What are calluses and how are they treated?

Those that form on the feet usually result from too much pressure being exerted by footwear.

For instance, wearing tight shoes tends to squeeze the foot and this ultimately causes thickening of the skin surface. High heeled shoes lead to a squeezing of the front parts of the shoes while loose shoes make your feet slide and continuous rubbing against the shoe could result in calluses. Thin soled shoes create much more pressure on the ball of the foot when walking compared to thicker soled shoes. In addition, the tendency to wear shoes and sandals without socks increases friction thus leading to a thickening of the skin surface, which is also the case with walking barefoot.

It is easy to tell if you have a callus simply by looking at your feet or hands. Generally speaking, a callus is thick, hard, and dry and usually has a yellowish or grayish appearance. Another symptom of calluses is that they are less sensitive to touch compared to surrounding skin areas and are bumpy. One benefit to remember is that a callus can reduce pain. They can, however, cause pain as you walk or when you wear shoes. A large callus might make it hard for the shoe to fit your feet and pain can result when pressure is exerted on it through squeezing. Physical examinations are the most common way of diagnosing calluses on the feet and hands. During the examination, your doctor will ask you some questions regarding your hobbies or the work you do as well as the kind of shoes that you wear. If the doctor suspects that your bone has a problem, he or she will recommend that an x-ray is performed so that the diagnosis can be as accurate as possible.

There are different types of treatments as far as calluses are concerned. For people with peripheral neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, or any other kind of condition that can cause numbness or circulatory problems, it is always advisable that you consult your doctor first before attempting any treatment. Actually, a callus won’t require any treatment as such unless it is painful. Where the callus causes some pain, the main goal of the treatment is to remove the friction or pressure that causes the callus and it will heal naturally on its own. To achieve this, you will need to wear proper fitting footwear and if possible, ensure that your shoes have protective padding, such as doughnut-shaped pads for cushioning the calluses from the shoes. Your doctor or physical therapist will also recommend some other padding types such as toe crest pads, toe caps, toe sleeves, and toe separators.

There are also some products like salicylic acid that can be used to soften a callus and remove the dead skin. A callus can also be trimmed using a sharp knife or razor but this should be done by a professional doctor. Never attempt to cut a callus on your own particularly if you are diabetic. Where the bone structure is affected, the best treatment option is surgery and can be very effective in removing calluses. To ensure that the callus doesn’t recur, it is essential that you avoid things that exert more pressure on your feet and hands and take good care of yourself.