Using hand cream?

[Woody1999]

Hi all,

I've recently started studying bass full time at a conservatoire here in the UK, and over the last few months I've noticed the skin on my hands really starting to deteriorate - getting really dry, cracking, and dead skin on my fingertips.

I've always put a lot of thought and effort into playing with the minimum pressure required, something I practice both for tone purposes and to help look after my fingers, but despite that I still feel like I'm ripping my hands to pieces.

Today I borrowed a dollop of hand cream from my flatmate as I was finding it too painful to get through my normal practice, and it has (temporarily?) helped to relieve the pain, but I'm wondering if this will work in the long term.

Has anyone got any experience with using hand cream and playing 6-10+ hours a day? I'm concerned about losing my callouses or shortening string life in particular. I'd really appreciate any input that anyone can offer.

Thanks!

 

[Roland GR 88]

I use this....

It's a bit gooey until it dries. Unfortunately the best solution for me was always Krazy Glue. Dries rock hard but perhaps not the healthiest thing to apply to a split fingertip.
I use hand cream a lot especially in winter and just wait a 1/2 hr for it to soak in/dry up before I play.
I will always prefer to buy a new set of strings if I kill them than play in pain and I'll bet 6-10 hrs of playing per day you'll have no worries about your callouses.
Please ignore the new string part of my post if you play upright.

 

[Stumbo]

My doctor recommended CeraVé moisturizing cream (not the lotion) for my super dry hands.

Great stuff. Doesn't clog your pores, no greasy mess left over and leaves feeling smooth and soft within a day or two.

I suggest applying it multiple times a day, especially after washing your hands.

You also might try gloves since you're playing so many hours.

 

[Roland GR 88]

Thanks for the tip ^^^^^

 

[eldorado2001]

O'Keefe's Working Hands is the best stuff I've ever found for chapped hands and cracked fingertips, usually due to the dry winter air. One application per day (right before bed, then washed off first thing in the am) is all I ever need, and usually only a couple/few times per week.
I wouldn't feel comfortable handling an instrument with any kind of lotion or cream on my hands.

 

[devnulljp]

I use horse hoof conditioning cream on my fingers, mostly as a holdover from playing classical guitar -- it's great for your nails.

 

[Woody1999]

I will always prefer to buy a new set of strings if I kill them than play in pain and I'll bet 6-10 hrs of playing per day you'll have no worries about your callouses.
Please ignore the new string part of my post if you play upright.

Yeah haha not sure my wallet would appreciate dropping £150 on a new set of helicores every time I put on hand lotion! Luckily about 75% of my work is on bass guitar for now.

I've ordered a tub of O'Keefe's Working Hands cream as it was fairly cheap, and will give it a go putting it on every night before bed, and if there's still residue I'll wash it off in the morning.

Thanks for all the replies, I'll let you know how I get on!

 

[Skybone]

I would ask what sort of strings are you using?

I have experienced an allergic reaction to nickel wound strings on my fingertips in the past, but switching to stainless steel strings stopped it happening.

If the skin on your hands is going dry, certainly using some handcream, like an E45 or something from the Body Shop should keep them moisturised. Obviously look at other factors which may cause dry skin, like how much you wash your hands, how much soap you use (especially if you hand wash dishes), even going out in the cold & re-entering a warm building (get some gloves?).

If the dryness continues, then I'd say that you may need to visit your local GP, and discuss it with them (the NHS is a wonderful thing!).

 

[Woody1999]

I would ask what sort of strings are you using?

I have experienced an allergic reaction to nickel wound strings on my fingertips in the past, but switching to stainless steel strings stopped it happening.

If the skin on your hands is going dry, certainly using some handcream, like an E45 or something from the Body Shop should keep them moisturised. Obviously look at other factors which may cause dry skin, like how much you wash your hands, how much soap you use (especially if you hand wash dishes), even going out in the cold & re-entering a warm building (get some gloves?).

If the dryness continues, then I'd say that you may need to visit your local GP, and discuss it with them (the NHS is a wonderful thing!).

Last few years I've been using Elixir Nanowebs on my electrics and D'Addario Helicore Lights on my upright. Haven't experienced any different reactions to different strings either, so hopefully it's not an allergy thing!

I picked up some O'Keefe's Working Hands cream for a fiver off Amazon, I'll see how that works for me. What I should mention is that I do wash my hands a fair amount as I can't stand them feeling clammy from the cold - would that affect how much my hands dry out?

Cheers.

 

[Atshen]

Don't wash your hands before going out in the cold. The hand cream just basically replaces the hands' natural oil that was removed by the soap.

If you really have to wash your hands, wear gloves or mittens.

In the summer, you should be okay.

 

[Thumb n Fingers]

O'Keefe's Working Hands is the best stuff I've ever found for chapped hands and cracked fingertips, usually due to the dry winter air. One application per day (right before bed, then washed off first thing in the am) is all I ever need, and usually only a couple/few times per week.
I wouldn't feel comfortable handling an instrument with any kind of lotion or cream on my hands.

+1 for O'Keefe's.

The backs of my hands (around the highest knuckles) were very mildly frostbitten when I was young. I've suffered every winter with my skin around that area drying out and cracking deeply when I would make a fist. O'Keefe's completely resolves this issue and really doesn't leave you hands feeling too greasy or slimy like moisturizing creams do.

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

I'm a rock climber as well, training 3x/wk and going through a ton of chalk. I use this stuff a few times per day. Maintaining calluses hasn't been a problem (the trick for me is keeping them supple enough so they don't crack or peel), nor has playing.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Hi all,

I've recently started studying bass full time at a conservatoire here in the UK, and over the last few months I've noticed the skin on my hands really starting to deteriorate - getting really dry, cracking, and dead skin on my fingertips.

I've always put a lot of thought and effort into playing with the minimum pressure required, something I practice both for tone purposes and to help look after my fingers, but despite that I still feel like I'm ripping my hands to pieces.

Today I borrowed a dollop of hand cream from my flatmate as I was finding it too painful to get through my normal practice, and it has (temporarily?) helped to relieve the pain, but I'm wondering if this will work in the long term.

Has anyone got any experience with using hand cream and playing 6-10+ hours a day? I'm concerned about losing my callouses or shortening string life in particular. I'd really appreciate any input that anyone can offer.

Thanks!

You are over practicing. Your hands/fingers are trying to communicate to you.

 

[Woody1999]

You are over practicing. Your hands/fingers are trying to communicate to you.

I'm one of three bass players on a 100+ person jazz course, and it's the time of year where everyone is getting their recital bands together - if I had the opportunity to play less right now then I would take it, but for the time being I'm just doing my part.

 

[bherman]

Last few years I've been using Elixir Nanowebs on my electrics and D'Addario Helicore Lights on my upright. Haven't experienced any different reactions to different strings either, so hopefully it's not an allergy thing!

I picked up some O'Keefe's Working Hands cream for a fiver off Amazon, I'll see how that works for me. What I should mention is that I do wash my hands a fair amount as I can't stand them feeling clammy from the cold - would that affect how much my hands dry out?

Cheers.

Yes, washing your hands does tend to dry them out. In addition to removing dirt, it removes any oils on the surface of your skin. As others have said if you must wash your hands that often, use lotion before you go outside and wear gloves.

 

[bbh]

Hi all,

I've recently started studying bass full time at a conservatoire here in the UK, and over the last few months I've noticed the skin on my hands really starting to deteriorate - getting really dry, cracking, and dead skin on my fingertips.

I've always put a lot of thought and effort into playing with the minimum pressure required, something I practice both for tone purposes and to help look after my fingers, but despite that I still feel like I'm ripping my hands to pieces.

Today I borrowed a dollop of hand cream from my flatmate as I was finding it too painful to get through my normal practice, and it has (temporarily?) helped to relieve the pain, but I'm wondering if this will work in the long term.

Has anyone got any experience with using hand cream and playing 6-10+ hours a day? I'm concerned about losing my callouses or shortening string life in particular. I'd really appreciate any input that anyone can offer.

Thanks!

Udderlying fantastic cream. Google search it. Used it when chemo was messing up my skin.

 

[vindibona1]

Do you live in a properly humidified environment? Dry homes promote dry skin. In the winter I would annually get a psoriatic rash on my abdomen. Since we started using humidifiers, and ultimately a whole house steam humidifier attached to our HVAC system I've not suffered with my winter rash. It's great for my acoustics which can hang on the wall without worry of drying out.

Also... To make it easier on your hands, perhaps you might try a product on your strings called "Finger-Ease"; essentially a string lubricant. I use it religiously on my electric guitars but find that it works great on bass when the strings feel like there's too much friction or drag.

Good luck.

 

[Woody1999]

Yes, washing your hands does tend to dry them out. In addition to removing dirt, it removes any oils on the surface of your skin. As others have said if you must wash your hands that often, use lotion before you go outside and wear gloves.

Thanks for the advice. I'll see if I can find that old pair of gloves I shoved somewhere in the back of my wardrobe!

 

[pingvuiini]

I use this....
View attachment 3697009
Unfortunately the best solution for me was always Krazy Glue. Dries rock hard but perhaps not the healthiest thing to apply to a split fingertip.

I was told super glues were first used by combat medics for cuts and wounds and were considered non-toxic in that regard. Untrue??

 

[40Hz]

Best for dry hands IMO is Neutrogena Hand Cream. Had an issue for awhile with cracking hands. Went through about four different creams before I finally went to see a dermatologist. He took one look and said: Keep your hands clean and dry and use the fragrance free formulation of Neutrogena hand cream cream three or preferably four times a day. Use a dab about the size of the nail on your small finger. A little goes a long way.

Problem cleared up in a week.