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Help with dry sore finger tips

Original Post
Fan Zhang · · Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,704

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!

rgold · · Poughkeepsie, NY · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 526

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!).

That said,

1. Hydrate as much as possible. Easterners aren't used to drinking lots of water all the time.

2. Lotion at night, sleep with cotton gloves. Reapply if you wake up.

3. Wear leather gloves for as much of the day as possible---definitely during approaches but even around town, weird as it may look. And of course belay and rappel with them. The idea is to create a more humid environment for the hands.

Some people try supergluing cuts and nail separations, but this never worked for me. Tape may also be slightly useful.

Fan Zhang · · Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,704

Thanks rgold. I appreciate the advice and will try to follow them today, our off day, especially the idea with the gloves.

Lothian Buss · · Durango, CO · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 15

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.

something like this:

amazon.com/Now-Foods-Lanoli…

Work that into your hands at night. And as needed. If you do it right before you chalk up, you might still be a little sticky.

teece303 · · Highlands Ranch, CO · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 596

Belay gloves: mine get holes pretty quickly. All that wear would have been my skin without them. Not a solution, but a small help.

Stay hydrated. You need a lot more water than you think in arid and semi-arid climates.

Lotion: use one of those 24-hour kinds, that leave a film on your hands. The film is annoying, yes, but it moisturizes and provides a barrier against moisture loss that others don't.

A steroid creme helps healing happen quicker, for really beat up skin, but it MUST only be used short term, or it will make things worse.

These things will help, but not solve the problem. Your body adapts, eventually, but probably not on a vacation, sadly.

Highlander · · Ouray, CO · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 256

Hoof Maker is a good lotion that does not leave your hands greasy.

Wash you hands with soap and water at night, get them nice and clean. Use something like "Working Hands" before bed, Home Depot Carries it. Pack your cuticles and cracks with a good salve like Climb On, J-Tree, or Burts. Sleep with a cheap pair of cotton gloves on your hands.

Some people also like Udder Butter for relieving dry, cracked hands.

Rock J Hopper · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2015 · Points: 5

Dove, because putting the lotion on the skin is better than getting the hose again.

Home remedies: one really good lotion is called "Man-up". Essentially it's earth's clay and dirt mixed with rain water, gasoline and car engine oil. Works like a charm and chicks dig it!

Aleks could do a good "lotion skid" I bet.

Thomas Beck · · Las Vegas, Nevada · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,025
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.
Bill Czajkowski · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 20

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.

Fan Zhang · · Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,704

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.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Nevada
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