Climbing Hands: How to Care for Dry, Cracked Skin Between Sessions
Chalk, granite, and dry mountain air are rough on hands. If you climb around Tahoe, you know the splits and flappers that end a good session early. Here's a routine that keeps your skin tough but not cracked.
The short answer
Wash the chalk off after you climb, file down thick calluses before they catch and tear, and use a balm at night instead of right before you climb. The goal is skin that's tough and smooth, not soft.
Why do climbers' hands crack and tear?
Chalk dries your skin on purpose, and rough rock wears it down. Calluses that build up too thick can catch on a hold and tear off. Dry air makes all of it worse.
Most climbing research looks at finger tendons and pulleys, not skin. Fingers are the most commonly injured part of the body in climbing surveys (Grønhaug, 2018). So skin care advice comes mostly from climbers' experience, not clinical trials.
What's a good routine between sessions?
- Wash off the chalk after you climb. Chalk left on keeps pulling moisture out.
- File calluses flat with a nail file or fine sandpaper once or twice a week. Smooth skin is less likely to catch and tear.
- Use balm at night, not before climbing. Balm right before a session can make your grip slick.
- Cover splits and flappers with tape while you climb, and give them a rest day if you can.
- Watch for warning signs. See a doctor for deep cuts, redness that spreads, or finger pain that doesn't go away.
Boulder Balm was made for climbers' hands. It's a plant-based balm in a 1 oz glass jar, with 100 mg CBD or a CBD-free option (here's what research says about topical CBD).
Does balm make your hands too soft?
Not if you time it right. Using balm at night gives skin time to absorb it before your next session. Your hands stay supple enough not to split, but you keep the toughness you've built.
Keep your hands climbing
Try Boulder Balm on your next rest day. What's your skin routine between sessions? Share your best trick in the comments.
Next: Dry skin at Lake Tahoe: a high-altitude skin routine
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.