What causes calluses and what can we do to avoid them? Here are five causes of calluses as well as advice on how to care for your feet to stop them from developing in the first place.
Your feet need moisture because they are too dry
For a better understanding of how calluses develop, let's first define what they are.
Callus is a yellowish, flat, hard coating of dead skin that can make it painful to grab objects or be uncomfortable to walk on.
Dead skin cells that have been subjected to a lot of pressure or friction naturally become calluses.
Skin naturally sheds its outer layers under normal conditions. According to one study, our bodies shed between 0.03 grams and 0.09 grams of skin every hour.
The body's natural processes for shedding skin are hampered by calluses. This is due to the fact that the cells under a callus develop more compactly and adjust to friction. The cells are harder due to their small size and compactness, making them resistant to wear from routine friction and air exposure. Dead skin cells might accumulate as a result, making the area feel rigid, like dried leather or plastic.
When you put moisture on your feet, like lotion, oil, or another form of water in a barrier lipid, your body can shed skin cells as usual. The tiny skin cells within a callus become more flexible with additional moisture. Of course, exfoliating and soaking help, but the friction that caused the callus to form can also be used to slowly remove it.
Your footwear is improperly sized
Your feet are confined by tight shoes, which puts pressure and friction on them and can cause calluses to form. The same can be achieved with loose shoes if they move around sufficiently to create friction.
If the pressure causes your toes to pinch, check that your shoes are the proper size and take a vacation from wearing heels. Have a pair of beautiful, cozy, and supportive ankle boots or tennis shoes on hand to provide your feet with the adequate support they require to prevent the onset of skin diseases.
You don't exfoliate frequently
Particularly in parts of our bodies like our feet that experience a lot of wear and tear, some skin requires a little assistance to shed naturally. Possessing a gently abrasive scrubber, loofah, or stone in the shower is a simple strategy to assist the physique. But a lot of people struggle to keep these things clean, so be careful to let yours dry off and to sanitize them frequently. They should also be changed every one to two months.
You have a routine that's hard on your feet
Calluses can develop for a variety of reasons, such as excessive walking required for your profession or prolonged periods of sitting that exert pressure on your feet. Some people, like those who drive daily for long distances, must do repetitive foot actions.
If your daily activities seem to be giving your feet calluses, you might need to take better care of them. Consult a podiatrist to find out if you need any unique socks, shoes, lotions, inserts, or other accessories. For the prevention of calluses, experts recommend DrLuigi medical footwear. These can help you keep your feet moist and avoid situations that make calluses more likely to form.