How to manage callouses on hands?

TiisTitanium
TiisTitanium Posts: 235 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have some hardcore callouses on my hands at the moment which look very ugly indeed.

As much as I would like to moisturise them into oblivion, i try to avoid any type of lotion as it stays around for to long and makes grip too slippery. Possibly ideal in certain situations but not on a barbell or hanging on to a trapeze..

In desperation today I busted out a fancy electronic pumice stone thingyme which is advertised as giving you heels that will be the envy of your yoga class. It felt a bit wrong so i was wondering if there are any other options out there that people know of.

My trapeze teacher says friars balsam is good but the stench made me think i am better off having ripped up hands of a medieval peasant.

So idea's from the fitness experts of MFP would be greatly appreciated.

Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,982 Member
    I shave them off occasionally. When I'm ready to change a razor blade, I shave them off in the shower. It flattens them out real good and lasts a few weeks.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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  • TiisTitanium
    TiisTitanium Posts: 235 Member
    I am a female. I have spent a fortune on IPL - this was obviously another rookie error as I wanted to avoid the crazy cost of razors. The males in my household would be very unimpressed if I started nabbing razors for callous removal considered how mad they used to get about borrowing for leg shaving. But that idea is noted.

    This is my hands after a gymnastic ring session when the palms where slightly under control

    9feuqzdm0hex.jpg
  • TiisTitanium
    TiisTitanium Posts: 235 Member
    Why a woo for the above post. IPL is peddling crazy ideas maybe??? Or go away all your callous talk is similar to channelling spirits.

    I tell you what is woo. I was googling for idea's as no one has any suggestions for me. Dr google gave me the options of:
    • soaking bicarb soda
    • smearing my skin with garlic/lemon
    • smearing my skin with tomato

      Razors are apparently a big no no but it is super cool if i marinade myself.

      Admittedly the above was about feet rather than hands. Looks like Friars Balsam is the best option after all. Drat.
  • natruallycurious
    natruallycurious Posts: 359 Member
    I do CrossFit and have recently run into this issue. A guy at my gym recommended a thing called callus performance (I ordered it from Amazon and it is arriving today) to help manage them. His hands actually looked really good and he said that's what he uses and never rips. I'm hoping it will work for me too! Good luck!
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    I use a pumice stone. Simple and effective
  • MikePfirrman
    MikePfirrman Posts: 3,307 Member
    Blisters/calluses are caused by friction. I have a product for rowing (I row a ton) that helps my bum from blisters/chafing called Butt-R. It's fantastic and lasts forever (was for bikers originally). You can use this, too, for blisters. I was having issues with the rowing handle because I've added in an AirBike (gripping) along with Kettlebell work (also heavy hand gripping too). Just rub a bit of that Butt-R stuff on the sorer spots and go. Very easy. I don't know about for rings, though, because you might lose grip with this stuff. They also make little mole skin like patches specifically for calluses. I, personally, wouldn't shave off because you get calluses, blisters for protection. If you shave them off, then your skin again is more exposed to bleeding blisters and open sores.
  • JMcGee2018
    JMcGee2018 Posts: 275 Member
    TiisTitanium wrote: »
    Thanks for your "kind" advice JoRocka but alas the shaving advice is rubbish. I am surprised you didn't go the full contemptuous route and advise me to get some pink gloves - or wee on my hands which is the other advice often trotted out. I just want to have functional blinkin' hands.

    Everyone else thanks.



    He (or she) wasn't being rude. You said the reason you don't shave them off is because the males in your house wouldn't like it. If you buy your own razor (whatever the color) you wouldn't have to worry about that.

    That said, don't shave them off, it's not a good solution.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    JMcGee2018 wrote: »
    TiisTitanium wrote: »
    Thanks for your "kind" advice JoRocka but alas the shaving advice is rubbish. I am surprised you didn't go the full contemptuous route and advise me to get some pink gloves - or wee on my hands which is the other advice often trotted out. I just want to have functional blinkin' hands.

    Everyone else thanks.



    He (or she) wasn't being rude. You said the reason you don't shave them off is because the males in your house wouldn't like it. If you buy your own razor (whatever the color) you wouldn't have to worry about that.

    That said, don't shave them off, it's not a good solution.

    It's the one most competitive lifters/gymnasts suggest.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    I use a pumice stone. Simple and effective

    Me, too. In the shower every day.
  • Cat3141
    Cat3141 Posts: 162 Member
    edited February 2018
    I use a small, metal nail file for my pole calluses. It keeps them from getting so thick they tear.
  • Keladelphia
    Keladelphia Posts: 820 Member
    I give my hands a quick once over every couple of days with a pedegg and it works perfectly for me. The knock off versions made by like Revlon work just as well and you can pick them up at target.
    https://www.amazon.com/Pedicure-Foot-File-Colors-vary/dp/B00113FENI

    If you're against shaving your hands bag balm works really well. Put it on your hands with gloves on when you sleep and they'll be baby smooth. It smells TERRIBLE though....hence the reason I go with a ped egg.
    https://www.amazon.com/Vermonts-Original-Bag-Balm-Ointment/dp/B01F38WKRE/ref=sr_1_8_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1518719555&sr=1-8&keywords=udder+cream+for+hands&th=1

  • CJ_Holmes
    CJ_Holmes Posts: 759 Member
    edited February 2018
    I have a callous shaver that is a bit different than a regular razor. I use to for my hand callouses as well as my feet callouses and it works great to keep the hand ones from getting too thick and tearing while still being protective. You can get it in the nail care section at the drug store.
  • COGypsy
    COGypsy Posts: 1,352 Member
    I use either a pumice stone or emery file to thin them out when they get bad but also at night use a lotion on my hands and a moisturizing balm by WOD Welder. It's been working really well and made a big difference in how my hands look and feel.
  • julie_broadhead
    julie_broadhead Posts: 347 Member
    I use a pumice stone and ClimbOn balm. Do you want your callouses completely gone or do just not want them to rip and look ugly? The soaking methods will get rid of them completely and I'm not sure you really want that with the activities you enjoy.

    When mine start to develop dry skin, I rub the dry skin off with a pumice stone after I shower then I treat them with ClimbOn balm. The nice thing about Climb on is it doesn't leave a slick residue on your hands. You could put it on right before you practice trapeze if you wanted to. I've used it on climbing trips before and haven't experienced any issues.
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001OPLTQY/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1518725594&sr=8-2&keywords=climb+on+skin+repair&dpPl=1&dpID=51e5HHvPSRL&ref=plSrch
  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
    Why not just embrace them? It’s your body adapting to the strains you’re putting it under. That’s a beautiful thing. Any man/woman/howeveryouidentify who knows the work required to achieve callouses would totally be impressed rather than disgusted by them.

    The woo was probably in regards to the peasant comment considering many people to this day still barely survive by spending their days using their hands to scrape together everybit of resource they can.
  • KarenSmith2018
    KarenSmith2018 Posts: 302 Member
    I use gymnastic gloves to help protect my hands and buff down the rough parts with a pumice stone. I used a dry skin hand cream to help keep my hands in good condition.
  • amtyrell
    amtyrell Posts: 1,447 Member
    Gloves
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,982 Member
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Why not just embrace them? It’s your body adapting to the strains you’re putting it under. That’s a beautiful thing. Any man/woman/howeveryouidentify who knows the work required to achieve callouses would totally be impressed rather than disgusted by them.
    The woo was probably in regards to the peasant comment considering many people to this day still barely survive by spending their days using their hands to scrape together everybit of resource they can.
    Well it may also be that if calluses get too thick, they tend to hurt when you grip. That's why a lot of people file, shave or pumice them off.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,982 Member
    amtyrell wrote: »
    Gloves
    Lots of people don't like gloves. "Feeling" the bar is how many people with calluses train.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Why not just embrace them? It’s your body adapting to the strains you’re putting it under. That’s a beautiful thing. Any man/woman/howeveryouidentify who knows the work required to achieve callouses would totally be impressed rather than disgusted by them.

    The woo was probably in regards to the peasant comment considering many people to this day still barely survive by spending their days using their hands to scrape together everybit of resource they can.

    They can actually pinch and become problematic- so it is useful to sort of shave them down. mine usually pull or peel off on their own with regular bar use.
  • successgal1
    successgal1 Posts: 996 Member
    The googled substances are acids, meant to loosen the dead skin. Another is a crushed aspirin made into a paste with water, salicylic acid.

    For my heels I found this contraption and it works wonders. You use it on dry, unbroken, skin. Its basically drywall sander.

    Sof Feet Callus Reducer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KPPFL4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_sLVHAbD01QGM3

  • PWRLFTR1
    PWRLFTR1 Posts: 324 Member
    I like Lubriderm lotion. I can never remember to pumice my calluses, especially after deadlift training, but lotion helps. Gloves are a big fat NO in lifting.
  • feisty_bucket
    feisty_bucket Posts: 1,047 Member
    I'd vote for embracing them too; I think they're rad. Shows you're serious. More importantly, they grow for a reason: to protect your hands & fingers.
  • CowboySar
    CowboySar Posts: 404 Member
    I look at them as a sign of my hard work and that I am lifting heavy, the old saying about working mans hands. Of course if you are female then you may not want them. I would suggest pumice and moisturize, you may still have them but it will be less noticeable and less tearing the tops off
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    I just kinda peel them a bit in the shower and lotion them at night. They're not the prettiest things, but they don't get in my way.
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