What's the difference between callus treatments you can buy vs professional treatment?

One of the things patients often say to me when they come into Foot Corner with hard skin is:

“I’ve tried everything, but it just keeps coming back.”

They have tried foot files, pumice stones, creams, electric foot files and different callus treatments from the pharmacy.

Some of them work for a little while. The feet feel smoother and look better.

But a few weeks later, the hard skin is back again.

So why does this happen?

And is there really a difference between treating callus yourself at home and having it treated by a podiatrist?

Callus is your body's way of protecting the skin from repeated pressure and friction.

If one part of your foot is taking more pressure than another, the skin can gradually become thicker and harder.

You might notice it around your heels, underneath the ball of your foot, around the big toe or anywhere there is pressure being created.

At first, it might simply feel a little rough.

But over time, the callus can become thicker and more compacted. Eventually, it can become uncomfortable or painful to walk on.

“But I file my feet all the time”

Our podiatrists hear this quite a lot.

Foot files and pumice stones can be useful when you only have a small amount of hard skin. They remove some of the dry skin from the surface and can help keep your feet feeling smooth.

But when the callus has become very thick, you may find yourself constantly filing without really getting anywhere.

You smooth the top layer, but the deeper, compacted hard skin is still there.

This is often why it feels better temporarily but quickly becomes uncomfortable again.

What about all the creams you can buy?

A good foot cream can definitely help.

Creams containing ingredients such as urea can help soften and moisturise dry, thickened skin, and I often recommend moisturising as part of looking after your feet.

But there is a difference between softening hard skin and removing a significant build-up of callus.

If you already have a thick area of painful callus, cream alone may not solve the problem.

What about callus remover plasters and liquids?

There are also products available that use chemicals or acids to break down hard skin.

Care needs to be taken when using these products, as they can sometimes affect the healthy skin surrounding the callus as well as the area being treated.

This is particularly important if you have diabetes, poor circulation, reduced sensation in your feet or problems with healing.

If you are unsure whether a product is suitable for you, it is always best to seek professional advice before using it.

Will it come back after professional treatment?

It can.

If the callus is removed but the pressure that caused it is still there, the body may start producing hard skin again.

That doesn't necessarily mean the treatment hasn't worked.

It means we also need to think about why the callus keeps forming.

Depending on what we find, we may discuss footwear, moisturising, padding or ways of reducing pressure on that particular part of the foot.

For patients who repeatedly develop painful callus, it may also be useful to look more closely at how they are walking and how pressure is being distributed through their feet.

Do you need to see a podiatrist for every bit of hard skin?

No.

If you have a small amount of hard skin that isn't causing any problems, regular moisturising and gentle filing at home may be all you need.

But if you are constantly filing your feet, buying different products and the same painful hard skin keeps returning, it may be worth finding out why.

We would also advise against trying to cut hard skin away yourself with a blade or other sharp instrument. It is very easy to remove healthy skin as well and cause an injury.

Sometimes another product isn't the answer

There are some very useful products available for looking after your feet at home, and they can play an important part in maintaining the skin between appointments.

But if you have been treating the same area over and over again and it isn't improving, the answer may not be another cream, file or callus remover.

It may simply be time to have your feet assessed and find out why the hard skin keeps coming back.

Struggling with painful hard skin?

If you have thick, uncomfortable or recurring callus and would like some professional advice, you can book an appointment with us at Foot Corner.

Foot Corner
15 Church Parade, Church Road
Ashford, Surrey TW15 2TX

To book an appointment, click Here or call us on 01784 250 781.