Calluses

Hard skin on your feet is otherwise known as a callus. Calluses develop over areas of high pressure on the feet - and, in fact on any area of the body.  Often, people working constantly with heavy machinery develop calluses on their hands.  They are a natural form of protection for the body as they prevent  thinning of   the underlying skin when constant, repeated pressure is present. Sometimes they become more of a nuisance than a protection and may cause more serious problems such as ulcerations. Areas of high pressure are most often associated with bony prominences, which may be more pronounced due to bio mechanical difficulties.  These areas are commonly found over the toes or on the sole of the foot from downward pressure of the metatarsal heads. Other causes of high pressure include ill fitting footwear. Sometimes the inconvenience of a callus is almost negligible, but other times it can be crippling. Left untreated, the callus becomes harder and drier and there is a risk that it may crack, causing painful lesions which can become infected. This happens most often around the heel area, but can occur anywhere. There can be additional complications if the sufferer also has problems with the circulation in the feet, diabetes or in other cases where the nutrition of the skin is compromised. Once the cause of the callus has been identified, it is possible to limit the formation of the callus with padding. Sometimes small changes such as a thicker soled shoe and better fitting footwear can also alleviate the problem. Long term solutions for more difficult cases may be possible with a full biomechanical assessment and insoles. Moisturising feet with a good foot cream can maintain the condition of the callus and help prevent the skin from 'cracking'. Seeking professional advice is always advisable. Here is a fun video on feet!