Dry skin

[verticalswamp]

This might have been better in the gear critic section, but does anyone else out there find their hands get really dry and cracked in the alpine? I have pretty nasty eczema at the best of times, but it's starting to get annoying. I spent a couple of days out and my hands look like claws. Suggestions from folks what know, or industrial skin lubricants would be appreciated.

[Ade]

Neutrogena Hand Cream and or Bag Balm (as used by Shuana Twain) seem to do the trick for me.

[Cody]

Working in the medical field, Eucerin is used all the time for dry skin/exzema...thick goopy stuff, but it works well.

[verticalswamp]

Thanks Ade (Friend of GB?) tried 'em, Bag Balm makes my skin freak out, I think it's the Lanolin. And Eucerin, is that OTC or do I need to suffer another round of futility with a skin guy?

[hasbeen]

Another vote for Eucerin. A doc turned me on to it when I was working out on gym apparatus and climbing a lot, both of which involved a lot of chalk. The stuff works.

[Cody]

Eucerin is right OTC...not really that expensive either. FYI--it's better then regular lotions because it creates a moisture barrier (when you try smearing the stuff on, you'll realize that).

[Alpine_Tom]

Eucerin is also good because it's unscented. And, it seems to work better on my hands than anything else I've tried. It doesn't leave that slimy feeling.

[Matt_Anderson]

Went through about two -threee years of torture, my fingers would split, nail beds split, hang nails, etc. This last year, my hands finally returned to normal. None of the doctors I saw said it was eczema, so yours is likely a bit different, but here's what seemed to help me:

First thing is make sure you drink enough, have some fat in your diet, etc.

The best lotion I found is "Eucerin Dry-Skin Therapy Plus Alhpa Hydroxy Lotion" (there are other Eucerin products). I tried a bunch of others, some prescirbed, but I think this is the best because 1) it does help your skin heal fast 2) the Alpha Hydroxy strips off the extra calouses that will catch/crack and cause extra abrasions/pain and 3) It doesn't soften your skin so much that climbing will screw with your hands in the future.

Dunking your hands in cold/ice water for five minutes after climbing also speeds blood flow and reduces swelling.

Don't wash your hands unless you have to! Soap, showers, constant washing dries out your hands. When it was real bad, I showered and did dishes with rubber gloves on. Solvent and aluminum oxide also aggravate your skin, so wear gloves for chores involving them and for gear sorting (You'll get shit for this one . . . )

Make sure that your hands are not coated with loation or still soft from water, etc when you go climbing. They are more likely to get torn up, which destroys the protective coating, which extends healing time, yadda, yadda, yadda . . .

Good luck

Matt

[freeclimb9]

No Crack cream available at Restoration Hardware stores http://www.restorationhardware.com/index.htma/item.html?item=97&sid=hvmtlwRvJzig6vLS

It's good. Really.

[Cody]

Oh yeah, and to second Matt's theory about keeping hand-washing to a minimum...when you do wash your hands, don't use hot water. You're not getting them any cleaner by using hot water, but what you are doing, is chapping your skin (which causes cracks and bleeding even if you can't see that happening).

[Dru]

If you have oily goo on your hands, hot water will get them cleaner than cold water.

Bggest tip I have is if your hands are dry DO NOT USE CHALK EVER! chalk destroys skin, pure and simple.

[verticalswamp]

thanks all. The alpha hydroxy stuff is often a good way to wake yourself up, particularly if you have chapping like I have right now. Alternatively, I'd imagine sticking a cattle prod up your ass would produce the same effect.

I shall hunt out the Eucerin. Matt, belaying with sailing gloves has given me years of practice ignoring the inquisitive stares, plus you can lower people much much faster.