Finger Sores & Inlflamation

I have recently been getting sores on the tops of some of my fingers. It appears to be where the skin rubs during lifts. Now, there is swelling, almost like an allergic reaction. Has anyone else seen this sort of condition?

I also am getting blood blisters on the grip side. Any advise for that?

Can/should I continue to train?

[Garrett Smith]

Did you get a new bar recently, or are you putting anything new on the bar or your hands?

No - in fact I work out with many different bars at a place called Sayre Park. It is an old olympic weightlifting club in Chicago, and some of the bars are pretty old. I do use chalk, which I never used much before.

[Garrett Smith]

It's very possible that this is chalk-related, possibly due to a reaction to it and/or due to the improved grip allowing for more mechanical wear to the skin of your hands.

As for hand care and OL, I can't help much there.

You may want to ask the gym owners if they can disinfect the bars, as MRSA is becoming a common inhabitant of gyms...

What are your weights made out of?

It's possible you are allergic to the weights. I'm allergic to certain types of plastic (in grocery bags for example). Carrying some types of them makes my skin on my hands inflamed where the plastic has come into contact with my skin.

You might be buying a new set of weights. If so, I'd go for something solid, made out of metal only.