The Cause of the Calluses on Your Feet

So, what’s the deal with these calluses that are forming on my feet? Calluses are the result of increased pressure in a specific area. The friction due to that increased pressure causes a buildup of skin in the area that is dead and has no feeling. However, if enough of this skin builds up, then you can end up with pain in that area due to the additional pressure. So, how do you fix the calluses?

Well, there are a couple of ways to treat calluses. First, we can pad the areas and prevent them from rubbing up against your shoe and forming these calluses. For some people, this option will work great, but for others, it is not as helpful. Next, there is trimming the calluses. This can be done by visiting your podiatrist for the calluses to be trimmed down. Typically this is done about every three months unless your calluses grow quicker or slower than typical. Another option for treating calluses includes orthoses. Orthoses function as a way to hold your foot in a specific position correcting them and reducing the pressure in these specific areas. For many of us, our feet do not function in the “normal” way. So, we will often have at least one toe that will have more pressure on top of it or below it that will form a callus. Orthoses can be manufactured to offload these areas and prevent the excess pressure. Finally, if the deformity of your foot is severe enough and is causing you pain, surgery can be considered as a final option.

Something that you should know about all of these options is that they work great for some people and others they may not work at all. So, it is a game of elimination where we move through the options to see what works best for you.

If you or someone that you know is suffering from calluses that are causing you discomfort, you can contact our office at (978) 794-8406. Our office serves the Methuen, Tewksbury, North Andover and Lowell, Massachusetts area. Dr. Wachtel will be able to determine the cause of your pain and work with you to decide upon the best treatment plan for you.