Calluses – Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Calluses

Calluses are a partial thickening of the top layer of skin. They arise from pressure or friction on individual parts of the body; mostly on feet or hands. In most cases they are harmless, but they can cause pain and, in rare cases, become inflamed.

What are calluses?

Calluses are a thick layer of skin that forms when the skin tries to protect itself against pressure or friction. They usually form on the feet and toes, hands and fingers. However, a healthy person only needs treatment for calluses if they cause symptoms.

For most people, once the pressure or friction can be avoided, the discomfort improves. People with diabetes or other diseases that cause poor blood circulation in their feet are also more likely to develop calluses there, which can cause further problems.

causes

Pressure and friction from repetitive impacts cause calluses and their further growth. The causes of these effects are, for example, ill-fitting shoes. When shoes are too tight or have heels that are too high, they put pressure on certain areas of the feet. However, if they are too loose, the foot has too much movement and rubs against the material of the shoe.Poorly made shoes with poorly made seams on the inside can also lead to calluses. Many people develop calluses when they stop wearing socks more often. Even then, the foot has poorer grip in the shoe and is exposed to friction.

A misaligned foot or toe often predisposes to calluses. A common reason for calluses on the hands is repeated work with tools such as saws, screwdrivers, pliers, etc.

When to the doctor?

In most cases, there is no need to see a doctor for calluses. These occur mainly after a long period of work or after sports activities and are a common symptom that arises from friction. The calluses usually go away on their own when the affected area of ​​skin is no longer stressed and do not lead to any further symptoms. You only need to see a doctor if the calluses are painful and won’t go away on their own.

In rare cases, calluses can lead to inflammation or a fungal infection . This is characterized primarily by severe pain during exertion and at rest. In addition, the skin on the affected areas smells unpleasant. The unpleasant odor is often accompanied by a secretion that is excreted from the affected area. In this case, it is advisable to consult a doctor and have the calluses treated by the doctor. This can prevent the spread of these infections to other parts of the skin.

diagnosis and course

Calluses are usually noticed by those affected by their external appearance or when they cause pain. Calluses are recognizable as thickenings in the top layer of the skin. Under them, the skin often feels tight, in some cases they hurt. The texture of the skin here also differs from the surrounding skin. It is dry, usually a little lighter in color and tends to have fine cracks. Most calluses form on the bottom of the foot, on the heels or balls of the feet. They can vary greatly in shape and size. If the calluses become very large, painful, or inflamed, a doctor should be consulted. This is especially true for diabetics as they are at greater risk for inflammationto have. The doctor will physically examine the calluses and try to rule out other causes of the calluses. He may resort to imaging methods such as X -rays.

complications

Of course, calluses can also cause various complications, which in some cases should be treated by a doctor. It is not uncommon for a callus to develop into an open wound that weeps or can even cause a real inflammation. In the case of an existing inflammation, pus can even form under certain circumstances, so that this clinical picture should be examined by a doctor.

Otherwise, there is even a risk of blood poisoning if any bacteria present enter the bloodstream. In other cases, a common callus can develop into a crack. With this complication, a deep tear forms in the skin, which is very difficult and lengthy to heal again.

Under certain circumstances, bacteria and other pathogens nest in this skin tear, which can also cause severe inflammation. If medical treatment is completely dispensed with in such a case, the inflammation can worsen considerably. For this reason, a visit to the doctor should not be delayed. Only with the right medication can the above-mentioned complications be recognized early and treated effectively. If the crack is in a place that is constantly in motion, this makes the healing process very difficult. Even minimal stress prevents rapid healing.

treatment and therapy

Treating calluses primarily involves avoiding the pressure and friction responsible for their formation. This is mainly done by wearing properly fitting shoes, pads that prevent pressure, or other home remedies. If the calluses persist, get bigger or become painful despite self-treatment, other medical solutions can be considered.

During a normal visit to the doctor, he can use a scalpel to remove a piece of the upper layer of skin and thus minimize further pressure. Trimming should not be done yourself as it can lead to infection.

In addition, the doctor may recommend using special plasters with salicylic acid, which are available over the counter in pharmacies. They prevent the skin from forming again. After each change of patch, the dead skin cells can also be removed with a pumice stone.

If there is a risk of infection , an antibiotic tincture should be prescribed and applied to affected areas. People who have a misaligned foot often tend to develop painful calluses. In these cases, there are orthopedic solutions such as shoe inserts.

In very rare and extreme cases, the doctor will recommend surgery. In this, the bone misalignment is corrected, which causes the pressure on the skin and thus the calluses.

prevention

The most effective prevention against the formation of calluses is choosing the right footwear. When buying, you should make sure that your toes have enough play. If they are crushed and cannot be moved, the shoes are too tight. If the shoe pinches somewhere, you should refrain from buying it. If you wear your shoes for a long time, you can use special pads that reduce friction or pressure. People who develop calluses from manual work should wear work gloves. In this way, pressure or friction in the palms or on the fingers is reduced.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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