Calluses – painful or not – are easily noticeably thickened areas of your skin. Generally, you can see them on the heels, the side of the ball of your foot. A callus remover is a tool that can help you get rid of this problem.

According to the medical definition, a callus is a thickened skin resulting from repeated friction, irritation, or pressure. As repeated contact is a must, the callus is generally found in the feet because of frequent walking or poorly fitted footwear. Although callus is not painful if ignored for a long time, it can result in infection or skin ulceration issues. This is why frequent use of callus removers is always recommended since day one of noticing the issues. Having callus in feet is a common issue as our skin contains many keratinocytes that produce calluses. Hence, care is the only way to avoid the issue and keep your skin in a healthy condition.

A beginner’s guide to understanding callus in feet

Generally known in combination, corn and callus are two different skin issues. However, both deal with hardened skin layers. These layers are developed when your skin tries to protect itself against constant fractions or pressure. Commonly they are found on the feet, toes, fingers and hands. What remains the same is that both corns and calluses can be unsightly. Hence, if you are a completely healthy person, you may need treatment for corns and calluses only if they cause discomfort. But for most people, simply eliminating the source of pressure or frictions can make the calluses disappear. Additional support can be offered by creams that can recover the damaged tissues.

Understanding the difference between corns and calluses

despite somewhat similar signs and appearance, corns and calluses are not the same. At first, corns are smaller than calluses, and you can feel a hard centre surrounded by inflamed skin. Unlikely calluses, the corns are developed on feet that do not bear weight (like sides or top of feet). Whereas the calluses are normally in the toes and are rarely painful. You can also find them on the sole of your feet and under the heels, balls or palms. In some cases, you can also find them on your knees. Whereas corns are mostly found in weight-bearing areas and are painful. Plus, the calluses also vary in shape and size and are often larger than the corns.

The causes of calluses formation in feet

both corn and calluses result from repetitive friction and pressure on the same tissues of your skin. Commonly they result from wearing ill-fitted shoes that can compress areas of your feet. If the footwear is too loose, it will repeatedly slide and rub against the shoe and damage the tissues. Moreover, a badly made low-quality shoe with an uncomfortable and rough seam can also cause the issue. Another common cause of the problem is not wearing socks. Wearing sandals and shoes without socks can cause friction on the feet. And the same happens in the socks are not fitted properly. However, in the case of calluses on hands, common reasons are instruments and hand tools like scissors, knives, or even excessive use of pens.

Common risks that result from callus formation

Anything, if not treated in time, can end up causing serious health issues. The same is the case with corns and calluses. At first, you must try to add foot callus removers or quality callus remover gel in your daily routine. Using callus remover for feet can help you avoid the issue. If otherwise, you may end up facing the problem that can later lead to the formation of bunions in the joints, right at the base of your toes. It can also cause other foot deformities like a bone spur or hammertoe, where your toe curls like a claw. The same happens to your hands if you are not using proper care gloves for protecting your skin from excessive friction.

Preventions and precautions for calluses

As said earlier, prevention is always better than cure. Besides using quality callus remover liquid or creams, you may also need to change your daily routine and habits. At first, try wearing shoes that offer plenty of room for your toes. Avoid using styles and sizes where you can not wiggle your toes. Secondly, you must consider protective covering for your hands and feet. Consider wearing felt pads, non-medicated corn pads or even a common first aid bandage over the area of your footwear. Using toe separate or wool between toes can also work fine for many. As for hands, gloves are the most reliable and useful idea. Otherwise, you can think of padding your tools with soft tape or over to avoid friction.