Calluses usually appear on the hardest working areas of the body: Our feet. Unless you’re spending time literally looking at the soles of your feet – perhaps during a particularly bendy yoga class – you probably don’t worry much about unsightly dry skin until summer when a spotlight is thrust upon our usually hidden body parts. But panic not, calluses are very common and easy to remove. Here we break down the most common questions asked about the minor skin problem, including how to fix them for gorgeously soft soles.
Will calluses go away?
Yes. If you stop doing whatever is causing the repeated friction and pressure, the skin will eventually soften up. However, it’s unlikely you’re going to stop walking (a prime hard skin culprit), so most people will need to get hands-on in their callus removal (keep reading for treatment tips).
Why are my calluses yellow?
Perhaps the most unappealing part of a callus is the unhealthy-looking tinge of yellow, orange or brown. It’s nothing to worry about and is just a build-up of skin. In very rare cases yellow feet could indicate an underlying health condition, but you’ll likely notice yellow patches in other areas of the body too.
Is it a callus or a corn – how do I know?
Calluses are hard patches of skin that feel thick, tough and rough. They’re bigger and wider than corns and, on feet, they appear where the skin rubs against the ground like the foot pads and heels. Corns are smaller and circular and can have a defined centre that feels hard or soft. You can get hard corns around the bony areas of the feet and soft corns that are kind of rubbery and appear between the toes and in moist areas of skin.
Are calluses painful?
Usually not, but if they get very dry, they could crack, for example around the heel. In these cases, it can be painful and even bleed. Read more about cracked heels here <link>.
Are calluses dangerous?
Rarely, unless they crack and bleed which puts you at risk of an infection; They’re usually more of a beauty issue.
Can I remove calluses at home?
Yes, it’s easy, but if you have an underlying medical condition, such as diabetes, obesity or psoriasis, you should check with your doctor first.
How can I treat calluses?
Calluses are made up of thick dry skin, so to treat them you need to soften and rehydrate the skin. Use a rich moisturiser and apply it 2 – 3 times a day. You can also try soaking your feet for 10 – 20 minutes and gently exfoliating hard areas with a pumice stone or foot file.
Can I stop calluses coming back?
Sometimes. It depends how you got calluses in the first place. For example, if you got calluses on your hands from playing an instrument, you could simply stop playing – but that is unlikely to be a practical solution! Instead, regularly moisturise and be kind to your skin.
Find out more about treating dry skin and calluses with the Flexitol range, here.
