Calluses

Medical terminology: hyperkeratosis

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Calluses are hard, thickened areas of skin. These layers of thick, dead skin can cause foot pain if they develop on weight bearing areas, such as under the ball of the foot or on the heel. Excessive callus formation can lead to the breakdown of tissue underneath the hard skin, which can lead to a serious infection.

Attempting to cut off the hard skin yourself is dangerous as you can cut yourself creating the chance of an infection. Keeping your skin moisturized can alleviate some of the discomfort caused by the callus.

Why do calluses form?

• Excessive pressure or friction
• Uneven weight distribution
• Faulty foot mechanics
• Ill-fitting footwear
• Certain diseases and disorders

What is the treatment?

• Removal of thick, dead skin through painless sharp debridement
• Using various padding material to offload pressure from the area
• Orthotic therapy for long term offloading of pressure from the area

Ways you can prevent callus formation are:

• Filing down excessive hard skin using an emery board
• Footwear which has extra cushioning
• Over-the-counter inserts that allow for extra padding
• Custom orthotics to address any faulty foot mechanics creating a more even weight distribution