Climbing : how to take care of the skin of your hands ?

Climbing: a demanding sport for the skin on the hands.

Whether you are climbing indoors or outdoors, the skin on your palms is under a lot of pressure.

Outdoors, contact with abrasive rocks of the cliffs dries out the skin, which then tends to crack. Repeated pressure and rubbing on grips, whether outdoors or indoors, also weakens the skin. It hardens, forming calluses. While in most cases they pose no health risk, they can be painful, and can lead to blisters. 

You might think that the callus that forms at the top of the palm and on the phalanges would protect you? Well, not necessarily! In fact, these calluses can crack or form rough spots, which eventually can cling to the grips, tear off, and leave the skin raw. Far from being a mere nuisance for climbers, these particularly painful and disabling injuries are a serious setback to climbing!

Finger sweat, the enemy of climbers

Climbing with sweaty hands has disadvantages. Fingers don't grip holds that well. Mastering the grip becomes complex, which can distort coordination. When you find it harder to synchronise, not only are your sensations altered, but your hands (and therefore the rest of your body) get tired more quickly. Not to mention the stress that a slipping finger can cause.

On top of that, the sweat can leave a greasy film on the walls, which can be annoying for the next climber.

Magnesia: a clever idea?

Magnesia is a white powder, magnesium oxide, which is applied directly to the hands.

It provides a better grip on the wall by absorbing moisture and sweat from the palms. But because it is drying, it is also very harsh on the skin, and makes micro-cracking problems worse. 

In addition, as it is volatile, it can cause breathing problems. That is why more and more climbing gyms are banning it in favour of liquid chalk. Unfortunately, it contains alcohol, so it is no gentler on climbers' skin.

5 tips for looking after your hands and fingers when climbing

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.

If there was only one thing to remember, it would be this: moisturising the skin is essential when climbing. Before each session, to prevent drying out caused by chalk or contact with the walls. But also, at the end of the session, to help recovery.

Good hydration makes the skin more supple and resistant and reduces the risk of skin micro-injury. But obviously, when you are climbing, you should not use products that could leave a slippery film on your fingers.

The trick? Hyaluronic acid!

In RGENtec® After-Sport Ritual, it is combined with RGTA® (ReGeneraTing Agent), a patented active ingredient. As well as providing deep hydration, this skin care product is surprisingly easy to absorb: it doesn't leave a greasy film.

After-Sport Ritual is also perfect for helping the skin on your palms and fingers recover from post-sport microtrauma.

By applying After-sport ritual to your hands every night before going to bed, you give your skin everything it needs to strengthen and soften, while promoting its regenerative capacities.

Wash your hands before and after each climbing session.

We don't necessarily think about it, but meticulous hand wash removes any impurities that could get caught or lodged in any lesions.

Similarly, once the climbing session is over, you need to wash your hands to get rid of any residual dust or chalk.

Boost regeneration and healing

Your skin also needs to recover. In addition to soothing burning sensations, the RGENtec® Bye-Bye Burn treatment offers a formulation that promotes optimal regeneration of the epidermis. The key? Repair, regeneration and intense hydration. It is ideal for recovering quickly before your next climbing session.

Sand your calluses

Combined with a moisturising ritual, sanding down calluses limits the effects of cracked or uneven skin that could lead to hand injuries. Another advantage: sanding your fingertips makes the skin harder and less sensitive. For gentle action, it is best to use a maximum grit size of 120.

Watch your lifestyle

A balanced diet, quality sleep and plenty of water: your skin's health and quality also depend on a healthy lifestyle!