Calluses

What are

Calluses are areas of thickened skin, using caused by too much pressure or rubbing. Callus is the body’s way of protecting the foot against too much pressure and friction.

 

Causes

Calluses are caused by an accumulation of dead skin cells, which harden and thicken over the ball of the foot, the heel, or the inside of the big toe. This callus formation is the body’s defense mechanism to protect the foot against excessive pressure and friction. Calluses are normally found on the ball-of-the-foot, the heel, and/or the inside of the big toe.

 

Symptoms

Some of the common symptoms of Calluses are pain that increases while putting weight on your foot, a hardened, raised bump, tenderness or pain under skin, or dry skin.  Also a symptom of calluses is a hard growth commonly on the ball of the foot usually caused by high heeled shoes, shoes that are too small, flat feet, or obesity.

 

Treatment

Calluses usually need treatment if they are causing pain. If calluses are causing a great amount of pain, you must reduce the pressure or friction that is causing the callus to give it time to heal. To treat calluses, you should wear footwear that has a little more room to stop friction or pressure.  You can go to your doctor to get your calluses trimmed.  Also soak your callus in warm water to erode the dead skin.

 

Prevention

Buying a pair of well-fitted footwear with a wide toe and shock absorption to help reduce pressure on the foot can be the best way to prevent calluses on the foot.  Also wear gloves while lifting weights or working with tools to protect hands from calluses.