How to Treat Calluses
Calluses usually appear between the smaller toes on your feet. They can be very painful if they rub against each other when you walk, and can make wearing shoes unbearable. Basically, calluses are an accumulation of keratoses that arise as a result of pressure on that part of the foot, and are usually caused by narrow-toed shoes which compress the toes. However, this problem has a solution which will be explained in this OneHowTo article. We will explain how to treat a callus so you can return to wearing your favourite shoes.
Steps to follow:
It is very important to pay special attention to this type of callus because if you don't act quickly, they can become ulcerated and inflamed causing severe pain, as well as an inability to wear shoes you feel you can walk in. The most common causes of calluses include wearing shoes that are too tight at the point of the toes. Women who wear high heels every day are more prone to calluses because this type of shoe compresses your toes in such a way that they rub, which then produces a callus between the toes.
Before seeing a specialist, one of the remedies to soothe the pain of a callus is to use special dressings for calluses which you can find in any pharmacy. Although it is a temporary treatment, it works to help alleviate the pain by creating a cushion effect which will alleviate the pressure between the toes caused by the callus. At the same time, these plasters soften the callus thanks to the moisturising action deriving from the glycerine in the plaster.
For more ways to avoid calluses, check out this OneHowTo article on how to relieve calluses.
However, when a corn plaster is not enough, one of the first treatments that can be performed by a podiatrist is exfoliation of the callus which is painless and will provide immediate relief, as well as allowing you to go back to wearing whatever type of shoe you wish. This solution is not definitive, as calluses tend to return. The podiatrist will need to recheck your foot in a few months because you can quite easily suffer from recurring calluses which return two to three times a year.
To stop any new calluses from appearing after this first exfoliation, you must wear comfortable and wide shoes to protect your pinched toes, so as to avoid bringing your toes tightly together.
Another solution for preventing this kind of callus from reappearing so quickly, is to use small silicone or gel inserts between your toes, in order to avoid friction or cause any pressure between your toes.
The definitive solution for treating calluses is via simple surgery to trim or pare down the problematic callus. The specialist will be able to explain how it will be done and when, in the event that exfoliation treatment is not sufficient and the problem keeps recurring which results in frequent visits to the podiatrist for the same problem.
If surgery is not an option for you, consider reading this OneHowTo article on how to remove calluses and corns from feet using homemade remedies.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Treat Calluses, we recommend you visit our Family health category.
