Have you had a painful and hardened area on your foot? It’s common, especially if you’re on your feet a lot during the day. But what you may have could be a callus, and you’re probably asking yourself why something like a callus could give you discomfort. Let’s take a closer look.
What is a Callus?
callus is the thickening and hardening of skin, often caused by excessive and repeated pressure and/or friction. Calluses can be formed on any area of the body, but are most predominantly and frequently formed on the hands and feet, places where the skin is often subject to some repetitive friction.
The difference between calluses and corns is that corns are generally smaller and have a hard center, while calluses are larger and cover more of the tissue. Calluses are protective, and when present may not show discomfort. When calluses do show discomfort, it’s often surprising.
What Are the Reasons For the Pain in a Callus?
A callus may just appear to be a skin condition, but a callus can also show more serious condition. Let’s explore those possibilities.
Comfort and Friction
Consider where your callus is located. If your callus is located near an area that supports a lot of weight and experiences a lot of friction like the ball of your foot, then that can be a reason for the pain. One can wear loose shoes where every step of theirs can put a lot of pressure onto the ball of the foot, which would make the callus painful.
Hrader shoes
When is the last time you reviewed your shoe sizing. Tight shoes can place a lot of pressure onto the calus, but loose shoes can create a lot of movement and cause friction. This can create adverse side effects and pain.
Pains in your foot tissues
Sometimes the thick skin of a callus can put pressure onto more sensitive areas of your foot. This can cause pain and become like a pressure point where it never lets go.
Misalignment or Unusual Walking Behaviors
Walking is something you might take for granted, but there are many levels of complexity in how people achieve this. During the walking process, foot mechanics become very important, and if excessively abnormal, misalignment may occur, causing stress and pressure in the foot, resulting in callus formation. It is helpful to collaborate with someone like podiatrists to assess the abnormal foot mechanics.
Other Underlying Issues
There can be something wrong and it’s not calluses themselves but something underlying.
Bunions and Other Foot Deformities
The formation of bunions also can lead to having calluses. Most foot deformities usually also lead to this. Bunions are bone bumps that can be seen on the joint and are found big toe’s base. They can also affect the foot’s posture, how the foot rests and how the foot is positioned on the ground.
Skin Conditions
While there are some less common skin conditions that may be present, it may also lead to the formation of calluses. Issues like these can also lead to some more significant discomfort, as it might be more beneficial for these people to reach out to someone in the healthcare system for conditions like these.
Do Painful Calluses Need Attention?
In most cases, calluses can go without treatment, but they can be an irritating nuisance. If calluses are painful or are causing irritable/disruptive issues, consider seeking treatment. Prolonged pain can affect daily or ongoing activities, which in turn can affect the overall quality of your life. Fortunately, treatment to relieve pain associated with calluses is available.
How Can You Relieve a Painful Callus?
The profession pain is associated with the callus is a significant symptom, and, getting treatment for it can be accomplished at home or in the office of a health care clinic. Let’s learn a bit about the office alternative, before we talk about care you can give yourself.
Tips for Managing Calluses at Home
Good foot care can help relieve pain associated with calluses. Here are a few self-help activities you can implement at home:
Soaking Feet
Soaking your feet in a warm Epsom salt bath can temporarily relieve pain and can help the callus to be more easily removed later.
Pumice Stone Removal
One way to safely and effectively reduce a thick callus is to use a pumice stone. However, to prevent the coating of the callus from forming an even thicker layer due to irritation, material should be removed at a very slow rate, over a number of days. This should be done AFTER your feet have been soaked so the stone can work more easily.
Keep Moisturized
The thicker and harder a callus becomes, the more painful it is likely to become. Keeping moisturized works to reduce the dry cracked effects associated with the overall care of your feet, which is recommended, but, moisturizing is more effective AFTER the removal of material from the callus, and subsequent to soaking your feet.
Adding Padding Your Shoes.
Adding inserts into your shoes helps create a cushion around your heel, providing relief from rubbing, pressure, and discomfort on the injured area.
Professonial Treatment Options
If you have tried all of the options listed above, and still have not gotten relief, it is time to seek professional help. Options for getting relief pain from foot and ankle pain from Dr. Lauren Dabakaroff and other podiatrists include:
Custom Orthotics
Custom made orthotics can help redistribute your foot’s weight and the pressure on your foot. These inserts are made to fit your foot and relieve the pressure of other areas on your foot so that you can have the foot pain relief you need.
Callus Shaving
A podiatrist can safely and quickly painlessly shave some of the layers off of the callus. This is a procedure that should only be done by a podiatrist in order to avoid skin damage and infection.
Medical Interventions
If you have a foot deformity that you believe is contributing to the callus, be sure to discuss other options of treatment to correct it with your podiatrist. This may include surgery, especially if there is a problem with your bones being misaligned.
Why Take Care of Your Feet
You should collaborate with a podiatrist even from the start of your foot care journey as they can help you develop a plan to prevent and manage other foot care concerns in a much easier way. You should be able to have your podiatrist analyze your foot, help you to figure out the best treatment options for your condition, and develop a long term foot care plan for you that is tailored to your specific needs.
Meeting with a Podiatrist
Imagine having a partner for your foot health, just like Dr. Lauren Dabakaroff. With a comprehensive exam, a podiatrist can identify the cause of your callus pain and develop a plan to manage your symptoms.
Regular Check-Ups
Even without current issues, foot health podiatrists recommend regular checkups. Keeping your feet pain-free and healthy checkups avoid issues before they become more serious.
When to Seek Immediate Help
Some situations also need more help. If signs bleeding, signs of infection are present, or pain is noticeable, it’s time to seek a professional. This is especially important for you if you have diabetes, foot complications in diabetes can worsen rapidly.
Aligning with Professional Foot Care for a Pain-Free Life
Taking positive, proactive steps to get and maintain healthy feet can impact your overall health in a positive way. Comfort is just a podiatrist appointment and the right shoes away.
Final Thoughts
A callus may not feel like a big issue at first, but it often signifies troubling foot issues. Maintaining good foot care can result in more comfortable and pain-free days.
We know that calluses can be frustrating, but don’t wait until you are in pain to schedule an appointment. With and foot care and support from professionals like Dr. Lauren Dabakaroff, you can start your journey to healthier feet. Remember, your feet are the foundation of your mobility.