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Fingertips splitting
- Thread starter EdNerd
- Start date
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Bandaids with neosporen (sp) or some other antibiotic cream until they heal. If you can, play with tape or bandaids until they heal.
Winter sucks, between the cold and the dry. Make sure you use lotion or aquaphor on your hands all winter. Use gloves when you do work.
Winter sucks, between the cold and the dry. Make sure you use lotion or aquaphor on your hands all winter. Use gloves when you do work.
+1 on the neosporin for quickest healing. There are several topicals for maintenance such as No Crack brand.
This happens to me every winter. Sounds crazy, maybe, but I use Super Glue on the split. There is a medical version in the pharmacy but I use the regular version. Then make sure to use hand lotion regularly.. Super Glue will get you through the gig. Tip: be careful when applying it and use as little as possible. Quickly wipe up excess with a paper towel..
Been using this method for the last 4 years without an issue..
Been using this method for the last 4 years without an issue..
I have exactly the same problem with finger splitting. I super glue the cracks, but that only lasts a couple of days.
This stuff from Bed Bath & Beyond (and other places) is the best I have found...use on the fingertips for two-three days and things will improve.
This stuff from Bed Bath & Beyond (and other places) is the best I have found...use on the fingertips for two-three days and things will improve.
Yet another winter dry hands guy. I don't use any medication or preparation as they tend to turn my bass strings black so i just CA as required and wish for spring.
Back when i did (motorcycle) mechanic work i just dipped my cracked fingers in lacquer thinner to keep them dried out, which helped a lot with the pain and tenderness.
Back when i did (motorcycle) mechanic work i just dipped my cracked fingers in lacquer thinner to keep them dried out, which helped a lot with the pain and tenderness.
When I was in college (1968-73) I worked in a wacky Texaco station that did tons of stuff, including major mechanical work. In winter we installed and removed tons of tire chains, all when the tires were wet and snowy. Of course, we were never smart enough to wear gloves.
Nothing tears your hands up more than working with metal chains on wet tires. Your hands will feel like 50-grit sandpaper in a couple of hours. Later I discovered hand lotion...
Nothing tears your hands up more than working with metal chains on wet tires. Your hands will feel like 50-grit sandpaper in a couple of hours. Later I discovered hand lotion...
Been dealing with this same issue for years. Seems to get worse every year. It used to be just splitting finger tips. Now it has progressed into an itchy rash on the knuckles and other areas of the hand. Oddly, it's only my left hand, despite my being right handed.
I've tried all the balms and creams mentioned. The only thing that heals it for me is anti-itch hydrocortisone ointment.....covered by band-aids....and left on for a couple days. If I don't do this, the rash progresses and morphs into lumpy callous-like distortions.
My skin doc confidently recommended a daily dose 5000IU of vitamin D. It aint working, I'm getting another skin doc. Meanwhile it's winter again, so the bandaid-cream treatments have commenced, yet again.
Not a big deal, but I'd sure like to find a permanent solution.
I've tried all the balms and creams mentioned. The only thing that heals it for me is anti-itch hydrocortisone ointment.....covered by band-aids....and left on for a couple days. If I don't do this, the rash progresses and morphs into lumpy callous-like distortions.
My skin doc confidently recommended a daily dose 5000IU of vitamin D. It aint working, I'm getting another skin doc. Meanwhile it's winter again, so the bandaid-cream treatments have commenced, yet again.
Not a big deal, but I'd sure like to find a permanent solution.
Every night I use petroleum jelly, wrap my fingers in bandages. I usually wear the bandages on throughout the next work day until it's time to play again.
I have been dealing with this for years myself with no relief. I have tried everything myself and nothing seems to work. Pretty intense pain for such small cuts too. Neosporen and a piece of an aloe vera plant in a band aid when I go to sleep will make it bearable in a couple days but if I got a gig with a fresh cut I am screwed. Sometimes I will have 3 or 4 fingers at a time with cuts, it is misery.
I'm convinced that injuries like you have on the hand you don't use is precisely because you don't use it as much. Reduced circulation and lesser strength result IMO in increased injuries to that hand.
Home Depot, and OSH carry it alsoI have exactly the same problem with finger splitting. I super glue the cracks, but that only lasts a couple of days.
This stuff from Bed Bath & Beyond (and other places) is the best I have found...use on the fingertips for two-three days and things will improve.
I should have been more clear, the "injuries" are the split finger tips, which happen on both hands. Didn't seem to bother me when I was a carpenter in my 20's and 30's, I just shrugged it off along with the never ending lost finger nails from errant hammer blows.
The "rash-callous" thing on the knuckles of my left hand seems unrelated to the split finger tips. I only went to the skin doc to make sure it wasn't some weird melanoma or whatever. It's not, but if I let it get outta control it's pretty gross looking.
Uber dry skin runs in my family, my dad had the same split finger tip issue, and he only ever did white collar work. He used to get some kinda radiation treatment for it occasionally (according to my mom). I may investigate that.
I have a daughter who gets the same fingertip skin splits...she also uses the O'Keeffe's and it works for her.
You'll need to get them healed. I use Neosporin in the splits for a day or two. Obviously moisturizing cream/lotion is a must, especially overnight. Now as far as sealing the splits. Go to a bowling center. In the pro shop or bowlers aids vending machine, pick up a bottle of Robbys Skin Protector. There are some other brands that will do the same thing. It works much like super glue, but it's much more durable, less damage to surrounding skin, and dries quickly. It has a brush applicator in the cap. Put some in the crack, and squeeze the skin together. It sometimes takes two or three coats to get it to close. I've used this stuff between songs when a crack develops. The downside is it burns like hell when applying, but that only lasts a few seconds. Take my word for it, I've been using this stuff for years after a keyboard player turned me on to it. I always have a bottle in my gig bag. On a side note, keep the stuff at room temperature. After it gets very cold, it gets syrup like and not only is hard to apply, but doesn't seem to work nearly as well. And they recommend using it with a patch. Forget all that, it's for bowlers. Use it straight on the skin.
Welcome to Robby's
Welcome to Robby's
