How to toughen skin

**BruiseKnee** · Posted On: 3/30/2011 6:34am

New to Muay Thai, really diggin' it and training 3-4 times a week, sometimes a little bit of boxing to mix it up a bit.

I'm getting cuts/grazes frequently, notably the knuckles but also sometimes the knees/elbows from all the pad work.

What can I do to toughen the skin? Or is it just a matter of adjusting to the training?

**tao.jonez** · Posted On: 3/30/2011 1:21pm

Just keep training. The longer you train the less you'll have these issues.

**Lindz** · Posted On: 3/30/2011 2:25pm

Knuckles? Are you hitting stuff without gloves on?

**Boneless** · Posted On: 3/30/2011 3:02pm

Most injuries are from bad technique, just keep training and you will be fine.

**BruiseKnee** · Posted On: 3/30/2011 6:19pm

I'm sure poor technique is to blame somehow.

The worse cuts are on my pinkie finger and it is well below the actual knuckle.

I'm probably making contact with the wrong part of the hand.

What's a good way to heal the wound quickly?

I've been applying antiseptic cream religiously.

**tao.jonez** · Posted On: 3/31/2011 8:48am

Primarily, keep it clean. You can't make your body heal faster.

**billy sol hurok** · Posted On: 3/31/2011 9:05am

This stuff is good for abrasions and whatnot in places where it's tough getting a bandage to stick:

New-Skin

Smells like acetone, but what the hey.

**Lindz** · Posted On: 3/31/2011 11:06am

Do you have a pair of these?

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**forcelaw26** · Posted On: 4/03/2011 2:41pm

Its hard to say cause i dont know what you are hitting. But i would recommend gloves (everlast are very good) or hand wraps. And if you forget gloves or hand wraps for some strange reason just make sure when you hit the punching bag you hit straight and that your knuckles don't twist or slide on contact. (by straight i don't mean only do straight punches).

**BruiseKnee** · Posted On: 4/03/2011 5:56pm

That's what puzzles me and everyone I ask.

I was wearing padded easy/quick handwraps and 16 oz gloves.

I do get the feeling that it's just my skin adjusting to doing nothing to all of a sudden intense training.

That and the aforementioned poor technique. Lesson learned but if anyone has tips on how to get it to heal faster other, would be good.

I hate having to stop training!