Callus Remover (Medicated): HSA Eligibility

What are calluses?

Calluses, often confused with corns, are similar ailments in that they are skin conditions that are caused by friction or pressure on the skin of the hands and feet. If this friction and pressure is allowed to persist over time, hardened skin will begin to form as a natural physiological reaction to prevent blisters from forming. Corns refer to thickened skin on the top or side of a toe, while calluses are thickened palms of the hands or soles of the feet. Unfortunately, corns and calluses have the unfortunate side effect of dry, flaky skin that can be painful and may bleed in some cases.

While calluses and corns can affect individuals from all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds, they are particularly common in people over 65 years of age, where they are known to affect between 20-60 percent of those individuals in this age range. Additionally, certain risk factors may make a person more susceptible to the formation of calluses and corns, including poorly fitting footwear, abnormalities in a person's gait or foot/toe anatomy, using equipment that puts undue stress on specific locations on the fingers or feet, as well as certain occupations like farming, gardening, fishing and other professions that require long periods of standing and hands-on labor (MedicineNet.com).

How does callus remover work?

While calluses are rarely serious, they can be very unsightly and painful in some cases, which is why many callus sufferers opt to pursue treatment to alleviate the issue. There are a number of different strategies to remove calluses, but one of the most popular are medicated pads that are placed on the soles of the feet. These pads are typically formulated with salicylic acid to gradually wear away the callus, while the additional padding will reduce the amount of friction/pressure on the area to allow it time to heal. Additionally, heel scraping devices to remove excess skin, dermatological services, home remedies and lifestyle changes can play a major role in treating and eliminating calluses (WebMD).