When we hear the term “skin care,” or even the word “skin,”—our minds most likely visualize the skin on our faces and our facial regimens. The skin on our chests, arms and legs, may be close seconds (especially in the summertime). But how many of us think about the skin on our feet? What body part would you guess gets neglected the most in the shower? (Yikes!)
Not only is the skin on our feet a lot tougher, it also has a stronger tendency to become dry, cracked and infected. Fortunately, a lot of foot problems are simply due to lack of proper care (making it an easy fix), but could also lead to one of the toughest causes for concern: calluses. If you’re looking for an alternative to frequent pedicures, we’ve caught up with experts from the Warmuth Institute of Dermatology, Dr. Ingrid P. Warmuth, MD and Lauren Hartman, PA-C, to give us some insight on calluses and how to treat them on our feet.*
What are calluses?
According to Dr. Warmuth, a callus is an area of hard or thickened skin where it is usually subjected to constant friction. The heels and feet make up the two most common areas, and they can also be found on the hands.
Our skin’s defense mechanism to extreme pressure is to thicken (or strengthen). Calluses, in turn, can actually end up being more painful if not prevented and/or corrected properly. Calluses on our feet can be the result of many issues such as damaging footwear (work boots, high heels, shoes that are too small, etc.), repetitive activity (any area of fitness, particularly running, jumping, ballet, etc.) or simply uncleanliness. Read more
. Calluses, in turn, can actually end up being more painful if not prevented){kind=link}