Legzz started this discussion ·
Hi, I'm a newbie and on monday after 2 hrs of poling I tore skin off my palm. I really want to go back to class tonight but the area is still tender. Anyone know if new skin or liquid bandage can withstand the pole?
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I do not know of any liquid bandage for the palm. I'm curious what you were doing that tore the skin off your palm. I know you'll get beat up to start and your body needs to adjust, but it may also be a sign that your learning wrong. I tore the skin off the bottom of my palm/wrist area during my first few classes. The teacher said it was normal and showed me her scars so I thought it was ok. I later found out it was because I had bad wrist form (and bad shoulder form) and was rubbing it against the pole. Turns out your wrist shouldn't wrap around the pole and rub on spins and my teacher was clueless. Just my experience, your experience may vary.
Yep Bace is right be careful of your wrist placement, as you get stronger it will not rest on the pole as you will be able to hold yourself away. Even though you didn't mention your wrist it's a good thing to know if you're a beginner. You can try to wear weight lifting gloves to protect your palms which also can protect your hands from calluses just be sure not to get the grippy kind if you are working on spins :) I have some suede ones from target that work well for pole.
This happened to a student at Karol's workshop in Columbus. She was working on a brass pole and those tend to get very hot if you are doing a lot of spins. I don't know if new skin will hold up and I can't imagine that the application would be pleasant. I would opt for one of the large fabric bandages and if you have a first aid cabinet at work get one out of there. The ones we have at work have the craziest adhesive. If you do not have that option, try a regular bandage covered in electrical tape. Electrical tape will hold up to pole (many use it on their feet when they wear away the skin climbing) and is pretty easy to get back off. I keep a roll in my bag of tricks at all times!
Ahhh....The beloved rip! This happened where you would normally develop caluses? I hadn't had one in years........The blessing of not working uneven bars once I left gymnastics....LOL However, pole will do the same thing.........I have had a few myself. The best thing to do--- If you have not already done so---Trim the skin off that ripped to as close as possible to the original blister. Wash it gently---This is gonna hurt...Use mild soap you can use polysporin on it for the first couple of days......but for the most part part----Keep it dry, let it get lots of air. It needs to dry out and heal. You won't be poling with that hand..........I don't reccommend it.....you will only cause more blistering to occur and further damage. I had a really bad one this time last year and wouldn't you know it---I was booked to demo the entire next day. I had to do the demos, I avoided using the damaged hand as much a possible, but even using it teeny amounts----caused it to get worse and it was soooooo painful after. OIntments like polysporin etc will work to help heal it and numb it a bit if it is super tender, but I honestly don't recommend poling on it until it is healed. You will make it worse.
You may wish to try our gloves, with or without tack for protection until the area heals. Joel
Thanks everyone for the feedback. The skin is definitely on my palm, not wrist but I will keep all the suggestions about wrist safety in mind next time I'm poling. I am very new to pole but I think I'm already addicted! The torn skin on my palm occured (atleast, I'm pretty sure) because I overdid it on Monday. I did two 1 hour classes in a row. I wasn't on a brass pole but as Chemgoddess said thinking back on it my pole was really hot. I was determined to get a fallback spin and I just kept spinning and spinning repeatedly. Next step, I went to climb (which I am still having the hardest time with! GRR) and I slipped down a little and the skin literally just peeled off. I've considered gloves, but as a newbie I feel like I do need to build up some callouses, I guess I just need to take it a little slower! I talked to a friend who is an instructor in another state and after her suggestion I have decided to wait a few days until another pole session. The last thing I need is to lose grip because I'm trying to pole on a sore hand and end up with a much worse injury. I guess next time I won't push myself so hard. It was only my fourth class!
