Calluses: To Remove or Not to Remove

Calluses (medically known as tylomas or keratomas) are protective layers of compacted patches of skin or dead skin cells that thicken to protect the skin from injury or damage. Calluses, as they first begin to develop, are not painful. Constant pressure and friction on one part of the foot causes calluses to develop on our feet. They can also develop on the fingers and hands. It is uncommon for more than one callus to be formed at a time. Some people are more prone to calluses because there is less cushioning tissue in between the skin and bones of their feet. If left untreated, calluses on the feet might develop to more complex problems.

The big question now is, what should we do with the calluses on our feet? Should we remove them on our own or should we just leave them be?

The answer is this: You should never treat or remove a callus on your own. 

In order for a callus to be treated, it should be removed and a podiatrist should be the one to do this. Your podiatrist will determine the type of treatment you would need depending on the severity of your calluses. There are non-surgical options to treat calluses – seeing a podiatrist does not  necessarily mean you will have a surgical procedure.  

What You Can Do:

If you don’t have the time yet to visit a podiatrist, you must maintain proper foot hygiene. If your shoes are causing the callus, you should change them as soon as possible. When you are at home, you can also soak your feet in warm water and file the callus with a pumice stone – this helps to smoothen thickened skin. However, before you try home remedies or products that you are unfamiliar with, you should always consult your foot specialist first. If your calluses prove to be stubborn and non-surgical ways do not work, surgery might be needed.

Talk to Your Foot Specialist 

When consulting your podiatrist, make sure you ask all possible questions. You can ask about the different home remedies or products you can try and other non-surgical options that might work for you. You can also ask about the chances of non-surgical treatments, or what you can do if calluses start forming in other parts of your body Sheldon H. Nadal, D.P.M. can definitely help you deal with your calluses.