Should i cut my callus

If a corn or callus becomes very painful, leaks fluid, feels warm, or looks red, a person should seek medical advice. These may be signs that the area is infected. People with poor circulation, fragile skin, or nerve problems and numbness in the feet should also talk to their doctor before treating corns and calluses at home. People with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy , and peripheral arterial disease need to be particularly watchful. The primary risk factor for both corns and calluses is any pressure or friction on the skin.

On the feet and hands, this may be caused by:. Additional risk factors include older age, joint diseases, other foot problems like bunions or hammer toe , walking a lot on flat surfaces, or having flat feet.

For calluses specifically, diabetes is also a risk factor. If the corn or callus is very painful, or if the person has diabetes, fragile skin, or circulatory problems, it is best to consult a doctor or a podiatrist who specializes in foot care.

If there is a sign of infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic ointment. If the doctor suspects there may be an underlying bone structure problem, they may refer the patient for an X-ray and possibly surgery. A person should never try to remove a corn or callus without medical supervision, especially if they also have diabetes or other underlying conditions.

Doing this can lead to diabetic ulcers or complications with circulation or numbness. This also increases the risk of infection. A doctor can trim the lesion with a small knife, and they should do this only in a medical office. A corn or callus may recur and require repeated or regular trimming. A person may need to reapply the patch at home and rub the area with a pumice stone to prevent the corn or callus from returning.

The standard treatment for corns and calluses is salicylic acid. Doctors also use it in the treatment of other conditions such as warts. This is a keratolytic, which means it dissolves the protein, or keratin, that makes up the corn and the dead skin around it. A person can buy it in the form of creams, pads, and plasters or apply it with an applicator or dropper.

After a person applies the acid, the top layer of the skin will turn white, and the person will be able to cut or file the dead skin off. Once the person has removed the corn or callus, they can soak the area and rub it with a pumice stone each week if the hard skin shows signs of coming back. Salicylic acid comes in different concentrations. Stronger doses may work more quickly, but they require a prescription.

The ingredients can irritate surrounding skin, so a person should take care when applying it and should not use it on a cracked corn or callus.

People with diabetes should not use salicylic acid. Older adults should speak with a doctor before using salicylic acid, because this can cause skin problems that may be difficult to heal. In rare cases, a person may experience an allergic reaction to salicylic acid. The first is that you will injure the tissue of your feet by cutting too far down into the skin. The second is that you could sustain an infection.

For this reason, cutting calluses is particularly dangerous for patients with diabetes. Yes, you can shave, cut, pumice and chemically peel the hardened skin away—which, again, is painful and risky—but if you continue to wear those uncomfortable stilettos, the callus will form again to protect your skin. As we said above, the correct way to treat a callus is to identify and eliminate the cause.

If you have already ruled out footwear, visit a podiatrist to learn if another issue, like bone spurs or hammer toe, is causing the irritation. As a temporary measure, your podiatrist can also safely remove the callus with surgical removal. You may injure the tissue of your feet by cutting too far down into the skin. You can also get an infection from cutting too deeply into your skin.

Vetter may suggest:. Be careful when you are treating calluses at home. Over-the-counter callus treatments containing salicylic acid and other chemicals can cause chemical burns on your feet.