your not supposed to run your hands back to front. it catches and pulls on there scales. the natural flow of there scale pattern is front to rear. always run your hands in that direction. your probably dislodging the scales and causing damage to them your self this why they are beginning to feel funny.

post some pictures. also it could be a burn if your running your heat source un regulated. and or scale rot. but my first guess since you have mentioned the way you're handling him and its wrong is that your causing the scale damage your self.