Daisy Posted May 14, 2003 Report Share Posted May 14, 2003 I used to have nice little hard calluses on the tips of my fingers that protected them from all my playing. Unfortunately they evaporated during the 6 weeks that I couldn't play this spring. Now my elbow is healed and I'm practicing 4+ hours a day. My fingers do NOT like it! Is there any way to protect or harden up my fingers before the skin completely disapears? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANFIO Posted May 14, 2003 Report Share Posted May 14, 2003 If you protect your fingertips the calluses will never come back! Just play and they will appear again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted May 14, 2003 Report Share Posted May 14, 2003 Take up Classical Guitar. In short order, you'll have enough callous for yourself and two cellists. Rat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4strings Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 There's a product marketed in pharmacies etc. under the name "New Skin", and advertised as an "antiseptic liquid bandage." It smells a little like nail polish when you put it on. I keep it in my kit of Important Music Stuff, like spare pencils, nail clipper and metronome. Sometimes I get cracks in the skin by my nails, near my fingertips, in the dry winter weather. Those cracks really hurt, and once I even bled on my strings! New Skin *stings* when you put it on a place like that, but the sting goes away in a minute and after a couple applications I can keep on playing like there are no cracks at all. Also good for when your fingernail starts to pull away from the finger a bit -- anything you can't put a regular bandage on and still play. Get some of this stuff and paint it on your sore fingertips, several layers thick. It won't take away your sensitivity (much), and I don't think it can prevent the return of your calluses, which have to grow back at their own natural rate, which should be pretty soon at 4+ hours a day! I know the guitar trick, but it just makes my fingers sorer faster; and I think you are only asking for enough calluses for the violin. Hope this little temporary "patch" helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One_Tree_Hill Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 I'm not sure about using that stuff...it seems like a bad idea, but maybe it would work...I'll pass though. My advice would be to just keep playing. The more you do, the sooner your callouses will come back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
technique_doc Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 Hello Daisy! I'm wondering what you're all worried about? I don't have them, never had, why do you want them? It's a bit like a golfer praying for blisters to return I play 3-12 hrs a day, no callouses, no chinrest mark, no back pain - are these 'wounds' evidence of work? Someone enlighten me please. T_D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted May 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 I wouldn't want calluses either, except that my fingers are sore and there's substantially less skin left there than yesterday! I'm going to get my bridge lowered today- I just had some shaping done on the fingerboard which made the whole thing a few mm lower, so that's probably a good part of the problem. I may try that New Skin stuff yet, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcheerleader Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 Hi Daisy! If you do decide to use the "NuSkin". Look for it spelled like that. With a "u". I have used the stuff before, but not for the same purpose. Anyway...just thought I would add, might be able to help you find it a little better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4strings Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 The bottle I have is labeled "New Skin," or possibly "New-Skin," if that funny little mark there is supposed to represent a hyphen. So maybe either version would work; or the name has been updated; or there are a couple different companies making the same thing. When I feel my fingertips, it doesn't seem to me like there's much of a callus there -- not like there is on my hands from, say, shoveling gravel -- but there's definitely a thickening of the skin. If Daisy has lost this, she's going to be hurting until it comes back, considering the amount of practice she wants to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcheerleader Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 Ok..looks like we are talking about two different products. I'm not sure that the one I mentioned would do as well as the product you named. The NuSkin I was talking about is like a skin moisturizer/repair lotion. The New-Skin you are talking about is like a liquid sealant. I know Band-Aid has a liquid bandage product out that would be similar to the product you mentioned. I get peeling skin at my fingertips, not really calluses (sp)?. I really don't care to get the peeling skin, that is why I use moisturizer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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