No one of us can avoid brainaches during training, especially when we have just startedand our skin is not properly prepared for the exertion of heavy metal weights. Callouses can severely limit our training and daily activities, so we will tell you in the followingour article we will tell you how to fight calluses and whether they can be prevented.
Why do calluses form in the first place?
Callouses are a sign of hard work and they don't just form when you do weights, but they can easilyYou can also get callouses from gardening, digging or even long hikes. Calluses are the result of heavy strain and repeated pressure or friction on one area of the body. Just as muscles resist high stress by increasing their volume and strength, the skinresists constant physical stress by hardening and thickening, resulting in calluses.
The callouses themselves do not hurt, but they are very uncomfortable and with repeated stress they can begin to fill with fluid and turninto blisters, which are much more painful, especially if they are ruptured.
The most common callous-causing exercise is, without question, the deadlift. This is because we often lift very heavy weights that literally hang on our palms. Calluses are also the result of dynamic trapeze exercises such as muscle-ups or push-ups, where there is more friction in the palm of the hand. You also have no chance of avoiding calluses in various weightlifting exercises.
Gloves? Maximum for work!
As we mentioned earlier in the article, calluses are a symbol of hours spent in the gym and you should be duly proud of them! However, we understand that their presence can be very uncomfortable and impractical, which is why many people try to prevent them with fitness gloves, for example.
However, be careful when using them. While gloves can protect you from blisters to some extent, they can also cause blisters in somein some cases, making it much easier to grip, which deprives you of the benefit of strengthening your grip. They also reduce sensitivity when handling the barbell, and some glove surfaces are not grippy enough, which can cause the axle or trapeze bar to slip in your hands. If you have a problem with, for example, a weak wrist (which the gloves can relieve) and can'tcan't handle the weight required, use a pair of snatches that don't affect your grip as much.
If you want to avoid unnecessary friction and reduce blistering, use magnesium or liquidchalk, which will give you a secure grip on the line, but at the same time reinforce a firm grip.We've already discussed the importance of a strong enough grip in a previous article.
Do not puncture the blisters!
Even as a kid, our parents told us not to puncture blisters. And they were absolutely right.Punctured blisters tend to pick up a variety of infections, which then lead to the development ofmore serious problems than you could ever imagine. If you're still in the callus stage, don't even try to scrape them off. Here, too, you will create an open wound ripe for inflammation.
Even with immediate disinfection and securing the wound, you are definitely not helping them heal. The skin gets an extra boost to regenerate even faster and be even more resilient, ultimately leading to even more calluses. Furthermore, have you ever tried to catch a wasp on a deadlift with an open blister? It's really nothing to stand on.
How to get rid of calluses?
Not to worry, there is a way to effectively treat calluses. Calluses must first be soaked in water, ideally with a mixture of Epsom salt or chamomile, for 15 to 30 minutes. Once the callus has softened, remove the old skin with a pumice stone or skin file. Be careful not to cut or cut too deeply, though.
Once the old skin is removed, you can apply highly moisturising creams to the blister.and gels that prevent the skin from re-hydrating and forming more calluses or blisters. A great, and perhaps surprising solution for some, is to lubricate the callouses with deer tallow, which is used, for example, to treat chapped and dry lips. Deer tallow moisturises the surface of the lips as well as the skin of the hands or feet.
If you suffer from frequent callouses on your feet due to walking or running, we recommend that you suckto look for a medical shoe insole and check that your chosen footwear is fit for purpose. Remember that for long hikes and runs, while the shoe should fit snugly around the foot, it should never press!
Can calluses be prevented?
In this case, we must disappoint you, it can't. Even when wearing gloves, you are not fully protected from them and especiallyespecially in the early days, blisters can be a real pain. We recommend trying to reduce friction as much as possible, for example by using liquid chalk or magnesium. The use of moisturizing hand creams, which are applied to the skin, are also effective.moisturise and prevent cracking, making calluses less painful.
If callouses are preventing you from continuing to exercise, you can use a callous protector to keep them safe.to safely remove them with one of our tips described above.
Why can you trust us?
Hey! Hey! I'm Mirek and I've been working at World Fitness almost since the beginning, except for a small break. But before that I lived only in the gym for a few years, doing deadlifts and power triathlon, going to competitions and winning a few medals.
Probably the one I value the most is the national record in the WUAP federation. But besides working out, I was also interested in food and supplements, I liked to enjoy my free timeI used to read different researches and professional books in my free time to know as much as possible.