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Have you ever wondered why calluses form or what can be done to prevent them? All of us at some point in time will develop a callus perhaps on our feet and/or hands. However, although you have experienced a callus, you still may not understand why they develop or how to remove them!

The thickened, hardened skin callus develops from continuous pressure and friction. Although calluses can grow anywhere, they are most often found on the feet and hands. The thickening of the skin is the body’s defense to help the skin from getting damaged. If you’re not familiar with thick calluses, find someone who works with their hands, perhaps a construction worker or maybe a musician, and ask them to show their hands to you. They’ll likely have thick calluses on their palms and/or fingertips. The thickened skin on their hands serves as a protection for working with their hands or playing a stringed instrument.

The common places for calluses to grow on your feet are on the soles around the heel and the ball. This is because these two spots on the feet bear most of the pressures of walking or standing. While this may not be a problem, calluses can become so thick, they start causing pain because of increased pressure.

Unless you happen to live somewhere that allows you to go barefoot all the time, there is a chance your calluses are due to some structural abnormality in your feet. When removing calluses, it is important to use your personal care products with caution; although you may find temporary relief removing the thick skin, you could also be bypassing a more crucial issue that may require medical attention. Some examples of problems in the feet that may cause calluses are flat feet, hammertoes, or bunions. As most common foot problems are instigated, using narrow, ill-fitted shoes can increase the risk for developing calluses. A solution to prevent the development of calluses would be to wear wider shoes with soft soles. These shoes avoid placing increased pressure on areas of your feet that weren’t designed to handle the abnormal pressures. (Learn more about your feet from the foot doctor Chandler AZ).

Whether painless or unbearable, calluses have the potential to cause complications. Calluses can be a haven for infections which results in pus-like buildups that cause pain, swelling in the feet and can even cause a fever if the inspection spreads beyond the feet. If this takes place, antibiotics may be necessary to clean it up. This can be particularly serious in the diabetic population because diabetics tend to have more difficulty in healing properly than non-diabetics.

If you experience a callus that becomes unbearable, you should contact your podiatrist to treat the problem and see what’s causing the callus to persist. Your doctor can shave down the callus in the meantime, relieving your pain, making each step easier and more comfortable.