Finger Skin Help Please

Hello,

I've developed some frustrating skin peeling on my tips for climbing. these past 2 months I've climbed more than I ever have, and significantly more on smaller crimps and holds. Two weeks ago all of my tips tore off and were extremely painful for days. I took it easy since then, but after a light gym session now my new skin is starting to peel. 

Does anyone have suggestions on what to do? I've been reading tons of posts but it's all confusing. Some say I should be moisturizing every night, others say not to to keep them hard and tough. Others say to use antihydral cream and keep them dry.  In general I think I have soft, delicate and sweaty skin. 

What are thought processes on creamy lotion vs. antihydral/rhino dry vs. hand salves?  What should I be using right after a gym session, and at night before bed? Should I be sanding the whole finger tip with an emery board?

thanks

I have what looks like a similar issue pretty much every year. My doctor told me that this was an id reaction ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id_re…) to the athletes foot on my feet because there didn't seem to actually be an infection on my hands. Lots of multipitch and hours in my rock shoes every season make it pretty difficult to keep from getting athletes foot (and I think I am especially prone to it), but as soon as I start treating it, the peeling on my hands gets better.

I have a similar issue that I consider to be "high turnover skin". Basically my tips sheds easier than most due to sweaty and seepy skin that looks similarly to yours. I've noticed big improvements after regularly using the "Rhino Skin" Dry and Performance products to dry and harden my skin. I've also become very good about washing my hands shortly after every session and applying some sort of repair cream immediately. 

Basically the key for me is to stop them from sweating, then using repair lotions/salves religiously to help them heal. 

Michael T wrote:

I have a similar issue that I consider to be "high turnover skin". Basically my tips sheds easier than most due to sweaty and seepy skin that looks similarly to yours. I've noticed big improvements after regularly using the "Rhino Skin" Dry and Performance products to dry and harden my skin. I've also become very good about washing my hands shortly after every session and applying some sort of repair cream immediately. 

Basically the key for me is to stop them from sweating, then using repair lotions/salves religiously to help them heal. 

Very helpful Michael, thanks.  I picked up some Rhino Performance yesterday. It really dried my fingers last night, but after showering this morning they're all soft and flaky again. 

Can you elaborate more on how many times a week you apply each product and when?

+1 for Rhino Dry on sweaty/soft skin. When I'm climbing a lot and need good skin, I apply it most nights before I go to sleep. Probably 4 or 5 nights a week. Then I use Working Hands after climbing when I feel like I really need it, but only then. I don't feel like all the weird, goopy salves do any good for skin that is naturally soft. 

sandrock wrote:

Very helpful Michael, thanks.  I picked up some Rhino Performance yesterday. It really dried my fingers last night, but after showering this morning they're all soft and flaky again. 

Can you elaborate more on how many times a week you apply each product and when?

 Typically the way that I do it is just keep using it every night until you reach a desired dryness, before cutting back to a few times a week to maintain. I used to have miserable wet skin, and I still do if I ever run out. Also check out the Dry and Tip Juice from rhino for stronger effects, and the Rhino Spit is a lifesaver if you ever overdry.

sandrock wrote:

Very helpful Michael, thanks.  I picked up some Rhino Performance yesterday. It really dried my fingers last night, but after showering this morning they're all soft and flaky again. 

Can you elaborate more on how many times a week you apply each product and when?

I kickstart the drying process by applying it 3ish nights in a row right before bed. This allows your skin to freak out and shed whatever is left. After that I usually apply 2-3 days a week, specifically the night before climbing. I used it on and off for several months without much benefit. Once I made an effort to use it regularly things improved greatly. Just spent 4 days in Smith, and while my tips definitely got raw, they healed fast and are much tougher now. Previously I would have been toast after two days. 

It's mostly trial and error. The Tip Juice didn't work for me, and I haven't found a reliable way to implement the dry spray.

I recommend listening to the episode of the Nugget Climbing Podcast featuring Justin Brown "Rhino founder". Lot's of good skin care info.

I like the dry spray because it's really easy and quick to apply, and I tend to see faster results than with performance, but performance is nice for long term drying and maintenance.  

Very helpful everyone, thanks!!

Hello how are you? I saw this old post of yours and would like to know if you somehow managed to fix this problem with your skin? I've been going through something similar for a few months now. 4 days after a climbing session my skin starts to fall out all over. I even changed my magnesium and even climbed without it, but it didn't help.