Facts about Calluses

We ask a lot of our hands and feet in the course of a day.  We may force our feet into shoes that are meant more for beauty than comfort.  We may apply great force with our hands as we work with tools at home or at work.  The result:  Calluses

Calluses are areas of thickened skin caused by repeated friction and pressure.  They form to protect the skin and underlying body structure from injury or damage and can develop on any part of the body.  People who work with their hands often develop calluses that help protect the fingers and palms.  On the feet, calluses usually develop on the sole of the foot, either on the heel, on the balls of the feet, and/or the outside of the big toe.   As calluses thicken, additional pressure against the skin may cause pain. 

Calluses develop because of excessive pressure at a specific area of the foot or hand.  Some common causes of callus formation are:

• High-heeled dress shoes or shoes that are too small compress areas of the foot, causing excessive pressure.
• Shoes that are too loose, ill-fitting socks or wearing no socks at all allow the foot to repeatedly slide and rub against the shoe, causing excessive friction.
• Obesity.
• Abnormalities in the walking motion.
• Bony prominences.
• The loss of the fat pad on the bottom of the foot.
• Repeated use of hand tools.

Many people try to alleviate the pain caused by calluses by cutting or trimming them with a razor blade or knife.  THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO PROPERLY TREAT CALLUSES!  This is very dangerous and can worsen the condition resulting in unnecessary injury or infection.  However, calluses can be softened and eventually reduced with the habitual use of ARMSTRONG SKIN-AID for CALLUSES.

by: Armstrong Skin Aid
date: Wednesday, April 24, 2006