First time for finger pickin' wounds.

[ux4484]

So, my wife decides that we're going to do Christmas caroling this year with a group of chorus people from high school. Also decided was that I am going to play accompaniment. I have a set of family Christmas songs that we always play around the tree every year, but we had add a few more songs other people want to do. As this is a perfect trial run for the durability of the Ovation as the guitar I've been using. To keep the volume down during practice, I've been finger strumming instead of using a pick and also fingerpicking some songs that require it. Everyone involved seems to think that sounds a lot better with the songs.
Here's the hitch, for the first time in my life I'm developing calluses on my right hand fingertips, they're so close to the fingernail and both of them are quite hideous (not fully developed)
I'm thinking of using some old rubber fingertips to alleviate it getting any worse (dry cracking skin near the nail) has anyone tried this?
In the past when the calluses on my right hand have faded, I've use crazy glue to put on the tips to harden them until they came in. This will be my back up if the tips are unwieldy.

[Deleted]

Super glue is an answer, but i don't know how human-body-friendly this substance is.

[ux4484]

Considering it was designed to close human wounds, I think it's pretty compatible... and it's sterile.

[newey]

Most of the common formulations are basically the same stuff as they use to cement hip implants, knee implants, etc.

[ux4484]

Lotioned them up good today, tried the rubber fingers. Good on the thumb, not so much on the other fingers. The thumb is the worst, so it'll stay covered, the other two got "Krazy". I've got to start forcing myself to use the ring finger.

[Deleted]

Maybe its safe, however, its still a chemical artificial construct (not to be found in nature) that might have some properties like those described here :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanoacrylate#Safety_issues

The fumes from CA are a vaporized form of the cyanoacrylate monomer that irritate sensitive membranes in the eyes, nose, and throat. They are immediately polymerized by the moisture in the membranes and become inert. These risks can be minimized by using CA in well ventilated areas. About 5% of the population can become sensitized to CA fumes after repeated exposure, resulting in flu-like symptoms.[17] It may also act as a skin irritant and may cause an allergic skin reaction. The ACGIH assign a Threshold Limit Value exposure limit of 200 parts per billion. On rare occasions, inhalation may trigger asthma. There is no singular measurement of toxicity for all cyanoacrylate adhesives as there is a wide variety of adhesives that contain various cyanoacrylate formulations.

Personally, i wouldn't use it, since it feels unnatural (inflexible) on the human skin.

IMO

best treatment for the finger tips is to work them out with heavier gauges and avoid unhealthy habits that might cause irritations/injuries to the skin. Then, by time, the tips should be as hard as it needs.

[ux4484]

Problem is... Performance is this Saturday.

[Deleted]

Then do it like Stevie Ray Vaughan : super glue!