More info on why blisters form...
What are some good suggestions for a bass player's plucking fingers?
"Let me point out a common misconception about your hands.
It is moisture/sweat that leads to blisters and irritation.
As an experienced rock climber, I have witnessed many new climbers come into the gym and use lotion before a climbing workout.
The result - tons of blisters and zero durability. Your hands work best when they are dry, not lubricated.
Playing bass is just as tough on the hands - the same rules apply. You want to remove moisture and potential sweat build up.
Try out some
climbing chalk before you play. Apply rigorously to your hands, outside since it is going to make a mess in doors.
Play. When done, you can simply use a rag to wipe the chalk off of your instrument.
Chalk isn't bad for your instrument either.
Loads of famous guitars do this before playing:
Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton. Also,
Flea."
"I have a few product suggestions. Some are quite unexpected but I have found them effective!
- Talcum/magnesium/baby powder works fine to keep my hands dry but I naturally have very dry skin so sometimes it's too much and makes my hands feel uncomfortable. It's cheap so you can always try this first. It can used for other body parts as well (against chafing on a warm day for example).
- I discovered an alternative to normal talcum power: dusting powder by "LUSH" (I guess they have stores in many countries) and use that instead of normal talcum powder. It feels slightly more hydrating because it's not pure talcum powder but has cocoa butter infused in it (pure cocoa butter is good for extreme dry skin). Downside: It does cost more than usual talcum powder ($8) and it has a fragrance (I don't find it overly feminine and the fragrance wears off).
- Monistat Chafing Relief Powder-Gel. I believe many runners use this to prevent areas from chafing but is not greasy. It keeps my hands pretty dry but doesn't dry out.
- Mattifying make-up primer. Maybe this sounds weird/unexpected but it works a bit the same as the Monistat solution. It must be a mattifying version since that one can handle the sweat better. It's colorless and pretty much weightless by the way so you won't notice it.
- Furthermore, I know people who use Anti-perspirant (like Odorex) on their hands and apparently it works really well against sweating and keeping moisture away. I haven't tried this myself yet so I cannot attest to this one.
I hope one of these solutions work out for you."
EDIT: some concerns with talc particles and lungs. Alternatives include pure Kaolin clay powder (used in #2 above), cornstarch powder (used in some baby powders) or arrowroot powder.
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