Hands have to be in good, healthy, robust shape to take on the challenges of climbing! They need to be treated well in order to have the resilience to repair and regenerate after the battering they get at the rock face.

Here are our top tips for looking after your hands before, during and after climbing:

1. Have a good daily regime so that hands are already in great condition, whether you’re climbing or not. That means avoiding irritants and perfumes, keeping them immaculately clean and moisturising regularly.
   
   
2. Wash then moisturise hands thoroughly 1.5 - 2 hours before a climb with a non-oily hand cream (Balmonds Intensive Hand Cream is perfect). If use an intensive oil-based balm, make sure it’s well absorbed into the hands before your start climbing.
   
   
3. During climbing attend to any splits, tears or snags straightaway! File ‘em down or tape ‘em up. They will get worse otherwise and ruin your day.
   
   
4. Use the right chalk: avoid impurities, drying agents, fillers.
   
   
5. Wash hands with water and a soap-free cleanser immediately after climbing.
   
   
6. Apply a good amount of balm such as Balmonds Skin Salvation and really let it soak in.
   
   
7. Apply balm again last thing at night and leave it on overnight under cotton gloves if your fingers and palms have really taken a battering.
   
   
8. Rest between climbs to let your hands heal.
   
   

Although some climbers avoid moisture thinking that will keep hands tough, hard and dry, you actually need to look after your skin by giving it what it needs - and that definitely includes moisture and nutrients! Well-looked-after, well-moisturised, clean skin will be supple, tough, resilient, less prone to cracks and will heal quicker.

Why is Skin Salvation the right balm for the job?

• It’s 100% natural, so doesn’t contain any perfumes, preservatives or petrochemicals that can sting open skin or exacerbate irritation.
• It contains beeswax, which is a humectant, meaning it draws vital moisture into the skin. Moisture is what skin cells need in order to rebuild their defences.
• It contains hemp, olive and safflower oils, which are remarkably rich in the essential fatty acids needed to strengthen the skin barrier and keep it functioning effectively.
• It contains naturally anti-inflammatories (calendula, chamomile, nettle and chickweed) to reduce swelling, itch and redness so that skin can heal quicker.