Help with dry sore finger tips
|
My partner and I are visiting the very awesome but dry Red Rocks from the very humid Washington, D.C. After two days of climbing in the sun and dry air my finger tips are painfully sore with dried blood caked under one thumb nail. I've been applying lotion and climb on salve multiple times at night even before our first day out, but that has not appeared to be enough. Does anyone have any over the counter or home remedies to recommend? There are no visible hangnails on the affected fingers but I did clip my nails fairly short right before leaving home for the trip. Pain is so bad I had to soak my fingers in a bucket of ice last night and still have trouble buttoning buttons today. How do other out of towners or locals deal with this type of issue? My partner's cuticles are also getting chewed up badly; would appreciate suggestions or how to deal with that as well. Thanks! |
|
Yup, I've had this problem to varying degrees every time I visit Red Rocks from New York State. Never found a really good solution---I don't think there is a whole lot you can do except grin and bear it. It never bothered me all that much climbing, but made the rest of life miserable (eg those buttons!). |
|
Thanks rgold. I appreciate the advice and will try to follow them today, our off day, especially the idea with the gloves. |
|
What you need is %100 pure lanolin. USP grade ok, don't get the HPA or hypoallergenic grades, they're too refined for maximum effectiveness. |
|
Belay gloves: mine get holes pretty quickly. All that wear would have been my skin without them. Not a solution, but a small help. |
|
Hoof Maker is a good lotion that does not leave your hands greasy. |
|
Dove, because putting the lotion on the skin is better than getting the hose again. |
|
Fan Z. wrote:My partner and I are visiting the very awesome but dry Red Rocks from the very humid Washington, D.C. After two days of climbing in the sun and dry air my finger tips are painfully sore with dried blood caked under one thumb nail. I've been applying lotion and climb on salve multiple times at night even before our first day out, but that has not appeared to be enough. Does anyone have any over the counter or home remedies to recommend? There are no visible hangnails on the affected fingers but I did clip my nails fairly short right before leaving home for the trip. Pain is so bad I had to soak my fingers in a bucket of ice last night and still have trouble buttoning buttons today. How do other out of towners or locals deal with this type of issue? My partner's cuticles are also getting chewed up badly; would appreciate suggestions or how to deal with that as well. Thanks!------------------------------- Fan, I carry a tin of Burt's Bee's cuticle creme for after climbing. That said most all the other comments are helpful IMO. Sport climbing...belay gloves really postpone the cracks and "peellies". The night gloves can speed healing along. Cuticle trimmers from the pharmacy is better than tearing off. A little judicious sandpaper can help. I found crazy glue to be an emergency fix only. Some of my partners use crazy glue often. Unfortunately once you are to stage you describe, it's pain and about a week to recover. |
|
Multivitamin. I think it ups your electrolytes and keeps the fluids in - kind of like the old salt tablets. I know it sounds screwy but it works very well to prevent cracked tips. At least for me. |
|
Thanks all for the helpful suggestions. I really appreciate them. I couldn't find Lanolin yesterday in town but have been applying climb on and lotion frequently, hydrating well, and wearing gloves at night. After a rest day yesterday fingers feel noticeably better. Had a blast on Purblind Pillar today in perfect weather. |