# What's up with Polar Ice?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-polar-ice/79932>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 5, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-polar-ice/79932 "2001-09-05T21:32:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Timban](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Timban](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timban)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-polar-ice/79932/1 "2001-09-05T21:32:41Z")

</div>

This question crossed my mind the other night as  
I put some of that wonderful, soothing gel on my  
shoulder. Why doesn’t Polar Ice/Icy Hot/etc. al  
affect the palms of your hand? Seems like you’d  
find your palms hot and numb after you use the  
stuff, right?

Anyone got the Straight Dope? 😉

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-polar-ice/79932/2 "2001-09-05T23:35:48Z")

</div>

I believe the answer is that the skin on your hands is callussed and toughened from use.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-polar-ice/79932/3 "2001-09-06T00:40:06Z")

</div>

I have heard that a jellyfish can not sting the palm of your hand from a scuba diving instructor - I never carred to test that though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-polar-ice/79932/4 "2001-09-06T01:32:39Z")

</div>

Actually, I think it is that there are fewer nerve endings in the fingers than most skin. Wouldn’t do do have your primary feelers being as sensative as… well, some other protrusions.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-polar-ice/79932/5 "2001-09-06T01:46:59Z")

</div>

no way erislover,

We did an experiment in school a few years back usin a paper clip. You bent it so you had two ends and poked them on your skin. You recorded if you could feel one or two pokes. The fingers were defenatly the closest together where you can feel two pricks.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-polar-ice/79932/6 "2001-09-06T03:47:15Z")

</div>

Well, try using your genetalia to unscrew a tough screw and get back to me.