Fingertips splitting/injuries - advice

[espskully]

Hey guys. I'm getting back into gigging regularily. I have always had a problem with the skin on my fretting hand fingertips splitting (and the lines on my fingers as well), getting torn, bloodblisters etc. I once had to do a big show (well a few hunrded people) and I had a giant bloodblister on my ring fingertip. It was excrutiating and I was out of commision afterwards.

I get callouses but they tear off. I've tried crazy glue which doesn't really work - maybe for a song or 2.

I use .10's for strings and want to avoid moving to .009's although I would if that were neccessary.

Any other suggestions for maintainance of the hands and prevention as well as any tricks for emergencies - ie. having to play a show with mangled hands?

Anyone use String Ease?

 

[apl]

Have you talked to a dermatologist? Is it worse in the winter? Maybe regular use of some kind of hand cream like Nivea would help.

 

[snipeguy]

I used to get bad splits on my fingers from cross country skiing and my job as a boat refinisher. My doctor reccomended I try a creme called Prevex made by Stiefel Canada. It worked. Nothing else had till then. Worth a shot.

 

[scrubs]

Do you think this is just from playing too hard (friction), or do you have any skin problems when you're not playing?

Prevex is a topical steroid cream, useful for treating inflammation from hand eczema and other similar skin conditions. If you have hand eczema (usually both hands, worse in the winter, dry, cracking, itchy, etc.), that would be something to look into.

It is also entirely possible to develop an allergy/contact dermatitis to the nickel and other metals in strings/frets.

apl is right, go see a doctor.

 

[Armistice]

Just don't tell the fans that you're using Nivea... it's not really very rock 'n' roll...