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			{{Short description\|Thickened and hardened area of skin}}
	:''This article is about calluses and corns of human skin, in plant cell biology ] refers to a mass of undifferentiated cells.''
			{{About\|calluses and corns of human skin}}
			{{Missing information\|evolution and biology\|date=July 2019}}
			{{Infobox medical condition (new)
			\| name = Callus
			\| synonyms =
			\| image = Evolucion de un callo.jpg
			\| caption = Examples of callus found on the toe
			\| pronounce =
			\| field = ]
			\| symptoms =
			\| complications = Skin ulceration, infection
			\| onset =
			\| duration =
			\| types =
			\| causes =
			\| risks =
			\| diagnosis =
			\| differential =
			\| prevention =
			\| treatment =
			\| medication =
			\| prognosis =
			\| frequency =
			\| deaths =
			}}
			]

			A '''callus''' ({{plural form}}: '''calluses''') is an area of thickened and sometimes hardened skin that forms as a response to repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation. Since repeated contact is required, calluses are most often found on the feet and hands, but they may occur anywhere on the skin. Some degree of callus, such as on the bottom of the foot, is normal.<ref name=":0" />
	==What are corns and calluses?==

			Calluses are generally not harmful and help prevent ]s, as well as offering protection.<ref>, ''Footwear News''</ref> However, excessive formation may sometimes lead to other problems, such as a ] or infection, or cause the affected person to try to offload the affected painful area, which can place excessive stress on the asymptomatic side.
	Most commonly, callus is an area of ], usually on the hand or foot which has become relatively thick and hard, from rubbing and/or pressure. Calluses may lead to other problems such as serious infection. ] that fit well can keep calluses from forming. A special case of callus is a corn. Corns are much like calluses but usually occur on the top of the toes or fingers on thin, or ] skin surfaces. Sometimes they do occur within the thicker ] or ] skin surfaces.

			Rubbing that is too frequent or forceful will cause ]s, as opposed to calluses, to form.
	===History of the corn===

			==Cause==
	The name corn comes from the appearance under the microscope. In the days when lenses and microscopes were first invented, scientists put everything under the microscope. When corns were removed, the hard part, the center of the corn, appears to look like the inside of a funnel with a broad raised top and pointed bottom. It looks, when examined under magnification, much like ] seed. In parts of Europe, barley is called "corn", hence the name stuck. The scientific name is ''heloma''. Hard corns are called ]. Soft corns are called ].
			Normally, a callus will form on any part of the skin exposed to excess friction over a long period of time. Activities that are known for causing calluses include (but are not limited to) ] and craftwork, ],<ref>{{Cite journal \|last1=Sims \|first1=Susan E. G. \|last2=Engel \|first2=Laura \|last3=Hammert \|first3=Warren C. \|last4=Elfar \|first4=John C. \|date=2015-08-05 \|title=Hand Sensibility, Strength, and Laxity of High-Level Musicians Compared to Non- Musicians \|journal=The Journal of Hand Surgery \|volume=40 \|issue=10 \|pages= 1996–2002.e5\|doi=10.1016/j.jhsa.2015.06.009 \|issn=0363-5023 \|pmc=4584184 \|pmid=26253604}}</ref> ], many ] and ],<ref>{{Cite journal \|last1=Grima \|first1=Joseph N. \|last2=Vella Wood \|first2=Michelle \|last3=Portelli \|first3=Nadia \|last4=Grima-Cornish \|first4=James N. \|last5=Attard \|first5=Daphne \|last6=Gatt \|first6=Alfred \|last7=Formosa \|first7=Cynthia \|last8=Cerasola \|first8=Dario \|date=2022-01-05 \|title=Blisters and Calluses from Rowing: Prevalence, Perceptions and Pain Tolerance \|journal=Medicina \|volume=58 \|issue=1 \|pages=77 \|doi=10.3390/medicina58010077 \|issn=1010-660X \|pmc=8779584 \|pmid=35056385\|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal \|last1=Emer \|first1=Jason \|last2=Sivek \|first2=Rachel \|last3=Marciniak \|first3=Brian \|date=2015-04-08 \|title=Sports Dermatology: Part 1 of 2 Traumatic or Mechanical Injuries, Inflammatory Conditions, and Exacerbations of Pre-existing Conditions \|journal=The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology \|volume=8 \|issue=4 \|pages= 31–43\|issn=1941-2789 \|pmc=4456799 \|pmid=26060516}}</ref> and fashion choices like wearing ].<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Bouchez \|first=Colette \|date=2009-02-09 \|editor-last=Chang \|editor-first=Louise \|title=Tips to Avoid Foot Pain From High Heels \|url=https://www.webmd.com/women/features/tips-to-avoid-foot-pain-from-high-heels \|access-date=2022-03-10 \|website=] \|language=en}}</ref>

			Although calluses can occur anywhere on the body as a reaction to moderate, constant "grinding" pressure, they are most often found on the ] (where the most pressure and friction are applied). On the feet (arguably the source of the most problematic calluses), they typically form on the metatarsal-phalangeal joint area ("balls of the foot"), heels and small toes due to the compression applied by tightly fitting shoes.
	==Development of skin corns and calluses==

			Biologically, calluses are formed by the accumulation of ] differentiated ]s in the outermost layer of skin. Though the cells of calluses are dead, they are quite resistant to mechanical and chemical damage due to extensive networks of cross-linked proteins and ] keratin ] containing many ].<ref>{{cite journal \|vauthors=Tantisiriwat N, Janchai S \|title=Transglutaminases: multifunctional cross-linking enzymes that stabilize tissues. \|journal=The FASEB Journal \|volume=5 \|issue=15 \|pages=3071–7 \|date=Dec 1991 \|doi=10.1096/fasebj.5.15.1683845 \|pmid=1683845 \|s2cid=6751428 \|url=http://www.fasebj.org/content/5/15/3071.long\|doi-access=free }}</ref> It is the natural reaction of the ] or ] skin. Too much friction occurring too fast for the skin to develop a protective callus will cause a ] or ] instead.
	===How calluses develop===
	A callus is thickening of the skin. Although usually found on the ], they can occur anywhere on the body where there is pressure. It is a natural reaction of the thick skin on the palmar or plantar surfaces to react to pressure by producing a callus.

			Sometimes a callus occurs where there is no rubbing or pressure. These ] can have a variety of causes. Some toxic materials, such as ], can cause thick palms and soles. Some diseases, such as ], can cause thickening of the palms and soles as well as pinpoint hyperkeratoses. There is a benign condition called ''keratosis palmaris et plantaris'', which produces corns in the creases of the fingers and non-weight bearing spaces of the feet. Some of this may be caused by ], which occurs due to overexposure to sun or with age and hormonal shifts.
	Players of stringed instruments such as the guitar will develop calluses on their fingers if they play frequently enough. These help the player, because the thicker skin of the callus protects the skin of the fingertips; extended play is often painful before calluses develop. If a beginning player plays too hard, a ] may be produced before a callus.

			===Corns===
	People who have ] deformities of the great toe find that they have painful calluses behind the second or third toe on the plantar surface of the foot. These are caused by unequal pressure placed on the smaller ] rather than under the larger first metatarsal. These types of pressure induced calluses can be very painful and often do not respond to trimming of the callus, soft materials, nor ] devices but require surgical change in the function of the foot.
			{{Main\|Corn (pathology)}}
			]

			A ] (or ''clavus'', plural ''clavi'') is a cone-shaped callus that penetrates into the dermis, usually on the feet or hands. Corns may form due to chronic pressure or rubbing at a pressure point (in this skin over a bone), or due to scar tissue from a healing wound creating pressure in a weight-bearing area such as the sole of the foot. If there is constant stimulation of the tissue producing the corns, even after the corn is surgically removed, the skin may continue to grow as a corn.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web \|title=Corns and Calluses: Symptoms, Treatment & Care Tips \|url=https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16896-corns-and-calluses \|access-date=2022-03-10 \|website=]}}</ref>
	===How corns develop===

			The hard part at the center of the corn resembles a funnel with a broad raised top and a pointed bottom. Because of their shape, corns intensify the pressure at the tip and can cause deep tissue damage and ].<ref>{{Cite journal \|last=Silverberg \|first=Nanette B. \|date=2019 \|title=Corns (Clavus): Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology \|url=https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1089807-overview \|journal=] \|url-access=registration}}</ref> The scientific name for a corn is ''heloma'' (plural ''helomata''). A hard corn is called a ''heloma durum'', while a soft corn is called a ''heloma molle''.
	Corns are a special case of ] of the skin. They are formed when there is pressure against the skin and the pressure point or the skin traces an elliptical or semi-elliptical path. This forms a swirl of tissue, the center of which is at the point of pressure gradually widening. There is stimulation of the tissues which produce a corn. In that way, even when the corn is removed or the pressure surgically removed, sometimes the skin continues to grow corns for some time.

			The location of the soft corns tends to differ from that of hard corns. Hard corns occur on dry, flat surfaces of skin. Soft corns (frequently found between adjacent toes) stay moist, keeping the surrounding skin soft. The corn's center is not soft however, but ].
	====What is the difference between soft and hard corns?====

			The specific diagnostic workup and treatments for corns may differ substantially from other forms of calluses.
	The difference between soft and hard corns is where they occur. Hard corns occur on dry flat surfaces of skin. Soft corns, frequently between two toes, stay moist, keeping the skin surrounding the hard center of the corn soft. The corn itself is not soft.

			==Prevention==
	==What can be done about calluses and corns?==
			Corns and calluses are easier to prevent than to treat. When it is undesirable to form a callus, minimizing rubbing and pressure will prevent callus formation. Footwear should be properly fitted,<ref>{{cite web \| url = http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/finding-the-right-footwear-for-your-foot-problem \| title = Foot problems: Finding the right shoes \| first = Shannon \| last = Erstad \| date = 6 March 2008 \| work = ] Medical Reference from Healthwise \| publisher = Healthwise \| at = How do I find the right shoes? \| access-date = 2010-06-10 \| quote = You should not have to "break in" shoes if they fit properly.}}</ref> gloves may be worn, and protective pads, rings or skin dressings may be used. People with poor circulation or sensation should check their skin often for signs of rubbing and irritation so they can minimize any damage.{{cn\|date=August 2022}}

			==Treatment==
	Most corns and calluses under the foot are caused from pressure of the bones in the foot pressing against or holding the skin from moving against the shoe or the ground. While changing or using well fitting shoes will help some of these problems, most of the time some intervention is required. The most basic treatment is to put a ] or material into the shoe or against the foot. Sometimes this will reduce pain caused by heat buildup without making the callus or corn go away. Sometimes a change in the function of the foot by use of an ] device is required. This reduces friction and pressure, allowing the skin to rest and to stop forming protective skin coverings. Sometimes ] correction of the pressure is needed. Sometimes the only thing that relieves the pain is to shave the calluses down and perhaps pad them. This is usually done by a ].
			]

			Calluses and corns may heal by themselves eventually, once the irritation is consistently avoided. They may also be dissolved with ] agents containing ], sanded down with a ] stone or ] ] or filed down with a ], or ] down by a professional such as a ].<ref>. ]. Retrieved July 23, 2009.</ref>
	==Shoes and their role in corns and calluses==

			===Diabetes===
	===Shoes and callus formation===
			People with ] face special skin challenges. Because diabetes affects the ], the small blood vessels which feed the skin, thickening of the skin with callus increases the difficulty of supplying nutrients to the skin.<ref>{{Cite journal \|last1=Boulton \|first1=Andrew J. \|last2=Meneses \|first2=Patricio \|last3=Ennis \|first3=William J. \|date=January–February 1999 \|title=Diabetic foot ulcers: A framework for prevention and care \|url=https://institutobeatrizyamada.com.br/wp/wp-content/uploads/artigos-iby/Diabetic-foot-ulcers-A-framework-for-prevention-and-care.pdf \|journal=Wound Repair and Regeneration \|volume=7 \|issue=1 \|pages=9–10\|doi=10.1046/j.1524-475x.1999.00007.x \|pmid=10231501 \|s2cid=37720400 }}</ref> Callus formation is seen in high numbers of patients with diabetes, and together with absent foot pulses and formation of ],<ref name="pmid19432661">{{cite journal \|vauthors=Alavi A, Sanjari M, Haghdoost A, Sibbald RG \|title=Common foot examination features of 247 Iranian patients with diabetes \|journal=International Wound Journal \|volume=6 \|issue=2 \|pages=117–22 \|date=April 2009 \|pmid=19432661 \|doi=10.1111/j.1742-481X.2009.00583.x \|pmc=7951794 }} -12% having callus formation</ref><ref name="pmid18839852">{{cite journal \|vauthors=Tantisiriwat N, Janchai S \|title=Common foot problems in diabetic foot clinic \|journal=J Med Assoc Thai \|volume=91 \|issue=7 \|pages=1097–101 \|date=July 2008 \|pmid=18839852 }} -56% having callus present</ref> this may be an early sign of individuals at an increased risk for foot ulcers.<ref name="pmid19432661"/>

			The stiffness of a callus or corn, coupled with the shear and pressure that caused it, may tear the capillaries or adjoining tissue, causing bleeding within the callus or corn. This can often be result of trying to pick, cut, or shave off the callus by yourself at home. Although the bleeding can be small, sometimes small pools of blood or ] are formed. The blood itself is an irritant, a foreign body within the callus that makes the area burn or itch. If the pool of blood is exposed to the outside, infection may follow. Infection may also lead to ]. This process can be prevented at several places. Diabetic foot infections are the leading cause of diabetic limb ].
	Although well fitting ] may keep the feet from being painful, they rarely change the way the foot functions. Well fitting shoes can keep some problems from advancing and can keep problems from being painful.

	==~~=Shoes~~ and ~~corn~~ ~~formation=~~==		== Society and culture ==
			]

			Calluses in the hands are frequently associated with ] and ]s.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Hoelle \|first=Jeffrey \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qMAvBgAAQBAJ \|title=Rainforest Cowboys: The Rise of Ranching and Cattle Culture in Western Amazonia \|date=2015-04-15 \|publisher=] \|isbn=978-0-292-76134-6 \|pages=66, 74, 82, 179 \|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal \|last=Gradenwitz \|first=Alfred \|date=1907-12-28 \|title=The Influence of Profession on the Shape of the Hand \|url=https://zenodo.org/record/1864135 \|journal=] \|volume=97 \|issue=26 \|pages=478\|doi=10.1038/scientificamerican12281907-478 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Fiouzi \|first=Andrew \|date=2019-10-25 \|title=Why We Fetishize Working-Class Hands \|url=https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/why-we-fetishize-working-class-hands \|access-date=2022-03-10 \|website=] \|language=en-US}}</ref> During the ] in 1874, the ] purportedly refrained from robbing men with calloused hands, assuming them to be working class laborers.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Nickell \|first=Frank \|date=2021-09-07 \|title=Almost Yesterday: The Gads Hill Train Robbery \|url=https://www.krcu.org/education/2021-09-07/almost-yesterday-the-gads-hill-train-robbery \|access-date=2022-03-10 \|website=] \|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book \|last=Wukovits \|first=John F. \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GFScUxOKOtMC \|title=Jesse James \|publisher=Chelsea House Publishers \|year=1997 \|isbn=978-0-7910-3876-5 \|pages=32 \|language=en \|author-link=John F. Wukovits}}</ref> Such notion is also present in ], where the words ''raupā'' and ''raupo'' refer to hands left cracked and chapped due to manual work, and are used as ]s for someone deemed a hard worker.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Black \|first=Hona \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=km0vEAAAQBAJ \|title=He Iti te Kupu: Māori Metaphors and Similes \|date=2021-05-01 \|publisher=Oratia Media Ltd \|isbn=978-0-947506-91-9 \|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|title=Maori Proverbs with their English Translation - Whakatauki \|url=https://www.maori.cl/Proverbs.htm \|access-date=2022-03-10 \|website=www.maori.cl}}</ref>
	Shoes can produce corns by rubbing against the top of the toes or foot. Stretching the shoe over that area may reduce the pressure and make the corn stop hurting. If the foot continues to move in the area the corn may stay but not hurt.

			Calluses have also been known to develop on the forehead from the frequent prostrations required in ]; known as a ] or ''zebiba'', such calluses are considered marks of piety in some Muslim countries, and people have been known to take special steps, such as praying on straw mats, to encourage the callus to develop.<ref>{{cite web \|last=Slackman \|first=Michael \|date=December 18, 2007 \|title=Fashion and Faith Meet, on Foreheads of the Pious \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/world/africa/18egypt.html \|access-date=2018-08-08 \|website=]}}</ref>
	==Other causes of callus and corns==

			Calluses may also form on the ]tips from the repeated pressure and friction of playing stringed instruments. This formation of calluses allows the player to repeatedly depress the strings without causing pain. Because of this, callus formation is viewed as something of a rite of passage for beginner string players.
	Sometimes a callus occurs where there is no rubbing and no pressure. These ] can have a variety of causes. Some toxins, such as ], can cause thick palms and soles. Some diseases, such as ], can cause thickening of the palms and soles as well as pin point hyperkeratoses.

			==See also==
	===Corns at the nail edge===
			* ]
			* ]

			==References==
	The nails, particularly toenails, are very stiff. If the toenail or fingernail rubs against the skin and pinches it between another surface for a period of time, a corn can form at the edge of the nail. These are difficult to treat because frequently it is the nail itself which is the cause of the corn.
			{{reflist}}

			==Further reading==
	===Corns on the hands, legs, or other spots===
			* ''Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary'', 15th Edition, CL Thomas, M.D., M.P.H., editor, F.A. Davis Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1985.

			* ''The Merck Manual of Medical Information, Home Edition'', R Berkow, M.D., et al., editors, Merck Research Laboratories, Whitehouse Station, NJ, 1997.
	Much like calluses, corns can form in other areas for other reasons. There is a benign condition called Keratosis palmaris et plantaris which produces corns in the creases of the fingers and non-weight bearing spaces of the feet. Most of this type of corn are called ] and occur with age and with hormonal shifts.

	==Corns, calluses and the diabetic==

	] face special skin challenges. Because diabetes affects the ], the small vessels which feed the skin its blood supply, thickening the skin increases the difficulty to supply nutrients to the skin. Additionally, the ] and pressure forces that cause corns and calluses, tear the capillaries, causing bleeding within the callus or corn.

	Often bleeding within a callus is an early sign of diabetes, even before elevated blood sugars. Although the bleeding can be small, sometimes small pools of blood or ] are formed. The blood itself is an irritant, a foreign body within the corn or callus making the area burn or itch. If the pool of blood is exposed to the outside, the area can become ]. If the area becomes infected, the tissue can break down and fail to heal or become ]. This process can be prevented at several places. Infections can become limb and life threatening. Diabetic foot infections are the leading cause of diabetic limb ].

	==External Links==
	*

	==See also==
	* ]
	* ]

			{{Medical resources
	]
			\| DiseasesDB =
			\| ICD11 = {{ICD11\|EH92.0}}
			\| ICD10 = {{ICD10\|L\|84\|\|l\|80}}
			\| ICD9 = {{ICD9\|700}}
			\| ICDO =
			\| OMIM =
			\| MedlinePlus =
			\| eMedicineSubj =
			\| eMedicineTopic =
			\| MeshID = D002145
			}}
			{{Diseases of the skin and appendages by morphology}}
			{{Cutaneous ketatosis, ulcer, atrophy, necrobiosis, and vasculitis}}

			]
			]

	]		]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 05:59, 24 December 2024

Thickened and hardened area of skin This article is about calluses and corns of human skin. For other uses, see Callus (disambiguation).

This article is missing information about evolution and biology. Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page. (July 2019)

Medical condition

Callus

Examples of callus found on the toe
Specialty	Dermatology
Complications	Skin ulceration, infection

Calluses (plantar in right foot and medial in left foot)

A callus (pl.: calluses) is an area of thickened and sometimes hardened skin that forms as a response to repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation. Since repeated contact is required, calluses are most often found on the feet and hands, but they may occur anywhere on the skin. Some degree of callus, such as on the bottom of the foot, is normal.

Calluses are generally not harmful and help prevent blisters, as well as offering protection. However, excessive formation may sometimes lead to other problems, such as a skin ulceration or infection, or cause the affected person to try to offload the affected painful area, which can place excessive stress on the asymptomatic side.

Rubbing that is too frequent or forceful will cause blisters, as opposed to calluses, to form.

Cause

Normally, a callus will form on any part of the skin exposed to excess friction over a long period of time. Activities that are known for causing calluses include (but are not limited to) construction work and craftwork, the arts, food preparation, many sports and physical activities, and fashion choices like wearing high heels.

Although calluses can occur anywhere on the body as a reaction to moderate, constant "grinding" pressure, they are most often found on the foot (where the most pressure and friction are applied). On the feet (arguably the source of the most problematic calluses), they typically form on the metatarsal-phalangeal joint area ("balls of the foot"), heels and small toes due to the compression applied by tightly fitting shoes.

Biologically, calluses are formed by the accumulation of terminally differentiated keratinocytes in the outermost layer of skin. Though the cells of calluses are dead, they are quite resistant to mechanical and chemical damage due to extensive networks of cross-linked proteins and hydrophobic keratin intermediate filaments containing many disulfide bonds. It is the natural reaction of the palmar or plantar skin. Too much friction occurring too fast for the skin to develop a protective callus will cause a blister or abrasion instead.

Sometimes a callus occurs where there is no rubbing or pressure. These hyperkeratoses can have a variety of causes. Some toxic materials, such as arsenic, can cause thick palms and soles. Some diseases, such as syphilis, can cause thickening of the palms and soles as well as pinpoint hyperkeratoses. There is a benign condition called keratosis palmaris et plantaris, which produces corns in the creases of the fingers and non-weight bearing spaces of the feet. Some of this may be caused by actinic keratosis, which occurs due to overexposure to sun or with age and hormonal shifts.

Corns

Main article: Corn (pathology)

A corn (or clavus, plural clavi) is a cone-shaped callus that penetrates into the dermis, usually on the feet or hands. Corns may form due to chronic pressure or rubbing at a pressure point (in this skin over a bone), or due to scar tissue from a healing wound creating pressure in a weight-bearing area such as the sole of the foot. If there is constant stimulation of the tissue producing the corns, even after the corn is surgically removed, the skin may continue to grow as a corn.

The hard part at the center of the corn resembles a funnel with a broad raised top and a pointed bottom. Because of their shape, corns intensify the pressure at the tip and can cause deep tissue damage and ulceration. The scientific name for a corn is heloma (plural helomata). A hard corn is called a heloma durum, while a soft corn is called a heloma molle.

The location of the soft corns tends to differ from that of hard corns. Hard corns occur on dry, flat surfaces of skin. Soft corns (frequently found between adjacent toes) stay moist, keeping the surrounding skin soft. The corn's center is not soft however, but indurated.

The specific diagnostic workup and treatments for corns may differ substantially from other forms of calluses.

Prevention

Corns and calluses are easier to prevent than to treat. When it is undesirable to form a callus, minimizing rubbing and pressure will prevent callus formation. Footwear should be properly fitted, gloves may be worn, and protective pads, rings or skin dressings may be used. People with poor circulation or sensation should check their skin often for signs of rubbing and irritation so they can minimize any damage.

Treatment

Calluses and corns may heal by themselves eventually, once the irritation is consistently avoided. They may also be dissolved with keratolytic agents containing salicylic acid, sanded down with a pumice stone or silicon carbide sandpaper or filed down with a callus shaver, or pared down by a professional such as a podiatrist.

Diabetes

People with diabetes face special skin challenges. Because diabetes affects the capillaries, the small blood vessels which feed the skin, thickening of the skin with callus increases the difficulty of supplying nutrients to the skin. Callus formation is seen in high numbers of patients with diabetes, and together with absent foot pulses and formation of hammer toe, this may be an early sign of individuals at an increased risk for foot ulcers.

The stiffness of a callus or corn, coupled with the shear and pressure that caused it, may tear the capillaries or adjoining tissue, causing bleeding within the callus or corn. This can often be result of trying to pick, cut, or shave off the callus by yourself at home. Although the bleeding can be small, sometimes small pools of blood or hematoma are formed. The blood itself is an irritant, a foreign body within the callus that makes the area burn or itch. If the pool of blood is exposed to the outside, infection may follow. Infection may also lead to ulceration. This process can be prevented at several places. Diabetic foot infections are the leading cause of diabetic limb amputation.

Society and culture

Calluses in the hands are frequently associated with manual labor and blue-collar workers. During the Gads Hill Train Robbery in 1874, the James–Younger Gang purportedly refrained from robbing men with calloused hands, assuming them to be working class laborers. Such notion is also present in Māori culture, where the words raupā and raupo refer to hands left cracked and chapped due to manual work, and are used as similes for someone deemed a hard worker.

Calluses have also been known to develop on the forehead from the frequent prostrations required in Muslim prayer; known as a prayer bump or zebiba, such calluses are considered marks of piety in some Muslim countries, and people have been known to take special steps, such as praying on straw mats, to encourage the callus to develop.

Calluses may also form on the fingertips from the repeated pressure and friction of playing stringed instruments. This formation of calluses allows the player to repeatedly depress the strings without causing pain. Because of this, callus formation is viewed as something of a rite of passage for beginner string players.

References

^ "Corns and Calluses: Symptoms, Treatment & Care Tips". Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
Are Calluses Actually Bad for Your Feet? See What Podiatrists Have to Say, Footwear News
Sims, Susan E. G.; Engel, Laura; Hammert, Warren C.; Elfar, John C. (2015-08-05). "Hand Sensibility, Strength, and Laxity of High-Level Musicians Compared to Non- Musicians". The Journal of Hand Surgery. 40 (10): 1996–2002.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2015.06.009. ISSN 0363-5023. PMC 4584184. PMID 26253604.
Grima, Joseph N.; Vella Wood, Michelle; Portelli, Nadia; Grima-Cornish, James N.; Attard, Daphne; Gatt, Alfred; Formosa, Cynthia; Cerasola, Dario (2022-01-05). "Blisters and Calluses from Rowing: Prevalence, Perceptions and Pain Tolerance". Medicina. 58 (1): 77. doi:10.3390/medicina58010077. ISSN 1010-660X. PMC 8779584. PMID 35056385.
Emer, Jason; Sivek, Rachel; Marciniak, Brian (2015-04-08). "Sports Dermatology: Part 1 of 2 Traumatic or Mechanical Injuries, Inflammatory Conditions, and Exacerbations of Pre-existing Conditions". The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 8 (4): 31–43. ISSN 1941-2789. PMC 4456799. PMID 26060516.
Bouchez, Colette (2009-02-09). Chang, Louise (ed.). "Tips to Avoid Foot Pain From High Heels". WebMD. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
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