Callus
Callus is a problem that more or less everyone knows. It can often be self-treated; But when it is very serious, it is necessary to show it to the doctor. A callus is a formation of the horny layer of the skin caused by friction or pressure. Dead skin cells accumulate to form a keratin (protein) layer. As this condition progresses, the skin cells under the callus become inflamed, causing pain and discomfort.
Reasons
Calluses most often occur where the skin is exposed to excessive friction. Manual workers and barefoot workers may have thickening of the skin, which is normally not painful and is not true calluses. However, real calluses occur in violinists, for example, by constantly resting their chin on the body of the violin or when the shoes hit the feet at certain points when buying new shoes.
While all tight shoes and high heels can cause calluses, calluses are most common on the spurs of the feet, between the toes, and on the heel. This will get calluses on them too. This is because the bone here is protruding and is constantly rubbing against the shoe. Since the hard skin layer on these bony prominences protects the lower layers, calluses are common here. However, there is no further relationship between calluses and bunion formation. Some people, especially the elderly, are more prone to calluses.
In prosthesis wearers, calluses may also occur due to abrasion of the skin. In such cases, it is usually sufficient to remove the cause of the callus, but sometimes it may become necessary to remove the callus.
Symptoms
A callus is a thick layer of skin that is more yellowish than the surrounding normal skin. It can be cone-shaped. The calluses between the toes are mostly soft. Calluses are painful at the end of the day, and are uncomfortable when faced with pressure. When it becomes chronic or severe, the surrounding skin becomes red and the calluses are very painful even when standing still. The symptoms are very diverse and it is sometimes difficult to distinguish a callus from a wart. However, the wart is usually smaller and painful with pressure. When the upper layer of the skin is scraped, the root of the wart appears as black dots.
Calluses are uncomfortable and painful, but mostly not dangerous. A more serious problem “hyperkeratosis” It is the condition of thickening and spreading of the skin on the palms and soles for no reason. Hyperkeratosis should be shown to the doctor immediately. The only danger of calluses is that they become infected and inflamed with the use of dirty instruments during removal. Especially diabetic patients should pay attention to this issue. Since the blood circulation in the feet is poor, the infection can easily turn into gangrene. That’s why it’s best for them to show their calluses to a specialist.
