Hand Care

Roger

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Oct 31, 2002, 11:54:20 AM10/31/02

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Has anyone got any suggestions on how best to look after your hands. I
find that during the winter with more ergo training than rowing my
hands get a bit soft and I suffer from blisters once we get back into
boats.

Rob Ennals

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Oct 31, 2002, 4:19:13 PM10/31/02

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Roger wrote:

I've heard stories about people rubbing their hands with rough stuff to
make sure that their hands stay calloused.

Sounds a bit weird, but probably works rather well.

-Rob

Neil Wallace

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Oct 31, 2002, 4:36:27 PM10/31/02

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"Rob Ennals" <rj...@cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:aps6oh$23k$1...@pegasus.csx.cam.ac.uk...

my wife wouldn't recognise me in the dark if my calluses wore off!!

Sandpaper sounds good!

Neil

Jon Anderson

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Oct 31, 2002, 4:46:33 PM10/31/02

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You can get this hardener stuff for skin can't you?

Anyone know more?

Jon
--
Durge: j...@durge.org http://users.durge.org/~jon/
OnStream: acco...@rowing.org.uk http://www.rowing.org.uk/

[ All views expressed are personal unless otherwise stated ]

Caroline Smith

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Nov 1, 2002, 5:42:51 AM11/1/02

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I keep getting sent adverts for
http://www.gk-elitesportswear.com/details.asp?category=17&sku=GK47
which is designed for gymnasts but, having been a gymnast and (briefly) a
rower, I reckon hands go through the same sort of things in both sports.
Could be work a try I guess...

Martin Harris

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Nov 1, 2002, 5:46:44 AM11/1/02

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At training camp several years ago (Thanks Bob Silver!) I was advised
about a great product, but it is a bit embarrassing for a bloke to
purchase...
Available in the UK from Boots the Chemist, it is 'nipple spray' -
designed for lactating mothers.
Stop laughing - it works a treat.

It contains antiseptic and moisturiser, is hypoallergenic, easily
absorbed, doesn't smell and comes in a handy pump action container. I
used it during training camp where there was minimal time for hands to
heal between outings. Lots of blade swapping so you end up with
someone elses 'residue' on a handle before an outing.
Fantastic stuff.

Re 'don't grip and get blisters' I have had to spend a few weeks at
the beginning of each season creating a layer of hardened skin which
protects rather than creates blisters. I obviously grip like a
maniac...:)

So - I'm off to Boots to embarass a sales girl.

M@7

Judith Howell

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Nov 1, 2002, 7:21:14 AM11/1/02

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If you really want appalling blisters that's a good way to get them!
Much better to go for tough hands with flexible skin, aim for
something similiar to what you get on your feet if you walk around
barefoot in the summer. The best thing I've ever found to treat hands
is the Neutrogena Norwegian Intensive handcream, which was developed
to help trawlermen avoid their skin hardening and cracking up - the
pain of salt water into open cuts must be terrible.

It's quite heavy and greasy, so not to be used right before an outing,
but I generally find that if I put it on once during the day it lasts
well enough until the evening and avoids the slimy effect when the
person two seats ahead backsplashes on every stroke.

The collective rowing experience in my generation of my family, which
is now something like 25 years, is not to puncture blisters - unless
they're the pointy ones you get on the palm of your hands or flats of
your fingers - and apply savlon or germolene plus plasters overnight
to help open wounds heal up. Strapping with micropore before an outing
should at least let you get the warm-up out of the way and numb your
hands before it wears off, and a recent development is the discovery
that insulating tape over micropore helps it to stay in place.

Try to avoid picking at callusses when in business meetings,
especially if you pull into live skin and it bleeds everywhere, other
people find this offensive and chewing at your fingers has a similar
effect; and if you're a girl or feel that way inclined, avoid buying
10 denier tights as you'll ladder them on your hands :-).

Of course as I tell my brothers who have/had hands like a rhinoceros's
behind - good technique helps ......
jmh

Jon Anderson <j...@durge.org> wrote in message news:<aps8e0$pa0$2...@dolphin.grid-zero.net>...

Darren Rhodes

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Nov 1, 2002, 7:39:57 AM11/1/02

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For what it's worth here's what I do and did following this year's
Boston Marathon (good test for blisters):

1) After showering and cleaing up after an outing, get to work with a
clean pair of scissors cutting the blisters off and triming the skin
nicely. Sterilise the scissors first of course!

2) If you can bear it (I can sometimes), apply Surgical Spirits over
the hands after all blister fluid has been wiped away.

Be warned, this can sting like a LOT!

3) Until the next outing, keep using Vaseline or similar hand cream to
stop the new skin cracking.

Generally I find my blisters clear up pretty quick this way. Once hard
skin has formed, looking after it by removing excess with the afore
mentioned sterilised scissors prevents more blisters form forming.
Usually.

I'm told rock climbing gloves work well if it's really bad as they're
very thin but strong.

Everyone's different. I have heard stories of people who train really
hard and often still getting blisters regularly. And, I have heard
stores of those who train infrequently who never get 'em.

BTW, I don't accept any responsibility for obscenities as a result of
doing the above.

Ed Johnson

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Nov 1, 2002, 9:25:59 AM11/1/02

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Jon Anderson <j...@durge.org> wrote in message news:<aps8e0$pa0$2...@dolphin.grid-zero.net>...

> Roger wrote:
> > Has anyone got any suggestions on how best to look after your hands. I
> > find that during the winter with more ergo training than rowing my
> > hands get a bit soft and I suffer from blisters once we get back into
> > boats.
>
> You can get this hardener stuff for skin can't you?
>
> Anyone know more?
>
> Jon

I have used Germolene's "second skin" when doing the Boston Marathon
and also at other times eg training camp. It is some kind of lue type
plastic thing that dries to form a layer a bit like PVA glue that
seems to offer some extra protection. However it really stings if you
put it on an open wound or burst blister- but no pain no gain!

This doesn't hardern your hands up in the long term but is good for
one offs. I have heard of people using white spirit to try to harden
their hands, but I've no idea if this actually works.

Micropore tape over blisters is quite good for protecting damage
during subsequent outings, and electrical tape also seems quite
popular!
BTW gloves will just make things worse!

Hope some of this helps

Ed

Hihihi

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Nov 1, 2002, 9:58:28 AM11/1/02

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"Ed Johnson" <edward....@ic.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:5a95237a.02110...@posting.google.com...

> Jon Anderson <j...@durge.org> wrote in message
news:<aps8e0$pa0$2...@dolphin.grid-zero.net>...
> > Roger wrote:
> > > Has anyone got any suggestions on how best to look after your hands. I
> > > find that during the winter with more ergo training than rowing my
> > > hands get a bit soft and I suffer from blisters once we get back into
> > > boats.
> >

<snip>

> Micropore tape over blisters is quite good for protecting damage
> during subsequent outings, and electrical tape also seems quite
> popular!

Actually, when I get blisters, they usually open up in no time. I end up
cutting the loose skin off. If the place is still sensitive, I use sports
tape.
Take a long piece, fold part of it double, put the double folded (and not
sticky) part on your skin, and tape it with the sticky part. You can also
take a long and a short piece, and stuck the short piece in the middle of
the long piece. I hope this makes sense.

Higs,

Hihihi, who is now past her blister period

--
send e-mail to Hih...@mail2blonde.com
(that is, if you want a reply)

simonk

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Nov 1, 2002, 10:01:58 AM11/1/02

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"Darren Rhodes" <r0...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:98430e82.02110...@posting.google.com...

> For what it's worth here's what I do and did following this year's
> Boston Marathon (good test for blisters):
>
> 1) After showering and cleaing up after an outing, get to work with a
> clean pair of scissors cutting the blisters off and triming the skin
> nicely. Sterilise the scissors first of course!

With you up to here - I use a hydrocolloid dressing like Compeed on raw,
popped blisters. It's like an elastoplast made out of a sticky gel
substance - it covers the wound, and supplies lots of moisture to help it
heal. For me they also seem to instantly numb the pain.

They stay on in the shower if you're careful, and generally if they're left
on for 24 hours as recommended the blister heals up enough so you can go
plasterless (though it obviously depends on how bad your blisters are). If
I need to row with one of these on I cover it with loads of micropore - they
don't withstand mechanical wear and tear too well.

--
simonk

Edd Edmondson

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Nov 1, 2002, 10:25:00 AM11/1/02

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Ed Johnson <edward....@ic.ac.uk> wrote:

> Micropore tape over blisters is quite good for protecting damage
> during subsequent outings, and electrical tape also seems quite
> popular!

Micropore just falls off with me. I swear by Muller tape.

Also, ask your friendly local rock climber. Their hands get in a much
worse state than ours. That's how I discovered Muller tape.

--
Edd

Iain Cheyne

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Nov 1, 2002, 4:14:00 PM11/1/02

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edward....@ic.ac.uk (Ed Johnson) wrote in
news:5a95237a.02110...@posting.google.com:

> BTW gloves will just make things worse!

I could not disagree more.

I use a pair of Thunderwear Gloves whenever my hands get very blistered or
I've cut my knuckles with my nails (the curse of the messy sculler). They
don't interfere with my sculling at all. They are tough, tight and are held
on to my wrist with a velcro strap. I went a quicker after I bought them,
as my infrequent sculling meant that the main factor slowing me down was my
terrible blisters. The only disadvantage is that they are too hot in the
height of summer, although they are very comfortable in winter.

http://www.joyofrowing.com/rowingparts/gloves.html

People should ignore the macho bullshit that says that gloves are for
wimps.

--
Iain Cheyne
Remove the numbers and change "invalid" to "net" to reply.

Steven Maynard-Moody

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Nov 1, 2002, 9:52:03 PM11/1/02

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I agree 100% and have used Thunderwear gloves for a number of years. I
almost never wear them; like most rowers I much prefer rowing with bare
hands. But if I'm doing an unusually long piece (2+ hours) I may wear them
for the first half just as a preventative or if for some reason my hands
have blistered (say it was unusually humid) then they help protect my wounds
for rapid recovery. I'm cursed with hands that blister easily and am too old
for macho bullshit. I'm also amazed at the coaches who won't let their rower
to wear gloves so they can feel the oar but then use layers of sports tape.
I can guarantee that you get much better grip and feel with Thunderwear
gloves than even one layer of sports tape. I also recall when I played
college soccer (football to most of you) in the early 1970s no goalie would
ever wear gloves, and now...!?

--
Best, Steven

"Iain Cheyne" <ia...@c1h2e3y4n5e.invalid> wrote in message
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