Does anyone use Skin Balm to help recover? Marketing myth or real deal?

I’ve seen a couple brands like Metolius and others sell a “climber’s skin balm” which vaguely claims to help heal skin.

How effective is it really? Will it cause my skin to grow back faster? Heal cuts? Or just placebo? 

Thanks for input :)

They are not miracle cures, but they do help keep your skin in better condition. I prefer Joshua Tree climbing salve, and usually put it on at night, after the day of climbing. The few times when I had forgotten to do it, I felt that my fingertips were more sore than usual on the second day. Can’t say that this is statistically significant, lol. 

Got to moisturize for quicker healing. 

Nothing will make you last longer than improving technique and frequency. Grab holds at a moment of weightlessness and rest the skin between repeated attempts. 

That said, skin heals better when moist. Balms trap moisture, lotion hydrates. I see no reason to use climbing specific products unless you're playing with antihydral dosing. Overdoing antihydral sucks. 

Tried many brands and types, vaseline works just fine. 

I don’t like how a lot of the ‘climbing balms’ are really overpriced for what they are, and for the amount they come in. Vaseline seems like a great alternative. 

Get yourself some Bag Balm. It will change your life.

using the metolius cream right now and as borat says,  “great success”. really happy with the healing progress since i started. 

• Several options.  Use a blend designed for farmers like Udder butter...  is good and heals your skin faster.   

I tried Carmex once and I was satisfied with the results

long time believer in Climb on bar. This comes as both a climber and someone working food service where I wash my hands 100's of times a week. Climb on seems to work the best and no petroleum products in. 

I've had great luck with O'Keefe Working Hands. 

I don't know that it's better, but it's not oily or greasy so it makes me want to use it more 

Climbing balms are 98 percent the same. Beeswax, Shea Butter, some oils (coconut, olive, motor) and then a few things that smell and feel good like lavender and calendula. Most of the appeal is in portability, instead of going camping with a tub of vaseline or similar. 

The body heals itself. But dry cracks that continue to crack definitely slow the process. 

I also think there is an optimal moisture content. If your hands were covered and moisturized all the time, like David Duchovny in Zoolander, I think you'd have real problems with dehydration and splits once exposed to the world.

Eucerin original healing in the tub is what ive been using for years and it works great.

I make my own lotion bar. 8oz Shea butter, 8oz beeswax, 8oz coconut oil and some lavender oil. You can double boil it if you like punishment or just melt it all in a container in the oven at 165f. This makes a very hard and durable lotion bar that can be poured into any container or mold you’d like. You can throw some grape seed oil in there to make it softer.

Between climbing and cooking for a living (lots of hand washing with antiseptic soap, etc) my hands get super hammered and this is what I’ve found works for me. 

Burt's Bees Res-Q Ointment (in the green tin) has been my go to for years. Definitely helps.