Finger cracks, ouch!!

Jaclyn Jones · From: Texas, USA

Has any one had problems with fingers cracking from picks? If so, what helps?
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Gary Meyer · From: Sacramento, California, USA

Yes I have suffered this from working with newspapers for decades and also playing uprigh bass for as long.
Out here "Rite Aid" drug stores carry "Cracked Heel Skin Softeber". It is usually near the foot products. Plus it smells like apricots.

Gary Meyer · From: Sacramento, California, USA

Thats 'Cracked Heel Skin Softener"

Tim Sergent · From: Hendersonville, TN, USA

I keep a small bottle of New Skin or Nu Skin in my seat just for that very purpose. It's like a layer of...well...new skin!

Steve English · From: Baja, Arizona

Another trick that's worked for me is to wrap a band-aid around the after the gig and leave it on all night . The skin stays soft and moist and it helps heal it enough to deal with the following night's gig.

When you take the band-aid off and the area is all white and wrinkled, it's working!

Bob Kagy · From: Lafayette, CO USA

Triple antibiotic ointment; generics work real well. BandAid covering it for awhile helps.

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

Jaclyn,
In this case maybe prevention is the best medicine.
If you learn to bend the picks to fit your finger you might get rid if that nasty problem.

Here is what Jeff Newman taught us:
See how your fingers are slightly thicker at the first joint and then narrows slightly towards the tip?
Ok, so you need to shape your picks accordingly. In other words make them funnel shaped. Take two pairs of needle nose pliers, clamp them on to each side of the ring and bend outwards a bit, so that the opening is slightly wider at the end where you stick your finger in. Leave them slightly spread apart so they are too wide for your finger. Then fit them onto each finger by gently squeezing the ring in order for the finger to fit in there snugly.
When I put my picks on I start them on my finger then push the pick gently against the palm of my left hand and wiggle them back and forth until they are in the right spot on each finger.
Make a note of what pick goes on what finger and stick to that.

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Kenneth Caine · From: Pennsylvania, USA

A guitar friend taught me a simple trick. I don't have the problem from picking but from cold winters. Go get a bottle of super glue from the store and fill the crack. Good quick band aid. And it really, really works!

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

Kenneth, so true. Super glue is used in surgeries nowadays, to close up sutures.
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Jaclyn Jones · From: Texas, USA

Thanks guys! I thinks I will try all the suggestions. I have played banjo for years but never had the problem until I played steel.
_________________
http://www.myspace.com/jaclynjones
http://www.youtube.com/user/jackiej1950
Lots of guitars, banjos, mandos and a Mullen G2-D10,PAC D10, 1966 Marlen D10,Line6 x3 Pro, Peavey Powerslide, Michael Kelly Dobro and a "Fox Vintage Amp" model 5F8A. Oh Yea, a very patient husband.

Andy Jones · From: Mississippi

Kenneth,I have the same problem.I should have thought of that since the only thing I could get to stick together with Super glue was my fingers!

Andy

David Graves · From: Indiana, USA

Heres one that was told to me by Ivan Guernsey the master dobro builder. He said that some of the hottest session guys, Mason, Douglas, etc.. carry Chapstick and use it around the cuticles. If their kept soft they won't split. I get splits and hangnails alot so I tried it and IT WORKS!!! I was amazed. Just keep it seperate from your other chapstick.. only you know where your hands have been. Laughing

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David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

Several years back I posted here about dry, cracking hands in general, and I was advised to try flaxseed oil capsules - you put them on your insides, not outside. I've vary rarely used a hand cream or softener since, though I do resort to superglue still now and then (electric bass...) I later found out that some eye surgeons put their patients on this before surgery, it's like Valvoline for the soul, I guess. Shocked

I'm taking 2 1000mg capsules a day of "Ultimate Nutrition" flaxseed oil that I get online from bodybuilders.com. The reason I say this is because the "Nature's Way" stuff from WalMart or Rexall doesn't do anything at all - it's like it's a different product entirely.

Bill Ford · From: Graniteville SC Aiken

[quote="Bent Romnes"]
Make a note of what pick goes on what finger and stick to that.

Here,s the way I do it, the coated picks help a great deal also. I play at our Church and yesterday I wore my picks from about 10;30, til about 1;00,(We had an all day singing/praise service) had to twist them off, no pain, maybe just a little discomfort removing them. Greatest thing since sliced bread....BTW, what was the greatest thing before sliced bread????

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Tom Campbell · From: Houston, Texas, USA

There is a product called "New Skin" that can be purchased at most drug stores. It is a liquid bandage...a little brush is built into the cap that lets you "paint" the liquid over the cut/crack/hangnail.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 6 Sep 2010 6:38 am

Most of these replies are of a "preventative" nature, and I'm sure they all work to some degree, however, the super glue fix is the way to go when the skin has already cracked. It has worked for me every time. Smile

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

Barry, I was one of those who gave a preventative measure. Yes, I know if a crack appears, super glue works.
But my preventative measure, easily duplicated by everybody, does work. I never have cracked skin or hangnails due to picks. They just sit on my fingers very comfortably.
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Barry Blackwood · Posted 6 Sep 2010 6:51 am

Bent, I did not say anywhere in my post that your remedy did not work.

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

Barry, and I did not say that you did.
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Carl Williams · From: Oklahoma

Jaclyn,
I bought Perfect Touch picks and haven't had anymore problems with sore pick fingers for the past 2-3 years. I got a pair at the Dallas show I believe in 2007 or so and recently ordered a backup pair. I tried my old style picks the other day and I'm spoiled to the Perfect Touch. Now, the rest of the story; they're pricey but I'm thinking it has been a good investment if you don't care for sore and cracked fingers that is! ha Now, you can get them from Al Brisco at Steel Guitars of Canada and probably other places. Good luck...Carl

Tiny Olson · From: Mohawk River Valley, Upstate NY

This is a problem I've had for 38 yrs. of playing. For me it isn't so much the picks that have caused it but rather my love for late season bass-fishing and the outdoors. By far and away, the best thing I've found for softening the cracks and easing the pain is "Bag Balm" (comes in a green can and my personal favorite)or "Udder Balm." These products are made for dairy farmers to use on cows for milking but man do they work well on cracked hands, fingers, feet and the like. Rub a bunch on when not playing (wrap 'em if you like but not really needed)and your fingers will feel better when you do. These products are available at "Tractor Supply."

I also carry "Nu-Skin" or "Liquid Bandage" in my seat to use as a protectant in case a crack starts showing up suddenly.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Chris "Tiny" O.

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

With me it is the winter dryness - I don't think my picks make a difference, but it can be painful when my skin is cracked. Regular use of a good lotion helps - this past winter I made a concerted effort to do it every day, usually two or three times, and here is no doubt that it helped a lot. I have used those nu skin products and they help once the damage is there.

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