Start with washing hands and hydration<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
We use chalk to keep our hands dry for better grip, but dry skin is also more prone to damage. A simple yet effective habit is to wash your hands properly after climbing. Use a mild soap and lukewarm water to remove chalk and dirt. Avoid hot water or long showers immediately after climbing, as they can dry your skin even more. \n\nDon\u2019t forget to also drink enough water! Hydration is key to maintaining healthy skin and preventing cracks and irritation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/handverzorging-klimmen-769x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/magnesium-handen-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nUse Climbing Balm Before Bed<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
When your skin feels dry and sore, it\u2019s tempting to apply a moisturizing hand cream. While this provides instant relief, overly soft skin can tear more easily in your next session. Instead, use a specialized climbing balm or salve, such as Crux, Climbskin<\/a> <\/strong>or Grit <\/a><\/strong>. These products hydrate and heal your skin without making it too soft. Taping is a personal choice. Climbing tape can act as a protective layer and help prevent skin damage. Many experienced climbers use tape to protect their hands, but remember: tape is not a magic fix. Your skin also needs to adapt naturally to the stress of climbing.\n\nWhile taping can reduce pain and discomfort, becoming a better climber ultimately comes down to refining your grip techniques and movement control to prevent injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Filing down damaged skin helps keep it smooth and flexible, reducing the risk of cracks and flappers. Keeping your skin even minimizes the chances of rough edges catching on holds and tearing.\n\nHowever, be careful not to make your skin too thin. Use fine sandpaper or a climbing-specific skin file to maintain balance. Filing off dead skin around healing wounds can also help new skin form more effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It depends on the severity. If your skin is torn open and bleeding, it\u2019s best to rest\u2014not just for your own comfort but also for hygiene reasons at the gym or crag. Rest days are essential for skin recovery.<\/strong> If your skin is in bad shape, consider taking a few days off and using climbing balm at night to speed up healing. Climbing is all about strength-to-weight ratio, and some climbers believe eating less will improve performance. But what\u2019s a healthy balance? Climbing legends like Janja Garnbret and Adam Ondra warn against extreme dieting and emphasize the importance of sustainable training and proper nutrition. Skin care is an essential part of climbing. By using the right products, staying hydrated, washing your hands properly, taking rest days, smoothing rough skin when needed, and maintaining a balanced diet, you can keep your hands in top shape and be ready for your next climbing session. <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Klimmen is zwaar voor je huid. Als je begonnen bent met klimmen of boulderen, heb je waarschijnlijk al te maken gehad met huidproblemen. De constante wrijving van grepen en de […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3085,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[77],"tags":[13,78,80,16,79],"class_list":["post-3083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kliminformatie","tag-boulderen","tag-handcreme","tag-handverzorging","tag-klimmen","tag-tips-voor-klimmers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3083"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3092,"href":"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3083\/revisions\/3092"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Pro tip:<\/strong> Apply the balm before bed to allow your skin to recover overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTo Tape or Not to Tape?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/hand-met-tape-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/climbingspot.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/handvijl-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSmoothing Rough Skin<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Can You Climb with Damaged Skin?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Have an important session or competition coming up? Many climbers rest for a few days beforehand to ensure their skin is in top condition.
If you still want to climb despite skin damage, modify your training. For example, train on a wooden hangboard or avoid routes and problems that put excessive strain on your skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNothing Helps? Check Your Nutrition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The same applies to your skin. A lack of essential vitamins and minerals can lead to dryness, irritation, and slow recovery. Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish, nuts, and seeds) are crucial for healthy skin. Make sure you\u2019re consuming enough calories and nutrients to support both your performance and skin health. Not sure what\u2019s best for you? Consult a nutritionist for expert advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal thoughts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Happy climbing!<\/strong>
Do you have any skin care tips for climbers? Share them in the comments and let\u2019s help each other climb smarter and better!<\/p>\n\n\n\n