Calluses form from friction or pressure against the skin. This can easily be caused from your foot rubbing the inside of your shoe. Another cause of calluses is a bone not being in the right position. However the callus is caused, the outer layers of the skin build up to protect the foot form unusually pressure. In most cases, calluses are not painful or harmful. However, if they are not treated or you are diabetic it could lead to infection, destroy healthy tissue, or affect the movement of the foot to compensate.
Calluses grow on the bottom of the foot or the edge of an outer toe or edge of the heel. Calluses can grow in size. In some cases they can spread across the ball of you foot. This is typically caused by a problem with a metatarsal (the long bone at the base of the toe, located near the ball of the foot). Pinch calluses may grow on the external edge of a toe or heel. Some calluses press up into the foot instead of spreading on the outside. A callus may form a central core or plug of tissue where pressure is greatest. The picture below illustrates potential areas for calluses to grow.
People with diabetes face special skin challenges. Because diabetes affects the capillaries, the small blood vessels which feed the skin, thickening of the skin with callus increases the difficulty of supplying nutrients to the skin. Callus development is seen in high numbers of patients with diabetes and together with deficient foot pulses and formation of hammer toe, this may be an early signs of individuals at an increased risk for foot ulcers. The hardness of a callus, coupled with the shear and pressure that caused it, may tear the capillaries or adjoining tissue, causing bleeding within the callus. Often, bleeding within a callus is an early sign of diabetes, prior to elevated blood sugars. Although the bleeding can be small, sometimes small pools of blood or hematoma are formed. The blood itself is an irritation, a foreign body within the callus that makes the area burn or itch. If the pool of blood is exposed to the outside, infection may follow. Infection may also lead to ulceration. Luckily, this process can be prevented at several places, but such infections can become life-threatening. Diabetic foot infections are the leading cause of diabetic limb amputation.
People with diabetes face special skin challenges. Because diabetes affects the capillaries, the small blood vessels which feed the skin, thickening of the skin with callus increases the difficulty of supplying nutrients to the skin. Callus development is seen in high numbers of patients with diabetes and together with deficient foot pulses and formation of hammer toe, this may be an early signs of individuals at an increased risk for foot ulcers. The hardness of a callus, coupled with the shear and pressure that caused it, may tear the capillaries or adjoining tissue, causing bleeding within the callus. Often, bleeding within a callus is an early sign of diabetes, prior to elevated blood sugars. Although the bleeding can be small, sometimes small pools of blood or hematoma are formed. The blood itself is an irritation, a foreign body within the callus that makes the area burn or itch. If the pool of blood is exposed to the outside, infection may follow. Infection may also lead to ulceration. Luckily, this process can be prevented at several places, but such infections can become life-threatening. Diabetic foot infections are the leading cause of diabetic limb amputation. Prevention of calluses is much easier than the treatment of calluses. Footwear should be properly fitted and protective pads or skin dressings may be used. They may also be dissolved with keratolytic agents containing salicylic acid, sanded down with a pumice stone or filed down with a callus shaver, or pared down by another professional such as a podiatrist or a foot health practitioner. Our office can be reached at 419-423-1888. People with poor circulation or sensation should check their skin often for signs of rubbing and irritation so they can minimize any damage.
Pictured below is an example of a skin dress that can be applied to offload pressure. These Dr. Jill U-shaped felt pads can be purchased on our online store by going through our website: http://www.vailfoot.com/ . You can also browse the online store for numerous other products related to callus treatment and other foot care product.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment