I have fragile skin to start with, but during the lockdown I built a horizontal crack trainer out of deck scraps, and immediately got some gobies. Of course I was too frothy to let them heal, and started making gains, so those sores on the backs of my hands lasted all season (at least 6 months or more).
Now if they barely touch rock they just open up even after months of no jamming.
I taped, wear gloves, but does anyone have any experience with regrowing or toughening skin over the scar tissue?
I’ve used creams and rhino skin performance, and I’ve got my tips pretty dialed, but haven’t figured out the backs of my hands yet ( although haven’t payed as much attention as tips admittedly.
I have fragile skin to start with, but during the lockdown I built a horizontal crack trainer out of deck scraps, and immediately got some gobies. Of course I was too frothy to let them heal, and started making gains, so those sores on the backs of my hands lasted all season (at least 6 months or more).
Now if they barely touch rock they just open up even after months of no jamming.
I taped, wear gloves, but does anyone have any experience with regrowing or toughening skin over the scar tissue?
I’ve used creams and rhino skin performance, and I’ve got my tips pretty dialed, but haven’t figured out the backs of my hands yet ( although haven’t payed as much attention as tips admittedly.
The scar tissue I got eleven years ago from climbing bareknuckled has stayed with me ever since. Like you described, mine would reopen at the slightest provocation on easy terrain.
The only improvement I've seen has coincided with using collagen in the past couple years. I've been able to climb some longer routes on glacially-polished granite and Wingate tapeless. Those routes were primarily finger cracks and face, but did have some important hand jams.
Focus on jamming technique, not on skin toughening. Climb so you don't tear the skin, period. But if you know you're going to be doing miles of crack, tape up. Still, even the odd jam on a face route (always a joy) can open you up. Focus on micro-adjusting each jam before weighting it. Lastly, if you go back to the crack machine, always tape or use crack gloves. Bleeding on an apparatus is just not a good practice.