Winter Hand Care

Post by **diggum** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 8:39 pm

My hands are in a sad state of being.

They're dry & cracking (not to mention this nice flapper on my index finger). So when I climb, my cuticles are splitting & bleeding around my nails.
I use hoofmaker...does this dry your hands out? I can't remember them being this bad before. Should I just moisterize the crap out of them or what?

Any tips? I hate to mess up these nice callouses I have by over-moisterizing.

-d-

Post by **squeezindlemmon** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 8:47 pm

Homedics Paraffin Hand Bath. I think.

Or just tape up.

Post by **Yasmeen** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 8:53 pm

Okay this is gonna sound really, really nerdy...

If you put some lotion on the back of your left hand, you can spread it with your right forearm, and avoid getting lotion on your right hand. And then vice versa. I had the same dilemma with not wanting to overmoisturize my palms...

Post by **Jeff** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 8:58 pm

Man, I always get dry hands in the winter, more from work than climbing.
Last year I picked up some Gold Bond Ultiimate Healing Skin Therapy Lotion".
Works great. Found it at Walgreens or similar.
http://www.chattem.com/whatsnew/gb-ultimate.asp

Post by **Jeff** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 8:59 pm

Yasmeen wrote:Okay this is gonna sound really, really nerdy...

If you put some lotion on the back of your left hand, you can spread it with your right forearm, and avoid getting lotion on your right hand. And then vice versa. I had the same dilemma with not wanting to overmoisturize my palms...

But then how do you get those arm-bars?

Post by **Yasmeen** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:02 pm

Well I don't have any callouses on my forearms that I'm trying to protect!

Post by **marathonmedic** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:10 pm

If you can find it, Bag Balm is absolutely wonderful. You used to be able to get it at feed stores that cater to larger lifestock. Officially it's made to help keep cow nipples from chapping, but it's also great for dogs with dry, cracked paws, people with dry, cracked paws, and babies with diaper rash. (My pediatrician swore by it!)

Post by **air canada** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:36 pm

I just use an off-the-shelf non-greasy lotion, and use just small amounts. Just enough so that my hands no longer feel dry. I've used a variety of things on my hands, but the key for me was the amount I was using.

Not sure how well it would work for existing skin cracks, but for maintenance it works pretty well.

Post by **longlegsrule** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:44 pm

stop using Metolius chalk for starters (if you do)

AVEDA makes a couple of oils that work really well...if I could just keep track of the bottle...

Post by **dhoyne** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:35 pm

Use Burt's Bees. The stuff is simply amazing. It's all natural -- no impossible to pronounce chemicals.