Treating Painful Calluses

Treating Painful Calluses

CallusesIf you have a flat, rough patch of skin on your feet or toes, you likely have a callus, which affects most adults by the time they turn 65 years old. While many people don't experience any problems with their calluses, others may experience pain while wearing shoes and walking or standing due to pressure against the protruding area of dead skin. Dr. Jeffrey Agricola, your foot doctor at Prestige Podiatry in Carmel and Indianapolis, IN, is well-trained in helping his patients manage painful calluses.

How calluses form

The reason why your skin forms calluses is actually a good sign that your immune system is working properly. The skin responds to the repeated friction, perceiving it as a potential injury, so it begins to "toughen up," becoming thick and coarse to prevent a wound from forming. Calluses commonly form where your foot comes into contact with either your shoe or the ground: on the soles of the feet, both the ball and the heel areas, as well as the outside edge of the big toe or pinky toe.

Treating painful calluses

Not all calluses cause pain, but if you're experiencing discomfort in the area where a callus has formed, your Carmel and Indianapolis foot doctor can help you. People with diabetes and other issues with circulation and nerve response who develop calluses, painful or not, should contact their podiatrist immediately to prevent any secondary infections from developing. Dr. Agricola may recommend a custom shoe insert to redistribute the pressure on your feet or a change in footwear. He may also apply a salicylic acid solution to the callus, which will help break it down and then shave or cut the dead skin away. Salicylic acid has long been used to treat warts.

If you're experiencing foot pain of any kind, Dr. Jeffrey Agricola is here to help you! Contact Prestige Podiatry at either of our Indiana-based locations - Indianapolis or Carmel - for an appointment today!