Has there ever been a spot on the bottom of your big toe that is raised, tough and has been there for as long as you can remember? You are highly likely to have a callus. In fact, there are several reasons why you should deal with calluses. There are situations where the thickened skin on your toe can get aggravated and cause pain along with other issues with your foot. Therefore, it is a good idea to deal with them as soon as you can. So how to do that? Let’s look at the process to do that step by step.
What is a callus and what causes them?
Calluses are layers of thickened skin that form as a result of a normal reaction. It is the body’s way of responding to chronic pressure and friction. The layers that form at the skin surface are protective to the deeper tissue structures underneath. Unfortunately, the protective layers can become excessive and problematic.
What about calluses on the big toe?
Calluses can develop on your big toe more than other toes for the simple reason that it is involved in almost all of your body’s movements. The toe is always in contact with the ground, and it gets a lot of pressure from the body and friction from the shoe. It is your body’s way of protecting the toe from injury but you can see it becomes a problem.
Are Calluses Harmful?
Though calluses are not harmful, there are possibly harmful side effects of calluses. There may be persistent thickening, causing pain when you walk or stand. Calluses may sometimes split. Any split in soft tissue may lead to infection. The diabetic population would have to be more cautious as their feet may not heal as well or as quickly.
How to Analyze your Calluses
How calluses are assessed beforehand will help with choosing treatment options..
Self-Examination
Do you have calluses you would consider? Are they deep, or just superficial? Are there any pain symptoms, or is there a noticeable thickening of the skin?
Professional Evaluation
A professional evaluation should be sought in the more painful or concerning cases, however, for the less concerning cases, just more informative cases, a professional may not be essential. These cases would include symptoms of pain, swelling, or redness. Dr. Lauren Dabakaroff is a physician to consider for this. She is a board-certified podiatrist with training from Mount Sinai, and, with thorough assessments and foot-healthy prioritization, she is likely to provide advanced diagnostics and then a surgical or non-surgical option.
How to Remove Calluses Without Surgery
If your callus problem is not too serious, we advise starting with n surgery methods first. These treatments can help with the first intervention.
OTC medication
A number of products designed to treat calluses can be purchased without a prescription. These treatments contain salicylic acid, which helps to gradually soften and remove hardened skin.
- Salicylic acid pads/pla sters – These can be placed on the callus. Make sure to protect the surrounding skin, as the acid can damage healthy skin.
- Exfoliating scrubs and creams – More harmonious self-care practices can help to soften the callus over time.
Natural treatments
If you’re one of the people that like to try and take a natural approach to these things, there are treatments out there, with some people finding them helpful, even if the results can be pretty variable.
- Epsom salt soak – Putting your feet in a warm water soak with Epsom salt helps soften the skin, allowing for easier management of the skin.
- Pumice stone or foot file – Calluses can be gradually diminished by gently filing the skin on them. Be sure to not be too aggressive or you may damage the skin.
- Moisturizing – Cover the area with a thick foot cream or oil. It’s best to use a mix of natural oils like coconut oil or olive oil as these can be really helpful.
Changes in Lifestyle
Often times there are changes in the lifestyle that can have a major improved effect on the condition of your feet.
- Footwear: Choose well-fitting shoes that have plenty of room at the toe box. Do not wear shoes with a high heel that points the toes down, as this can increase the pressure at the forefoot.
- Orthotic Inserts: Custom-made orthotic inserts can alleviate the pressure on your feet, and prevent the development of calluses.
Surgical solutions for persistent calluses
If changes in the lifestyle and other conservative measures fail to produce positive changes in the condition of your feet, a surgical solution may be needed. This is typically reserved for more severe cases.
When to opt for surgery
Surgery is a good option when the calluses are causing significant pain, reduced mobility, and/or recurrent infections. Collaboration with experts, such as Dr. Lauren Dabakaroff, who employ cutting-edge diagnostics and treatment methodologies, can help ascertain the suitability of a surgical solution.
Types of surgical options
Surgical removal of the calluses is relatively simple to remove; however, it is important that this is done by a trained specialist.
- Callus shaving: This is where a specialist carefully removes the excess thickened skin.
- Foot structure correction: In some cases there may be a need to address underlying issues with the structure of the foot in order to prevent the callus(es) from coming back.
Preventing calluses from returning
Once you have dealt with the calluses, the focus needs to be on prevention.
Choose the Right Shoes
Getting shoes that fit well and are designed to minimize pressure and friction is very important. Foot shape and activity level are important considerations; you should consult your foot doctor for recommendations.
Establish a Routine
Having a foot care routine will keep calluses away. This should include moisturizing and protective pads, as well as exfoliating.
Consider the Impacts
High-impact activities will definitely create calluses faster, so combine any activities that are high-impact with lower impact ones to give your feet a break.
When to Take the Next Step
In many cases, the lifestyle and home remedies will help, but it is also important to recognize the cases where professional help is needed.
Conclusion; More to the Point, When to Seek Help
If you notice increased pain, changes in skin color, signs of infection, skin becomes numb, or any other changes, it is time to book a consult with a podiatrist. Professionals like those at LMD Podiatry will provide over-the-counter options and work with you to come up with other targeted solutions. All these options work best to help you with your podiatry issues.
Getting Specialized Help
A podiatrist will help with their condition through specialized care. This is done through both custom orthotics and other treatments like specialized creams. Your foot health will be well cared for, and you will gain some peace of mind from the work being done.
You now know what calluses are, what causes them, and how to deal with them. You are prepared to manage that stubborn patch on your big toe. Whether you take care of it yourself or get professional assistance, starting your journey towards smoother and healthier feet is now in your hands.\n\nTo get professional help, reach out to us.