In today’s blog, we explain why you may regularly have calluses and how to treat them.

Chronic Callus Formation

The frequent presence of a callus isn’t usually a cause for grave concern, but it can tell you that a specific area of your body is handling more stress than normal. Learning why these calluses form can help dictate the best path forward if you hope to help the callus resolve. Here’s a look at why calluses may be forming, and how to alleviate them.

Poorly Fitting Shoes – First and foremost, check your shoes. If you’re wearing shoes that are too tight, that aren’t up for the physical demands of your day or that aren’t the right shape for your foot, it could be causing calluses to form. Think about what shoes you wear regularly when calluses form, and see if swapping to a more supportive pair takes care of your calluses.

Varying Individual Stress Patterns – Every person has a slightly different gait and way in which stress is dispersed across their feet. If you have higher arches, flat feet, bunions or hammertoes, stress may end up being channeled across your foot in different ways, and certain spots can end up being overloaded. Adding a generic or custom orthotic insert can work to shift how stress is displaced on your foot so that certain areas aren’t overloaded with stress.

Too Much Standing – It’s also possible that you put too much stress on your feet because you’re constantly up and moving. If you work a manual labor day, you may put a lot of stress on your feet throughout the day. Wearing the right shoes for the job and adding custom orthotic inserts can help comfort your feet throughout the day. If you’re  regularly on your feet for an extended period, consider giving your feet a break when you can. That’s not to say you should be inactive, but consider pursuing some low-impact activities or exercises instead of running or doing a workout with a lot of jumping or pushing off with your feet. Limit stress on your feet when possible.

Manage Your Weight – As we’ve noted, calluses tend to form when an area if overstressed, and when you’re heavier, your feet an inherently handling more stress when you’ve moving. Working to shed a little weight can be beneficial for your health in many ways, but it may also help to resolve your calluses.

Dry, Bare Feet – Finally, if you walk around barefoot, your feet will not have the extra layer of protection offered by a shoe, and it may force the foot to add some natural protection of its own. Similarly, dry skin can contribute to callus formation, so wearing socks and shoes can help prevent against callus formation.

If you’re concerned about a painful or uncomfortable callus, or you have questions about a different foot issue, consider connecting with Dr. Silverman or clicking around on other helpful blogs on the site.

The post Why Do I Constantly Have Calluses? appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.

Corns and Calluses

Here’s a short breakdown of the two different conditions:

Calluses – Calluses are flat areas of rough, thickened skin that develop out of repeated pressure or rubbing on one area of your foot. This thickening of the skin is a process called hyperkeratosis, and it’s actually a defense mechanism by your body in response to overpressure or overstimulation. This tough and hard patch of skin helps protect the inner layers from heat, cold, penetration or pressure. Oftentimes calluses are found on the bottoms of your feet in areas of high pressure, like the balls of your feet.

Corns – Corns are round-shaped bumps that usually appear dry and discolored. Similar to calluses, corns are caused by excessive or repeated pressure on an area of your foot. Corns can be more problematic, however, as they have a core that points inward, which can pressurize nerves in the foot.

Corn and Callus Treatment

The treatment techniques for each condition also vary a bit. For calluses, treatment usually involves removing the dead/thickened skin, although oftentimes calluses will resolve on their own by simply changing your footwear. This can be done with a pumice stone or a “Ped Egg,” but you’ll want to be careful you don’t cut away too much skin or too deeply. If you don’t possess the right hardware, or you just don’t trust yourself to perform the removal, a foot specialist or podiatrist can assist. Once the callus has been addressed, consider investing in new footwear or orthopedic inserts to prevent overpressure on an area of your foot.

Corns can also be treated with a change in footwear, but they may also benefit from adding padding between the corn and the pressure source. They generally go away on their own, but if they become painful or persist, doctor intervention may be necessary. Both conditions can be surgically treated with the assistance of a surgical blade to carefully remove the development, but it’s something that should only be done by a trained foot surgeon. Surgery is not necessary in the majority of cases, but it’s an option should the condition continue to recur or become problematic for other areas of your feet.

The post The Differences Between Corns and Calluses On Your Feet appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.