We all know what calluses are, and we all have them to some extent. They are the thick areas of skin that appear on the bottom of your feet in places where there is a high amount of friction. Of course, you can find them on your hands as well, depending on your hobbies and occupation. They are basically harmless, since they are your body's way of protecting you from the stresses you are exerting on it.
Your podiatrist's role in treatment of calluses is to get to the root causes. Yes, we can sand them or trim them away (what we call debridement). Another option is to offload the area by applying protective pads. However, it may be fruitful to ask the question, "Why is the callus appearing in the first place?" Perhaps you are walking abnormally, or maybe you have an irregularly shaped foot. Don't be embarrassed if this is the case—nobody's perfect, and that's true of feet too!
Calluses should raise a red flag for people with diabetes. Remember that a callus is the body's response to friction. However, people with diabetes are prone to developing ulcers where the callus began. This is due to a couple of things. First, some people with diabetes lose sensation in their feet, so they don't know if they're inflicting harm on them. Secondly, poor circulation is another side effect of diabetes.
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