How can you get rid of calluses?
Wearing shoes that fit correctly and provide your feet sufficient room, so they don’t rub against your shoe is the best therapy for a callus. Still, you can also try alternative therapies such as a pumice stone, foam wedges, or having a podiatrist remove the callus.
Methods for removing calluses from your foot:
- Rinse the callus region of your foot with warm water to soften it. After drying the area, use a pumice stone to exfoliate it and then moisturize it. The stone’s mild abrasive action will help remove skin and leave your feet smoother and softer. This can be done every day or every few days.
- To decrease sweat between the toes, use astringents or powders.
- Insert arch supports into your shoes. Insoles are extra important if your calluses are the result of structural issues with your feet. Insoles for calluses will reduce pressure and decrease friction on your feet. Check to see if you’re wearing the right insoles for your shoes. If you have low-volume shoes, search for a thin or short insole to avoid making your shoes excessively tight.
- To reduce the pressure between the toes, use foam wedges.
- If the callus is significant, a podiatrist can use an abrasive wheel or a tiny surgical blade to shave away the dead, thicker skin delicately.
Read: How to get rid of calluses on your foot permanently?
Tips for avoiding calluses:
- To avoid foot calluses, have both feet professionally measured at a shoe store and only buy shoes that fit correctly.
- Since feet might vary in size, double-check that the shoe width and length are suitable for each foot. Allow a half-inch space between your longest toe and the front of the shoe. Shoes are too tight if you can’t move your toes in them.
- Shop for shoes near the end of the day, when your feet are most swollen.
- Shoes with sharply pointed toes and high heels should be avoided. Women who wear fashionable shoes to work might relieve some of the strain on their feet by walking to work in well-fitting sport’s shoes. Try to keep your heel height as low as possible.
- Repair or replace your shoes regularly. Worn soles provide minimal shock absorption while walking on hard surfaces, and worn linings can irritate your skin and harbor bacteria.
- Any unequal pressure on the heel bone is worsened by worn heels. If the soles or heels of your shoes are imbalanced, consult with an orthopedist or podiatrist regarding corrective shoes or insoles.
- If you have hammertoes, or buckling toes, make sure the form of your shoes allows for plenty of area for them.
- If you use tools, use protective gloves to avoid developing calluses on your hands.
Even if it may be tempting, it is better to avoid having your calluses removed in a nail salon during a pedicure or removing them yourself at home. Infection might arise, worsening your situation. Instead, ensure that the dead tissue is removed correctly by a certified specialist.
How To Prevent Calluses
For so many people, calluses have no negative consequences in their daily lives. However, for other people, they can be unpleasant, mainly if left untreated and infected.
If you develop calluses, check your lifestyle to determine if any of your behaviors are to blame. We highlight the following concerns that, when addressed, can help to decrease or avoid calluses:
- Shoes that do not fit correctly
- Long periods of standing, walking or running.
- Physical hobbies, sports, or activity that exerts pressure on your feet or causes friction regularly.
- Removing one’s shoes
- Without wearing socks with your shoes
- Slipping and bunching socks beneath your feet when wearing shoes and walking with poor posture
- Take proper care of your feet. Foot hygiene is critical since they are more prone to infection, particularly if you have diabetes.
After you’ve been confirmed that your shoes fit properly, you’ll want to handle any pronation issues you may have. Adding arch support insoles for calluses can help to avoid calluses by limiting overpronation or supination.
If you need to wear high heels, try to limit the amount of time you spend wearing them since they place extra strain on your toes and the balls of your feet. Wearing two-inch or lower heels will also prevent you from getting calluses.
Which insoles are suitable for calluses?
By correcting biomechanics and reducing the pronation, arch support inserts can help avoid calluses. They’ll make sure your foot doesn’t slip within your shoe, creating friction that leads to calluses. Insoles also help in reducing the risk of hammertoes, which is a secondary cause of calluses.
Look for the following qualities while looking for the most delicate insoles for calluses:
- A deep heel cup will assist in supporting your heel while also providing cushioning and shock absorption.
- To reduce pronation, insoles must be strong enough to withstand all of the pressure exerted on them by your feet. If the arch of your insole collapses under stress, it will be ineffective in solving your pronation problems.
- Arches that adapt to the shape of your feet are the best insoles for calluses that must be correctly fitted to your feet. That is, the arch should be aligned with your arch to provide complete support throughout. Insoles that are flat and one-size-fits-all will not address the problem.
Make sure you buy shoe inserts that fit your footwear correctly, whether you’re searching for callus pain relief or ones that will assist minimize or avoid calluses. Your insoles should not cause your shoes to be too small for your feet.
Look for frequent callus insoles if your shoes have full-length, detachable inserts. Choose thin insoles if your shoes have a light, detachable insert. If your shoes do not have a detachable insole, get short insoles.
What Happens If Calluses Aren’t Removed?
If your calluses appear odd to you or are followed by any of the symptoms listed below, please contact your podiatrist immediately.
- Swelling
- Walking or standing pain
- Fever
- Skin splitting
- Discomfort
- Discoloration
- Fluid
The Worst Case Scenario:
Calluses can grow excessively heavy and dry, causing them to break open and even bleed. Calluses growing might be a concern for someone in otherwise good health. Still, for someone with diabetes, it can quickly lead to disaster, needing amputation.
If a callus becomes too thick, breaks open, and becomes infected, or develops into an ulcer (an open sore on the foot that does not heal), it can be dangerous for a diabetic patient. If you have diabetes, consult your podiatrist right away if your feet are causing you issues.
Problems caused by calluses are uncommon in people who do not have diabetes, although they are always possible. Those who have calluses that have split open and gotten infected are the most vulnerable. Infection can travel to the bone or the blood, and once contaminated, your blood can cause sepsis or blood poisoning. If left untreated, this can be deadly.