Callus

The skin on the soles of our feet has special properties and is thicker to with stand the great forces that are transmitted through it. When a combination of excessive pressure and friction is present the skin protects itself by over producing skin cells and thickening itself up into hard skin.

A callus, or callosity, is an extended area of thickened skin on the feet, and occurs over areas of high pressure or friction. It can appear anywhere the skin rubs against a bone, a shoe, or the ground.

Walking on stones?

Most calluses are symptoms of an underlying problem like a bony deformity, a particular style of walking, or inappropriate footwear. Some people have a natural tendency to form callus because of their skin type. Elderly people have less fatty tissue between skin and bone in the ball of the foot and this can lead to callus forming on the ball of the foot

What to do?

You can control a small amount of hard skin by gently rubbing with a pumice stone, or chiropody sponge when you are in the bath. Use a moisturising cream daily. If this does not appear to be working, seek advice from a registered chiropodist (also known as podiatrist).

If the callus is painful and feels as if you are "walking on stones", consult a registered chiropodist/podiatrist who will be able to advise you why this has occurred and, where possible, how to prevent it happening again. Your chiropodist/podiatrist can also remove hard skin, relieve pain, and redistribute pressure with soft padding, strapping, or corrective appliances which fit easily into your shoes. The skin should then return to its normal state.

The elderly can benefit from padding to the ball of the foot, to compensate for any loss of natural padding. Emollient creams delay callus building up, and help improve the skin's natural elasticity. Your chiropodist/podiatrist will be able to advise you on the most appropriate skin preparations for your needs.