Weird question. But I gotta know...

[Knavery]

Put the lotion on the skin....

 

[Lava]

Your hands (fingers) are dry. Moisturize everyday.

 

[JRA]

...even went to the dermatologist for rx strength moisturizer which helps.

i prefer home remedies and OTC stuff for the few skin (hands) problems i've encountered so far, but if i had enough issues and/or pain, i'd definitely consult a derm --- there are prescription-level products that heal the skin pretty fast and effectively --- something for @Joe Nerve to consider if the thread's suggestions don't get results quickly enough.

 

[bassbrad]

Do any of you have any thoughts or idea for strengthening your skin ? Allow me to explain.

I play lots and have been doing so for decades. Saying that because this isn't a lack of callous or experience issue. Its a skin issue.

A few years back, due to the cold winter weather (or heat inside), my skin began to crack. When it happened on my right pointer, my most used finger, it became a very bad situation. I taped it, crazy glued it, bandaided it, vitamin E'ed it, liquid bandaged it... and it didn't heal until the winter ended.

Well... its happening again. It split open 2 weeks ago. I got through a gig with a bandage, but it sucks doing that. My band fortunately has a few weeks off, and I really want to heal this thing up. I'm currently dousing it with Vaseline and wrapping it up, but the skin is still dry once I clean it up - and I know will crack right open within 15 minutes of solid playing.

My best solution thus far is practicing to play with my ring and middle finger, but wow! Try running through a few songs like that .

Any and all thoughts welcome. Thanks.

As we age and develop maladies our skin does not always wear well, I've been playing bass for 50 years now and my right hand just cannot take my aggressive playing on electric or EUB. I've tried all sorts of salves, lotions, string conditioners, coated strings and nothing really worked ~ totally. I started using a guitar glove on my right hand and it has helped a good deal, the feel is not quite the same but close enough that I could adapt. I found some inexpensive ones on Amazon [4 for 10.] and bought a bunch as they do wear through eventually and have one stuck on most of the basses I play the most.

https://www.amazon.com/Musicians-Practice-Protector-Instrument-Accessories/dp/B09VNZ6W41/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2MRCDK1GLDNQW&keywords=guitar+glove&qid=1675201569&sprefix=guitar+glove,aps,133&sr=8-4

 

[nonohmic]

Do any of you have any thoughts or idea for strengthening your skin ? Allow me to explain.

I play lots and have been doing so for decades. Saying that because this isn't a lack of callous or experience issue. Its a skin issue.

A few years back, due to the cold winter weather (or heat inside), my skin began to crack. When it happened on my right pointer, my most used finger, it became a very bad situation. I taped it, crazy glued it, bandaided it, vitamin E'ed it, liquid bandaged it... and it didn't heal until the winter ended.

Well... its happening again. It split open 2 weeks ago. I got through a gig with a bandage, but it sucks doing that. My band fortunately has a few weeks off, and I really want to heal this thing up. I'm currently dousing it with Vaseline and wrapping it up, but the skin is still dry once I clean it up - and I know will crack right open within 15 minutes of solid playing.

My best solution thus far is practicing to play with my ring and middle finger, but wow! Try running through a few songs like that .

Any and all thoughts welcome. Thanks.

Your hands (fingers) are dry. Moisturize everyday.

Us rock climbers deal with callouses constantly. With the worst case scenario being the dreaded 'flapper' where the callous is basically ripped off leaving flesh.

Yes it's about moisturizing etc.

But more than that it's about maintaining the callous. You need to sand it back when it's getting too thick (or misshapen) and even use a razor blade if you have to to cut it back.

I use one of these on my fingers every other day; Emjoi Micro-Pedi Ultra (Pink) (AP-3EP) | Emjoi Official US Site

Helps to make sure I can maintain the thickess of callous I need for the job. Rather than letting it grow too thick and cracking.

 

[BobDeRosa]

Any moisturizing lotion applied twice a day should do the trick.

 

[FullumMusic]

Seconded on the O'Keeffe's Working Hands.

Not only do i play bass but i go bouldering at the climbing gym. The skin on my hands gets DESTROYED from both. (Even more so from the climbing than the bassing, surprisingly.)

I use Rhino Repair Cream on my hands during the day, a few times a day. There's no greasy residue if you do really small amounts/thin coats.

I use Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream (the thick stuff) on my cuticles. Again, light coats a few times a day.

Then at night before bed i use a heavy coating of the O'Keeffe's Working Hands. It says do a light coat to avoid greasiness, but i lay it on a bit thick because i'll be asleep. This has been the piece de resistance in keeping my finger skin in one piece and on my hand still.

If you snoop around the Rhino page they have a few other products that might be good for bass fingers that i've been meaning to try out but haven't yet, like the Split, Split+, and Performance. The two versions of Split are for cracks in your skin.

Also, more repurposing climbing stuff for bass stuff, Metolius finger tape is my go-to for playing through blisters, splits, and overzealous thumb slapping. It doesn't really stick to skin too much, but it'll stick to itself really well which to me is ideal if you wrap your finger correctly. You can still feel the strings through it but protect your fingers from the pain and injuries.

Just want to add, since i can't edit:

These products don't make my skin soft, which would hinder playing. It helps with all the problems of dryness, cracking, wearing thin, etc. But doesn't make soft.

 

[Joe Nerve]

It's all good.
But I'd rather rub beef all over my hands than Vaseline.

I get the sense you don't like Vaseline .

Thanks to everyone here. Lots of great info here. I've read it all. Sorting through it.

I definitely need to consciously drink more water. I'm a camel. I can literally go all day with a single cup of coffee and not get thirsty. Been like that my entire life.

I've tried lots of hand creams, lotions and other goos and greases... hate having any kind of goop on my hands, but might have to get into a new habit.

Heat I have no control over. I'm in a very heated HS 7 hrs a day, and the heat in the building I live in is ridiculous. We keep the windows open all winter and still get too hot.

I'm going to do another run through of the suggestions here but thus far I think I'm going to have a go with E45 cream. Its cheap. It seems like it won't leave my hands greasy. And it comes in a tube that I can carry around easily.

My jury is out on the Vaseline. I've only used it a couple of nights thus far. Was using Neosporin before that. It only takes a day unbandaged though to go back to be dry and ready to crack.

Last note -- I don't have a whole lot of trust in a lot of products out there. Especially name brand creams. Like planned absolescence, there's a part of me that believes some of the chemicals in those creams exacerbate the problem, and make people dependent on them. I don't suffer from chapped lips. Never really did. The few times I used Chapstick though, for fun, I wound up getting chapped lips. Go figure.

I don't use it any more .

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Do any of you have any thoughts or idea for strengthening your skin ? Allow me to explain.

I play lots and have been doing so for decades. Saying that because this isn't a lack of callous or experience issue. Its a skin issue.

A few years back, due to the cold winter weather (or heat inside), my skin began to crack. When it happened on my right pointer, my most used finger, it became a very bad situation. I taped it, crazy glued it, bandaided it, vitamin E'ed it, liquid bandaged it... and it didn't heal until the winter ended.

Well... its happening again. It split open 2 weeks ago. I got through a gig with a bandage, but it sucks doing that. My band fortunately has a few weeks off, and I really want to heal this thing up. I'm currently dousing it with Vaseline and wrapping it up, but the skin is still dry once I clean it up - and I know will crack right open within 15 minutes of solid playing.

My best solution thus far is practicing to play with my ring and middle finger, but wow! Try running through a few songs like that .

Is this your picking index finger? I had a split ( different reason) on mine and it took months to heal, so this is indeed no joke Joe. I feel for you. My advice of course is to consult a dermatologist. This could be any thing from dry skin to a nutritional deficiency. He/she should fix you up in short order. Best wishes

Any and all thoughts welcome. Thanks.

 

[Outbush]

I won’t have time to read this thread but that’s me every winter - not as bad this year as I wasn’t working with wood a grease as much but -

Lanolin cream works with my skin An ex-shearer mate put me onto it about 5 years ago and it is great but not perfect. The best yet though

 

[Joe Nerve]

That's precisely what this is made for
View attachment 4954145

Just saw that a tube of this is about the same price as E45. Will read a bit more and decide probably between one of those 2.

Thanks.

And I won't put vaseline on tonight.

 

[Holdsg]

it happens to me too, but since I'm mostly gigging on keys lately, outdoor gigs pounding on my Kronos not that different than the pounding from playing bass, but it shows up in different places on my hands such as the edges of my thumbs. I'm reading with interest many of the suggestions, and will be taking better care of my skin in between gigs.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Humidification in your home can really help. Also, try aloe vera gel first then a bit of Vaseline to hold the moisture in. Vaseline doesn't have any moisture, so on it's own doesn't help much.

Yes in winter the humidity can get very low, in nature as well as in our structures. So the above methods of preserving moisture in the skin are very good. Anything to help keep the skin supple.

 

[Killing Floor]

Moisturize.

 

[mrjim123]

See a doctor!

I had exzema on my feet REALLY bad decades ago. I thought it was athlete's foot, treated it accordingly, and as a result after a few days I could barely walk the pain was so bad. Once the doc diagnosed it and I treated it PROPERLY it disappeared.

Don't come to TB for medical adive!

 

[GregT]

Another recommendation of this stuff because it actually works. It stings when you use it because it is medicine.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

A&D Ointment and Neosporin are magic elixirs.

 

[SixtyCycleHum]

That's precisely what this is made for
View attachment 4954145

I was about to suggest the Aussie equivalent of this, which is pointless because this exists but I'm glad you beat my dumb a** to it lol.

 

[Pauly 4001]

I hope you're staying away from Crazy Glue whatever else you're applying

 

[boxerrider]

I like Cetaphil - the thick version in a tub. Intensive Moisturizing Cream for Dry Skin | Cetaphil US
Doesn't smell and doesn't stay greasy.

Good luck!