Foot Problems – Calluses
Calluses are areas of hard dead skin found on the bottom of the feet. The most common calluses are found on the balls of the feet. These areas of hard dead skin can be diffuse and spread over a broad area, or they can be localized to a small area, and be very deep. Both types can be very painful!
Causes: Calluses are a symptom of some underlying problem that exists in the ball of the foot. The normal foot can carry our weight comfortably, without the formation of calluses and pain. When a callus occurs, it signifies a change is occurring in our metatarsals (the long bones of our feet to which our toes connect).
We have five metatarsals, and they each carry a portion of our body weight as we walk. When one or more metatarsals carry more weight than they are supposed to, the skin under these bones becomes thick, hard, and painful.
Treatment: To provide relief from callus pain, the abnormal weight the callused area is carrying must be reduced and re-directed to the rest of the foot. Podiatrists agree that the easiest and most cost-effective way to accomplish this goal is with the use of Custom-Made Orthotics. These are comfortable, long-lasting, medical devices that are made from molds of your feet, and they will alleviate callus pain by doing the following:
Remove excessive pressure from the bones and joints in the balls of the feet, where the painful callus is located. The orthotic will then re-distribute this pressure, or weight, to the rest of the ball, and back into the arch.
Adjusting and accommodating for any abnormal walking patterns you have, such as pronation (a twisting of the foot outward, so that as you walk you apply more weight on the inner border of your foot). Pronation, and other biomechanical defects such as in-toeing, out-toeing, high arches, etc… affect the way weight is distributed across the balls of our feet when we walk.
Custom-Made Orthotics will allow the feet to function in a normal position when they strike the ground, rather than in a twisted position, thus removing the excessive weight and pressure from painful calluses.
Protecting the balls of the feet with materials that will absorb friction and excessive pressure, rather than passing them to the balls of the feet. The materials we use act as though more fat and padding were added to the balls, without adding excessive bulk.
For long-lasting relief of callus pain, nothing can beat the relief you will get from Custom-Made Orthotics. They are made of medical-grade, space-age, long-lasting materials (guaranteed to provide you with comfort for years). They are comfortable and will fit in any shoe with a 1 1/2 inch heel or less.
The same pair of orthotics can be used in your dress or athletic shoes (you will need only one pair to provide you with comfort in all of your activities).
Pain Relievers:
Custom-Made Orthotics will protect your calluses comfortably, for years, allowing pain-free walking, running, dancing, and all other weight-bearing activities.
Medical Grade Moleskin; is a thin, adhesive-backed material podiatrists use to pad and protect painful calluses. Slip-on Gel Protective Cushion; provides comfort and pain relief for the entire ball of the foot. No matter where the callus is, it will be covered and protected from the friction and stress that causes calluses to hurt. It is kept in place with an adjustable loop that slips over your second toe.
Each cushion will provide pain relief for months. Fits in all shoes.
Wear shoes with a low heel (about 3/4 to 1 inch high).
Wear shoes with thick, well-padded innersoles and outer soles, such as walking shoes. Even bedroom slippers should be well padded.
Do not walk barefoot. Protect the bottoms of your feet with good shoes.
Use a pumice stone to regularly file down painful calluses. Do not cut or trim them. If you are a diabetic or have poor circulation, check with your family doctor before treating your calluses.
Do not use medicated pads on calluses. These pads contain acid, and frequently cause chemical burns which can lead to increased pain. If you want to apply pads to your feet to reduce the pain produced by calluses, use non-medicated pads.
Remove these pads at the end of each day so that the skin does not break down.
