Callus is an area of thickened skin, also known as hyperkeratosis. Callus forms in the outer layers of the skin known as the stratum corneum, which as a protective layer, is susceptible to pressure and friction when walking and moving around day-to-day. The stratum corneum contains a protein called keratin that helps keep skin healthy and strong. The body will attempt to protect itself by thickening the skin when it is subjected to repetitive pressure and friction.
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Symptoms
Keratin in the skin contains melanin which is the part of the skin that gives it colour. When callus forms, the area of thickened skin will appear darker or more pronounced in colour. Depending on skin tone, callus can look yellow or brown. It can feel rough, lumpy or smooth and may have patches of white, dry skin overtop. Callus on the bottom of the feet can be diffuse or cover a large area or can be more pinpointed and localised. If pressure is significant, bleeding can occur, visible within the callus on the toe. Callus that is thick and untreated will likely cause pain and discomfort as it places pressure on the structures such as joints and bone, underneath the skin.
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Causes
Callus forms when the foot and the ground move in opposite directions, creating a shearing force. In addition, high heels, shoes that are the wrong size or too narrow and shallow and not wearing socks, can all cause undue friction to occur. Callus can also be caused by a repetitive movement experienced at work or in life. If joints are misaligned or more prominent than they should be, they will be more susceptible to pressure and friction when walking.
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Treatment
If a callus is not bothersome and you are healthy, treatment is not necessarily required. However, if you have diabetes or cold feet or arterial disease or take a blood thinner, it is a good idea to seek treatment. Using a foot file and a rich emollient on a regular basis, will keep callus soft and can prevent cracks in the skin from forming. If at-home treatment is not effective, BioPed’s medical footcare clinicians can safely remove callus using a scalpel blade or electric file. Wearing custom foot orthotics or off-the-shelf insoles are useful in offloading high pressure areas on the foot to lessen the amount of callus that forms in the first place. Orthotics are created by Canadian Certified Pedorthists and can be modified with padding or material can be removed in certain spots to further offload pressure. Well-fitting footwear is also imperative to support and cushion bottoms of the feet.
