climb in a gym with smooth holds...
3. climb at a crag with crap rock that everyone and their mother climbs on and makes it super smooth.
4. climb less...
As you can see, all the options that involve less skin loss suck bigtime!
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miagi
Mar 19, 2002, 7:21 PM
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woa woa woa tavs, use lotion?!?
Lotion is bad for your hands in climbing (at least in any time near your climb)
Picture this, lotion mositurizes your hands.
Now this, take a shower or bath and look at your hands. The water has soked into the skin "hydrating" it (alot). If you were to get out of the tub and just stand on the ground and pull on the rock your skin is going to peel like mad!!!! Now the same thing applies with lotion. If your putting lotion on your hands and then climb its going to cut it up worse.
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tavs
Mar 19, 2002, 7:41 PM
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Not right before climbing...I tend to use it either nightly before going to bed or in the morning after showering (before going to work, not climbing unfortunately!) since the water (especially if its very hot) dries out your skin...but definitely not right before climbing. See, my skin is prone to peeling, if I let it get dry, over time little edges begin to peel off (whether climbing or not), then when I hit the rock/plastic, I end up with literally shredded finger tips...doesn't happen if I keep the skin as smooth as possible.
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mountainrat
Mar 19, 2002, 11:30 PM
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My mitts usually get torn terribly.
I tape my fingers if I know that I'm going to be climbing something that has rewarded me with flappers in the past, like overhanging jug haul boulder problems in the gym.
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ponyryan
Mar 26, 2002, 7:24 AM
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Toughen your hands up. Using a chinup bar taped with normal athletic tape (the good grippy cloth stuff) will toughen them up. Your hands will develop calices (spelling is wrong I know, sorry) but it'll still hurt sometimes, it happens.
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stesh
Mar 26, 2002, 3:05 PM
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I had the same problem... now I don`t - I`m used to it. Now it is a problem of my GF
My hands feel like sandpaper and bit oaf skin don`t get torn away anymore. I think that it is a matter of time.
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fiend
Mar 26, 2002, 5:18 PM
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Use Hoofmaker, you can get it at most tack shops and some wallmarts. It's a lotion used for building callouses on the skin above a horses hoof and works wonders on roadtrips.
Some people don't like the idea of it, but they're the ones whining about how much there hands hurt after 4 days of pulling sharp sandstone pockets while you're happilly pulling on day 13
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mountainrat
Mar 26, 2002, 9:02 PM
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Taping is the answer, man- I recently climbed a route that previously left me with 6 flappers without a single one.
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drysdan
Mar 26, 2002, 9:20 PM
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indeed, tape, tape, tape. just don't overtape!
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joemor
Mar 27, 2002, 1:38 AM
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torn hands are the best part of climbing...... chicks dig scars.
joe
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crackaddict
Mar 27, 2002, 3:22 AM
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My sister in law makes a cool essential massage oil out of lavender and a bunch of other oils. I use it on my hands after climbing. I works great! I have used it to massage scar tissue out of tendon injuies, and heal thrashed hands. Lavender is the best for healing skin. I am not sure what all is in it but if you can find an essential oil blend with lavender in it. It will help. Use it after climbing and on your rest days. And you hands will heal faster.
Thats all I have to say.
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crackhabit
Apr 2, 2002, 8:05 AM
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yeah tape, just dont get to crazy and let you hands heal enough b4 climbing again
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maddie
Apr 2, 2002, 10:09 AM
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OK, Well to help stop this in the future soak your hands in METHO, by doing this it toughens up the skin. But DO NOT do it when you have open wounds cos they'll sting like hell!
but dont cry cos they WILL get beta
M.
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maddie
Apr 2, 2002, 10:14 AM
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PLUS dont cover them with bandaids when your not climbing, let the rips dry out!
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bulldog
Apr 2, 2002, 2:01 PM
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Badger Balm rules.
Made for people who work with their hands.
Not a wimpy a lotion, it soothes and toughens at the same time.
And it even smells non-girly.
I don't use it everyday, just when I get back from climbing and my hands are all torn up. It seems to heal them quicker.
I've tried everything - from equine crap to every sort of prescription therapy available, and the cheapie BB works best.
Bulldog
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pattray
Apr 2, 2002, 2:11 PM
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the only thing i know to keep them from being striped of skin is taping, otherwise tough it out they always get better !!
Pat.
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inflight
Apr 3, 2002, 8:39 PM
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I have a similar dry and flaky skin type. I have found that hydrating the skin is the key. Especially if you climb several days in a row. If the callouse gets too large, use a pumice stone to remove it otherwise, the rock will do it for you.
I actually moisturize my hands a hour before a long climbing day. This keeps the chaulk from completely drying out my hands. Experiment to find what works for you.
[ This Message was edited by: inflight on 2002-04-03 12:40 ]
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daggerx
Apr 4, 2002, 4:40 AM
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Tape up your hands and climb on their their is no reasion to be a wussy. Their only hands.
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rplocek
Apr 4, 2002, 5:20 AM
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I learned to use Horse's Dream on my rips when I was in gymnastics and I still use it for climbing. It helps healing go a bit faster but it won't stop the problem. It's also a great moisturizer.
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rockjunky
Apr 4, 2002, 5:54 AM
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Man I thought someone would have suggested super glue by now. I use super glue over fresh shredded skin. It acts as new skin and dries very quick. It also helps prevent infection. Super Glue can even fix those flappers. It feels a little weird the first time you put it on but after a few times it quits bothering you. The only negative is that it stays on for a few days. Next time your hands get torn up add a few drops of super glue to the tender area and you'll be ready to climb.
Rockjunky
[ This Message was edited by: rockjunky on 2002-04-03 21:57 ]
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verticallaw
Apr 6, 2002, 12:13 AM
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SUPER GLUE are you nuts? while your at it you could weld a steel plate to your palm. There is a product available at health food store that is called "Tea Tree Oil" apply directly to the tear and it will begin to dry it up so that the skin can form. Tape over top of this with athletic tape (only while climbing) when your not climbing let it air out. The nice thing about tea tree oil is that you can use it as much as you want. Blisters and caluses are good they themselves will make your hands stronger.
Mike
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jules
Apr 6, 2002, 10:31 PM
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Actually, superglue works wonders.
We keep it around along with our bandaids... if you apply it after the wound stops bleeding, it minimizes scarring and helps it heal faster.
As far as anyone we asked knew (a few doctors included), it's not harmful.
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greyghost
Apr 7, 2002, 12:56 AM
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You can only really tape for cracks and maybe alittle here and there for sharp jugs. The crimpers are the ones that hurt you. I just got back from a week in Joshua Tree, I have two scabbed up finger tips and the rest are super sensitive. You just need to deal with it and realize that it will get better as the season goes on.
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aboutte
Apr 8, 2002, 5:07 AM
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I agree w/moisturizing between climbing episodes. I am new at this and all BUT if you keep your hands healthy w/neosporin, even a little vaseline or a heavy lotion/cream-you won't regret it!
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sharmagod
Apr 8, 2002, 5:29 AM
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I suggest more climbing.
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rockrabbit
Apr 9, 2002, 11:21 AM
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It unfortunately comes with the territory and the more you climb the rougher and tougher your hands get.
Rock on.
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crux_clipper
Apr 9, 2002, 11:43 AM
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It's also interesting that you get indoor climbing caluses, and outdorr climbing caluses. This is due to climbing slightly differently indoors than outdoors. Something about the plastic too.
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jjphatz
Apr 9, 2002, 8:23 PM
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I disagree. You never just have to "deal with" torn up hands. Tape works to not only support tendons, but if you want your knuckles and hands to be free of knicks, use the tape. Otherwise, if you are climbing the crimpy stuff, get climber's salve. It's extra moisturizing and works really well. I've been climbing for 5 years and have managed to save my hands to a large degree w/ these 2 things.
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runningitout
Apr 9, 2002, 9:06 PM
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joemore is on it.
we dig scars, "hey boys."
but I dig my battlewounds the most, and God do I have them today. It looks like I tried to commit suicide. I rule!
Lis
[ This Message was edited by: runningitout on 2002-04-09 14:07 ]
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case22
Apr 10, 2002, 1:47 AM
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There's not a whole lot you can do to get the skin back. That happens to me all the time when I first start back outside, so bad in fact that it hurts when you take a shower! But, my friends and I tape our fingers if they get too bad!
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ryanxsevn
Apr 16, 2002, 4:21 AM
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I’ve had good luck using liquid Skin and tape while climbing. after about 6 months of regular climbing my hands were so callused I hardly had any problems at all(minus the normal stuff). But have recently ran into a new problem. During the spring and summer I do allot of kayaking on the weekends. Last weekend was my first time out this season. So today I go climbing and my hands are totally raw.
So if there are any climbers/paddlers out there I would be interested in how you deal with this problem.
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roadtrip
Apr 16, 2002, 4:36 AM
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I got some Climb On brand stuff as a gift that works incredibly well(though I'm too cheap to buy the stuff). Also, water and soap softens your calluses, which any guitar player will tell you reverses the skin strength you're trying to build. Above all, jam gingerly.
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