Take Care of Callus
Rock climbing is a sport and entertainment activity that millions of people across the world enjoy. However, there are so many ups and downs associated with the action, such as your hands developing calluses and potential rips.
Calluses are hardened area that forms on the hands and fingers due to immense pressure that may have been placed on the hands. The hardened area is a compilation of dead skin cells, which can make the hands a bit uncomfortable when pressed against various surfaces. Even though they serve functional purposes at times in terms of providing a protective barrier for your hand against rough surfaces, you have to ensure they are treated and cared for.
How to take care Calluses and prevent flappers for climber's hands
Taking care of your calluses is critical to getting the most comfortable use out of your hands. You must ensure you clean your hands regularly or after touching different surfaces, don't let them grow too hard (shave them). Taking care of your calluses will help you to prevent further issues from developing like flappers, bruises, and rips. So, what are the best tips in caring for your calluses and hands in general? Here are a few things to consider.
1. Wash your hands after climbing
When climbing, you generally add a few ingredients to your palms to help your grip remain firm and strengthen your palms against the hard surface. A lot of times, you may use chalk, grease, or dirt. Once you have completed your climbing task, it is critical to cleanse your hands to reduce the chances of bacteria getting in any rips that may have been formed on your hands. Also, these things tend to dry out your hands and cause further health issues like irritation and pore damage. After climbing, you need to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for a few seconds to a minute to remove any excess particles.
2. Minimize exposure of hot water
Hot water can be an excellent choice to clean your hands and kill any underlying harmful particles that may stick to your hands. However, when your hands develop calluses, you may want to reduce the amount of hot water you expose your hands to. Also, hot water will tend to soften the calluses and, in turn, reduce the protection level of the Callus for your hands. When the Callus gets too soft or loose, they tend to become an easy target for rips and will develop into a flapper. So, to have your calluses remain in good shape, it is essential to use less hot water and soak mostly with cold water.
3. Try Different chalk
Chalk can be a good idea for climbers, as it reduces the sweating in the palms and eventually reduces the chances of slipping. Some of these chalks have extra drying agents, so if you do not suffer from sweaty palms, you could risk your hands becoming sapped of all moisture and start to get chapped. After using for a while, you notice the elements in the selected chalk are endangering your calluses, and it is highly recommended that you stop using and choose a different brand of chalk. You can then assess the status of your hands going forward.
4. Files your Callus with callus remover
Allowing your calluses to get too thick can be a major problem as it will be hard to use your hands against certain surfaces. The best solution is to shave or file them to a level that enables you to use your hands comfortably. Callus Performance Callus Remover allows you to safely and effectively file your calluses without damaging any tissue or underlying cells. The Callus Remover is designed with small grits, which gives you the ability to glaze it across the top of the calluses and trim them. It is a portable device you can take anywhere with you and can be used at any point before, during, or after your climbing exercise.
5. Use a callus healing salve
Untreated calluses will result in blisters, tears, and rips. This can be a painful experience as any surface your hand touches can cause itching or pain. However, you can have that problem solved by using our Callus Performance Healing Salve, which helps to repair the rips and return your hands back to normal. The salve is designed with healing and repair ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, tea tree oil, and so much more. After climbing and thoroughly washing your hands, use the callus remover to shave the area and then apply the salve. You can leave it on your hands to take care of the repair process while you take a break from exercises that put pressure on your hands.
How to Patch up flappers on climber's hands
When flappers develop on your hands due to calluses, take the time to treat it before it results in something worse. As such, there are specific steps you can take to treat this condition and repair your hands.
1. Stop Climbing
Once you realize your calluses are turning to a flapper, you need to cease all climbing exercises to reduce the pressure on your hands. Putting more strain on the flapper will result in bruise and bleeding. After all, you don't want to leave a trail of blood everywhere you touch for others to come in contact with it.
2. Apply a bandage
When your hands start flapping, and you continue to climb or expose your hands to pressuring circumstances, you can put your hands through excruciating pains. To reduce this, you can easily add a bandage to your hand to minimize exposure to harmful elements.
3. Cover the area with climbing tape
If you have a flapper and you still decide to climb, it is recommended that you apply climbing tape over the bandage on your hand, and you should be able to go through the exercise. The tape provides an extra layer of protection against the hard surface.
4. Clean the affected area
Even though this is the last tip, it is one of the most important aspects of protecting your hands. After climbing, you need to ensure you clean your hands thoroughly to remove dirt and bacteria that may remain on your hands. Washing will also help to remove and clean any blood caused by blisters or rips.
Conclusion
Calluses are imminent if you do lots of climbing, and flapper may eventually form as well. However, the tips noted above are critical for keeping your hands safe and comfortable and reducing the risk of underlying damages. Also, taking care of your hands before, during, and after a workout is important to keeping your calluses from becoming ripped and flapped.