Do you use hand treatment?

Tyler King wrote: So is this like the alcohol/chalk blend on steroids? Or does it actually do something crazy to your skin? Ever since climbing my hands and feet have become increasingly sweaty. Perhaps this is a semi permanent solution for this problem...

Tyler,

I don't think it has alcohol in it and I'm sure it's not a form of chalk. Someone told me that it has formaldehyde in it, but I'm not sure since the label on the tube is in German. Really, I'm not making this up. Anyway, it has changed climbing for me, since worn out skin is no longer an issue.

Antihydral is a topical cream containing methenamine as the active ingredient.

So Alice, do tell, do you use hand treatment? ....This thread sucks

I am amazed at how many options there are. The Ol Lady has issues with skin cracking on her fingers, what do you folks think is best for that?

Jay, How often & when do you apply the magic potion for optimal results?

Mike Lane wrote:I am amazed at how many options there are. The Ol Lady has issues with skin cracking on her fingers, what do you folks think is best for that?

Personally I'd go for a balm with some combo of olive oil, shea butter, and/or cocoa butter.

Bag Balm works really well but it's kinda greasy and has a distinct odor.

There's a product called "Heal My Hands" that works equally well for cracking due to dryness and is less offensive.

Monomaniac wrote:Jay, How often & when do you apply the magic potion for optimal results?

I'd only use Antihydral three times/ week. My friend Jay used it every day for two weeks and his tip split, and not in the crease, on the tip. Ugh.

When you use the stuff, it's important not to get it in the crease of your finger because that will most likely split, just with a few applications. I slather it on my tips, and leave it on for an hour or more. Then I wash it off with soap and water. That seems to do the trick.

Jay Knower wrote: Tyler, I don't think it has alcohol in it and I'm sure it's not a form of chalk. Someone told me that it has formaldehyde in it, but I'm not sure since the label on the tube is in German. Really, I'm not making this up. Anyway, it has changed climbing for me, since worn out skin is no longer an issue.

So does it in fact decrease the amount your hands sweat? It seems like you use it to thicken your skin/ create callouses, but haven't made mention to the sweating factor... It seems to be worht trying just for thicker skin and not cracking, but if it semi-permanently decreases sweat that is one more reason...

Tyler King wrote: So does it in fact decrease the amount your hands sweat? It seems like you use it to thicken your skin/ create callouses, but haven't made mention to the sweating factor... It seems to be worht trying just for thicker skin and not cracking, but if it semi-permanently decreases sweat that is one more reason...

I haven't noticed it decreasing my hand sweat, despite foosball.com's insistence that it does. I suppose if you slathered it on your hands, it might decrease sweat. I use it to build up/create callouses, and I've found it works very well at it.

Ya and it seems they expect you to "slather" it on. It's cheap enough to try, and a little extra skin is a good thing... Thanks for the idea!

Tyler King wrote: From the website: Antihydral Cream "Stops Hand Sweat" This product is UNBELIEVABLE. One little dab of the cream, rub it into your hands and your hands will stay bone dry for hours or days, it varies. If your hands sweat, and you want them to stop, this cream from Europe is the trick. Hint: One tube will last you for years and sweaty hands will no longer be a problem So is this like the alcohol/chalk blend on steroids? Or does it actually do something crazy to your skin? Ever since climbing my hands and feet have become increasingly sweaty. Perhaps this is a semi permanent solution for this problem...

Awesome stuff if you love formaldehyde and ammonia on your skin! ;P 

I use Antihydral and it works wonders. I have palmar hyperhydrosis (extraordinary sweaty hands) so I actually rub a small amount into my entire hand once or twice the week leading up to a climbing trip and then starting about three days before the trip I start putting a thin layer on my finger tips that I leave on over night. I have super super sweaty oily hands so this barely dries my hands out but it does stop the sweating and makes my skin dry. Unless you have day to day problems with sweaty hands then you should probably keep it on just your finger tips and don’t rub it into your palm like I do. 

The drying effect is cumulative. I coat my tips for three days, and they are at their peak around day five (2 days after coating for 3 days). 

I also use Rhino Skin performance lotion as a replacement for J-Tree salve. I use this at night immediately after climbing especially after a few days in the desert. The lotion is awesome not too greasy and it also has the same active ingredient as Antihydral in it just in a much smaller amount. It’s the only lotion I can use because anything else makes me too greasy and compounds my sweating problem. 

Rhino skin makes several products with the same active ingredient as antihydral but in smaller concentrations and mixed with skin conditioners so it does not overdry your skin. I would highly reccomend this to anyone with normal skin that wants to pick up a small edge friction wise. 

Methanamine is the active ingredient in both products. When exposed to acidic moisture (like your sweat or skin oil) the methanamine breaks down into formaldehyde. The formaldehyde denaturizes the proteins in your sweat glands and once denatured the protein is a big uncoiled mess that physically plugs your sweat and oil glands. 

Trader Joe's has a salve that is $3.99, not greasy, and heals my worse cracked hands in 2 days.  I've tried Climb On, Climb On Lotion, and Jtree salve.  Trader Joes is the best I have tried.

i just use a lil coconut oil at the end of the day... always good to go the next day

Well if this thread is getting revitalized after ten years I might as well play along!  Use code “MP20” at RhinoSkinSolutions.com and get 20%off products.