This article is part of a three-part series on climbing skin care. In part 1, we cover common injuries and immediate first aid.<\/p>\n
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Every climber\u2019s hand tells a story. Flappers, splits, calluses, sweaty palms are all part of the story. But with the right knowledge and tools, you can prevent most problems and recover faster when they do happen.<\/p>\n
Different types of climbing related skin injuries affect different layers of your skin:<\/p>\n
What is a callus?<\/b> Thickened areas of skin that form on the outer layer of your skin (epidermis\/stratum corneum) in response to pressure and friction.<\/p>\n
Good or bad?<\/b> Both. Calluses protect the middle layer of skin (dermis), but too much build-up can lead to flappers or tears.<\/p>\n What is pinched skin?<\/b> A type of compression and shear trauma that damages the deeper layers of the epidermis (stratum granulosum and stratum spinosum).<\/p>\n The outermost skin layer (stratum corneum) often remains intact, so there\u2019s usually no bleeding, but the area may appear raw, shiny, or glassy. These injuries can feel surprisingly deep and take several days to heal.<\/p>\n Causes:<\/b> Pinched skin injuries occur when friction and pressure combine under tension, for example, during dynamic moves, slips on slopers, or hard contact with textured holds. These injuries often show up in the same places as calluses on the finger pads or the top of the palm, and can extend deeper than a typical flapper.<\/p>\n Pinched skin wounds are prone to tearing open, especially if they extend into the lower epidermis. Climbing too soon may delay healing or increase the risk of secondary injury or infection. Allow time for the skin to rebuild and form a new protective barrier.<\/p>\n What is a flapper?<\/b> A flap of skin lifted or completely torn off, typically on your finger or palm.<\/p>\n Causes:<\/b> Flappers are often caused from thick callus catching on a hold, sharp contact while climbing, or shearing where the top and middle layer of skin move in opposite directions. <\/p>\n The most effective way to tape a flapper is with a protective tape ring that secures the wound without limiting movement:<\/p>\n For larger flappers on your palm, you can use the following method:<\/p>\n What are split fingertips?<\/b> Vertical or horizontal cracks in the skin on the tips of your fingers.<\/p>\n Causes:<\/b> Dry, brittle skin combined with pressure and friction. Common in winter, cold conditions or after lots of board training.<\/p>\n What are grazes, abrasions and cuts?<\/b> Surface wounds caused by friction, sharp holds or textured walls. <\/p>\n These types of skin wounds can quickly become infected and take longer to heal if they are not treated properly. Always carry a first aid kit with you, so you can act quickly and shorten unnecessarily long recovery periods.<\/p>\n This article is part of a three-part series on climbing skin care. In part 1, we cover common injuries and immediate first aid.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":124559,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"yoast_head":"\nCaring for calluses:<\/h3>\n
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Pinched skin<\/h2>\n
Pinched skin first aid<\/h3>\n
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When to rest<\/h3>\n
Flappers<\/h2>\n
Flapper first aid<\/h3>\n
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Taping a finger flapper<\/h3>\n
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Taping a palm flapper<\/h3>\n
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Split fingertips<\/h2>\n
Caring for split fingertips:<\/h3>\n
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Grazes, abrasions, and cuts<\/h2>\n
Care:<\/h3>\n
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