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Calluses

Calluses services offered in Clarksville, Nashville and Erin, TN and Hopkinsville, KY

If you have large or unsightly calluses you’d like removed, turn to Gateway Foot and Ankle Center in Clarksville, Nashville, and Erin, Tennessee, and Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The board-certified podiatrists diagnose and trim or remove calluses to restore the appearance of your feet. Call the office to schedule an appointment, or book one online today.

What are calluses?

Calluses are thick, hard skin layers that develop because of friction or pressure placed on your skin. They often appear on your fingers, toes, hands, or feet. While calluses can protect your skin from blisters and other skin damage, they might also be painful or make you self-conscious. If this is the case, the Gateway Foot and Ankle Center specialists are here for you.

What are the symptoms of calluses?

Common signs and symptoms of calluses include:

  • Hardened skin
  • Thick skin
  • Rough skin
  • Flaky or dry skin
  • Tenderness under the skin

Calluses might appear on the bottom of your feet or toes. They aren’t usually painful and vary in shape and size. Corns are similar to calluses, but corns are often smaller.

What are the risk factors for calluses?

Calluses aren’t a cause for concern and can protect your skin from damage. Calluses and risk factors for developing them include:

  • Ill-fitted shoes 
  • Tight shoes
  • High heels
  • Not wearing socks
  • Running
  • Playing sports
  • Bunions
  • Hammertoes
  • Bone spurs

If you have a callus that bothers you or is painful, see the Gateway Foot and Ankle Center team for an evaluation and treatment. Ways to reduce the risk of developing calluses include wearing comfortable shoes and using protective coverings on areas of your feet exposed to friction.

How does my doctor diagnose calluses?

The specialists at Gateway Foot and Ankle Center diagnose corns and calluses by discussing your symptoms and examining your feet and toes. They might recommend X-rays to detect or rule out underlying problems.

What are common treatments for calluses?

Many calluses don’t require treatment, but your podiatrist can remove them if needed or desired. They might recommend:

Home remedies

Home remedies include wearing proper footwear, using shoe inserts, soaking your feet, sanding away outer callus layers, and using moisturizers or protective pads if needed.

Medical treatments

Medical callus treatments your podiatrist offers include trimming away excess tissue, using callus-removing medications, or completing surgical procedures that repair the underlying cause of calluses or corns.

If you have a callus that’s very large, unsightly, or painful, you don’t have to live with it. Call the Gateway Foot and Ankle Center office or schedule an appointment online today.