Climbing, especially on rock surfaces, leads to hand skin wear that's more frequent than you'd imagine. The aftermath of your first few climbing sessions might concern you due to skin peeling, but soon you'll develop calluses that'll let you keep reaching all the summits you desire.
This doesn't mean everyone experiences the same effects when it comes to rock climbing. Influential factors include hydration levels and how "tough" your skin is if it's not accustomed to hard work. That's why we recommend not applying hand creams at least one day before climbing (and certainly not on the day itself), as keeping hands soft and moisturised delays callus formation.
Another tip even experienced climbers follow is wearing gloves. These not only protect against scrapes and friction but actually improve your grip on the rockface. While they won't 100% prevent peeling if you're prone to it, they do significantly reduce the problem.
Skin constantly regenerates, but when overworked it starts breaking down unevenly, leading to peeling, cracking and even hand injuries. The good news is your skin eventually toughens up and stops breaking so easily.
The best way to manage hand skin wear is using these products favoured by regular rock climbers:
- Blastoestimulina is perfect for moisturising and healing hand wounds. This healing ointment is climbing community staple, though overuse isn't recommended as it can make skin dependent.
- Magnesium toughens skin - highly recommended if you have soft or well-moisturised hands that tend to tear while climbing.
- Always remove residual magnesium after climbing by washing hands thoroughly. As mentioned, this product dries skin and slows regeneration.
- For hangnails or loose skin post-climb, carefully trim with cuticle clippers (provided no open wounds exist).
- Use nail files to smooth hand skin, preventing roughness or excess skin that could tear on rock edges.
The best way to condition hands for rock climbing is regular climbing wall sessions a few times weekly. Your fingertips will toughen and calluses form on the hand creases that endure most friction. But when it comes to climbing... it's all worth it! As the saying goes... "no pain, no gain".
If you're determined to keep climbing and gain the experience you crave, practice is key. Fortunately for all climbing enthusiasts, Spain offers not just incredible climbing walls but also perfect mountain ranges and peaks to conquer. Click here to discover endless climbing opportunities across our country.
