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Painful callus
Last reviewed: 05.04.2022
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Painful callus is most often wet (wet) - with the formation of a blister in the area of excessive pressure or friction of the skin, but dry calluses, primarily core calluses, can also cause pain when walking.[1]
Causes of the painful callus
The main reasons are discussed in the publications:
- Calluses and corns
- Callus on the heel
- Dry corns on the legs with and without a shaft
- Callus: causes, structure, treatment
- Dry callus hurts: what are the reasons and what to do?
- Bloody callus on legs and arms
Their symptoms are also described there.
Risk factors
Any callus can become painful, and a painful callus on the toe, little toe most often appears due to unsuitable shoes (first of all, too narrow and with high heels). Many calluses are rubbed due to excessive sweating of the legs.
In addition, risk factors for excessive pressure and/or friction of the skin with the formation of thickening or pustules on the skin include problems with the feet, each of which consists of 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles with many tendons. This is a low arch of the foot (flat feet), and outward deviation of the foot with its valgus deformity, and limitation of mobility of the first joints of the big toes (with the formation of calluses under and above them).
It should be borne in mind that excessive body weight that overloads the feet can also disrupt their biomechanics, increasing the risk of painful calluses on the legs.
Pathogenesis
The mechanism of development of painful sensations in the presence of corns is the same as the pathogenesis of the occurrence of any pain.
It is caused by irritation of nociceptors - pain receptors, that is, free nerve endings of the skin - and the transmission of nerve impulses to the spinal cord (along the spinal axons of the anterolateral system), and then to the central nervous system - to the somatosensory fields of the cerebral cortex.
Complications and consequences
Among the complications and consequences of painful calluses, podologists include both inconvenience when walking and a change in gait (with the appearance of limping) - with a potential negative impact on the entire musculoskeletal system, but also the development of inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue of bacterial origin.
Such inflammation can cause a purulent-necrotic process in the periosteum of the underlying bone structures - periostitis.
Diagnostics of the painful callus
Painful callus is diagnosed based on the patient's complaints by visual examination, in the case of a callus, a dermatoscope can be used.
Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnosis includes plantar warts, palmoplantar hyperkeratosis, keratoderma, bullous dermatitis.
Who to contact?
Treatment of the painful callus
How treatment is carried out [2], in detail in the publications:
Prevention
You can prevent the appearance of corns by wearing suitable shoes, taking care of your feet and combating their sweating. Read more:
Forecast
In terms of cure, painful callus has a favorable prognosis.