Merrian-Webster Dictionary defines "callous" as an adjective with two possible meanings. It may describe someone who feels no emotion or sympathy for others. It also may describe a part of your body that has a callus, such as a "calloused hand." "Callus" is a noun that refers to a thick bump on the skin. It's easy to confuse calluses with corns, although they have distinct differences.
Features
Calluses are made of keratin, a natural protein that thickens the skin into a hard bump. If any area of your skin is repeatedly exposed to friction, you may develop a callus on that part of the skin, according The Physician and Sportsmedicine online magazine, but they are most common on the soles of your feet or the palms of your hand. Unlike corns, which have a similar outer appearance, calluses generally are not painful or are only somewhat painful.
Common Areas for Calluses to Form
Calluses may form on a certain part of your body as a result of the work you do or an activity you engage in repeatedly. For example, runners may form calluses on their toes and feet. Carpenters or other laborers who kneel repeatedly are susceptible to calluses on their knees. Athletes who use rackets or other hand equipment, musicians who play an instrument and laborers who use hand tools may develop calluses on their hands.
Purpose
Calluses form as a way to protect your skin from forming painful blisters. They are not a serious medical problem and may even be useful in some circumstances. People with bunions--an abnormality in the bone of the big toe that causes it to lean inward toward the second toe--often form calluses because the deformity causes the toe to rub against the shoe. According to the Physician and Sportsmedicine magazine, calluses can work to the advantage of some athletes, like gymnasts, by preventing skin injuries.
Identification
A callus may form on your toe if it is exposed to friction or pressure, while corns form almost exclusively on or between the toes. Beneath the skin, calluses have layers of keratin, which is a yellowish color, while corns have a "translucent whitish core," according to the Langone Medical Center website.
Treatment
You can usually treat calluses yourself by applying salicylic acid preparation to the affected area. You may also wet the callus and rub it with pumice stone to whittle down the bump. Protect the affected area with thick socks, gloves or other padding.
The Langone Medical Center website advises you to consult a physician if you suffer from circulatory problems or diabetes, because self-treatment could lead to serious infections.
