Get smooth feet with these tips and tricks

Calluses are unattractive and sometimes painful patches of thick skin on your feet that form when dead skin cells harden and thicken over an area of the foot, usually the ball of the foot, the heel, or big toe. This build-up is our body’s defence against excessive pressure and friction. Eliminating the source of friction or pressure is the first course of action.

Symptoms:

• Patches of thick, hardened skin on the ball of your foot, toes, or heels
• Areas on your foot that feel hard or rough to the touch
• Patches of skin on your feet that seem higher than the rest of the surface

Causes:

• Excessive pressure or friction on a specific area of the foot
• Wearing high-heeled shoes
• Wearing shoes that are too small
• Flat feet
• High arched feet
• Excess body weight
• Excessive rolling inward of the foot (over-pronation)
• Excessive rolling outward of the foot (over-supination)
• Abnormal walking motion
• Other foot conditions (i.e. bunions, hammertoes, and overlapping toes)
• Loss of the fat pad on the bottom of the foot

Treatment:

• Stop the pressure and friction causing calluses
• Choose properly fitted shoes
• Wear shoes that absorb shock
• Wear toe separators
• Get treatment for other conditions that might be causing calluses
• Lose excess body weight
• Add arch supports to redistribute pressure

For more information on how to take care of your feet, check more of our tips here.