There are several possible causes for having calluses, or hard lumps of skin on the bottom of your feet. One cause may be a plantar wart. It is rare for a child to have a callus, typically the bump on the foot is caused by something in the skin or a plantars wart.  This is a virus that lives in your skin and disrupts the superficial tissue layer of the bottom of the foot.  This can be painful and they may devlop dark spots in the callus.  Another cause is an Intractible porokeratoma or seed corn; some feel that this starts as a clogged sweat gland.  It typically has a  small nucleated pit in the callus that can be very painful or completely painless.   To be sure of the cause of the callus, it needs to be debrided (painlessly trimming the top layers off) to reveal the tissue underneath.  Once the cause of the callus is determined, treatment will then begin.  Some people can have calluses at the ball of the foot because they no longer have adequate fat padding to cushion the area. This can be treated with padding and inserts and various offloading pads.  Treatment for calluses in diabetics is very important because you may have a wound developing underneath that you cannot see.  If you suffer from calluses or any other foot and/or ankle condition, please call us to set up a consultation.

Sincerly, 

Advanced Foot and Ankle

972.542.2155