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What is a callus of the skin?

Most commonly, callus is a small area of skin, usually on the foot which has become relatively thick and hard, from rubbing and/or pressure. Calluses may lead to other problems such as serious infection. Shoes that fit well can keep calluses from forming. A special case of callus is a corn.

How do calluses develop

Players of stringed instruments such as the guitar will develop calluses on their fingers if they play frequently enough. They are a good thing in this case, because without them, playing the instruments for longer than a few minutes (or for someone who just started, a few seconds!) can be extremely painful. Sometimes a blister is produced before a callus.

A callus is thickening of the skin. Although usually found on the foot 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 to produce callus. The example of the guitar player below demonstrates how callus can protect the skin. Sometimes, when the callus builds up, without any way to rub off or when it is caused by constant pressure it becomes thick and hard and painful.

What can be done about calluses?

Most 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 friction reducing insole or material into the shoe or against the foot. Sometimes this will reduce pain caused by heat buildup without making the callus go away. Sometimes a change in the function of the foot by use of an orthotic device is required. Sometimes surgical 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 .

Shoes and callus formation

Although well fitting shoes 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.

Other causes of callus

Some callus occurs where there is no rubbing and no pressure. These hyperkeratoses can be caused by a variety of things. Some toxins like arsenic can cause thick palms and soles.

Calluses and diabetes

Corns are much like calluses but usually occur on the top of the toes or fingers on thin skin surfaces.

Example 1 Players of stringed instruments such as the guitar will develop calluses on their fingers if they play frequently enough. They are a good thing in this case, because without them, playing the instruments for longer than a few minutes (or for someone who just started, a few seconds!) can be extremely painful. Sometimes a blister is produced before a callus.

Example 2 People who have bunion 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 metatarsals 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 orthotic devices but require surgical change in the function of the foot.

See also:

• fibrocartilage callus