Why Do Feet Get Calluses?

Repetition Calluses

Feet get Calluses due to repeated pressure or friction to the same area of your skin. As a result, the recovered skin forms scar tissue that is thicker.

With repetition to the damaged skin, Calluses form when dry.

How Do Calluses Form?

Calluses form from pressure-induced by friction, such as repeated pressure caused by running, standing, or ongoing exposure to hard or irregular surfaces.

Calluses also can form due to inadequate heel support or simply neglectful skincare.

What are Foot Calluses?

Calluses and blisters are both irritating skin disorders and are common. When an area of thickened skin or hard patches of skin forms, they can become insightly and cause pain.

Calluses are larger and have a more uneven. They are more spread out than corns.

Foot Calluses are more likely to appear on the bottom of your foot in the bony parts that bear your weight - your heel, big toe, ball of your foot, and down the side of your foot.

Who Do Calluses Affect?

Anyone, regardless of gender or age, can develop calluses.

People are more prone to experience Calluses who subject their feet to more sustained pressure and repetitive movements including:

• Athletes and sportspeople
• People performing repetitive movements, and
• Those using improperly fitting shoes

Causes of Calluses?

Many of the causes of corns and calluses are the same. Common causes of Calluses include:

• Dry skin,
• Athletes with a technique that puts repeated pressure on specific points
• Workers performing work without proper protective gear,
• Occupations where standing for long periods, particularly on hard floors,
• Shoes such as sandals, thongs that provide little to no support to the fat pad,
• Improper shoes that are too small or too tight, and
• Walking barefoot.

What Are The Most Likely Symptoms Of Corns And Calluses?

Common symptoms include:

• Hardened areas of skin where repeated friction or repetitive pressure occurs
• Thick, rigid, and often bigger and more flattened patch of skin,
• Less sensitivity to touch than the surrounding skin
• Pain, redness, blisters.

How are Calluses Diagnosed?

A simple visual examination of the skin is all that is required. Your podiatrist may inquire about activities or how much walking and standing you do, but Calluses are simple to identify. There are no tests required.

If you have a Callus on your foot, your podiatrist may ask you to walk so that he or she may evaluate your posture, gait and the way you walk. Further discussion may include your footwear and how you care for your feet.

How are Calluses Treated?

Treatment is determined by your symptoms and the source of the Callus.

Removing the thickening of the skin is an excellent treatment for the normal Callus. The treatment for Calluses ranges from

• Prevention,
• Self-treatment, and
• Doctor prescribed medication.

Callus Self-Treatment

Often self-treatment is effective:

• Soak the area of the Callus in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the skin softens.
• Using a pumice stone or an emery board, wet it.
• When the skin on your foot is still damp remove dead tissue by carefully moving the pumice stone or emery board across the corn or callus. Take care not to remove too much skin.
• Every day, apply a moisturizing body cream or body lotion to the Callus and the surrounding dead skin. Look for urea, salicylic acid, or ammonium lactate in the lotion as these substances will gradually soften the skin.

Callus Removal Medication

A patch containing 40% salicylic acid can be used to apply medication.

Instructions for use are included, as well as other application tips such as using a pumice stone, nail file, or emery board to smooth away dead skin before application. Salicylic acid works in a variety of forms.

Callus Prevention

Feet are a frequently neglected portion of the body until a problem arises. Most cases of Calluses can be avoided with little attention and care. Things to keep in mind are as follows:

• Wear shoes that are both comfortable and well-fitting. Shoes should be supportive, cushioned, and have shock-absorbing soles. Shoes' toe areas should be long and wide enough so that toes do not scrape against the shoe or other toes. This includes avoiding high-heeled, narrow-toed shoes that press the toes forward and cause them to scrape against the shoe or each other.
• Avoid wearing shoes with hard or leather soles unless they have enough cushioning (or you add padding) to cushion your feet.
• Socks should be worn with your shoes. Make sure your socks are snug enough to not bunch up under your feet.
• Insoles that are cushioned or padded should be used. If you've had calluses in the past, talk to your doctor about personalized insoles. These inserts can help to balance weight-bearing stresses on the bottom of your foot, preventing calluses from forming. Use lamb's wool (rather than cotton) between your toes to reduce friction and soften corns.
• Inspect and clean your feet on a daily basis. Wash your feet with warm soapy water, pat them dry, and apply a hydrating foot cream. This aids in keeping your skin nice and supple.
• Keep your toes well-groomed.
• Don't wander around barefoot.
• If you have sweaty feet, use foot powder on a daily basis to keep them dry.

Next Step

Call Eastpoint Podiatry at Edgecliff on (02) 9362 4111 or visit www.eastpointpodiatry.com.au to book a time