We all have calluses under our feet, but some simply have more than others. Calluses are a hardening of the skin, which makes the skin partly insensitive. It largely consists of old skin parts and sebum, which form a hard top layer. This layer can sometimes dry out severely and crack. How can you disinfect such a callus wound and how do you ensure that it heals again?

Disinfect a callus

• What is it?
• Symptoms
• How to disinfect a callus?
• How does this recover further?

What is it?

Every day we walk a lot back and forth on our legs. Due to the pressure and friction of the feet with the ground, shoes, etc., the skin locally wears out faster than usual. To counteract this, rapidly aging skin in combination with sebum is concentrated in that layer, creating a wear-resistant layer, the so-called callus layer. This protects the bottom of the feet from the influence of walking. It can happen that the amount of calluses becomes very thick and dries out. If the sebum oil dries out, the callus layer can tear, causing the underlying fresh skin to also tear. This creates an opening through which dirt can enter the body, resulting in infections. What are the symptoms of this?

Symptoms

The skin looks dry and cracked, as if cracked, similar to cracked ceramic. The callus feels hard and numb and it is even possible to painlessly scrape off part of the heel or sole. However, the cracks run inwards, so that the existing new skin, which is therefore protected, can also tear along with it. This may cause pain and irritation. Because we walk a lot, there is a good chance that the cracks will become filled with dirt, potentially causing inflammation. The open wound can quickly become dirty, after which the condition for the feet quickly worsens. The condition can feel painful, with the amount of pain increasing if there is actual inflammation beneath the callus.

How to disinfect a callus?

Of course you have to prevent it from happening. If you have torn calluses and the callus layer is very thick, there is nothing wrong with removing the top layer. Of course, proceed with caution. If you have any doubts, have it done by a foot specialist or GP. How can you heal the torn wound? To do this you need a series of remedies that you must use consecutively.

Alcohol

Place an amount of 90% alcohol on a sterile cotton ball and slowly dab it on the wound for a long period of time. Naturally, use sufficient alcohol, because it must penetrate the torn callus. This way it can reach the really cracked and sensitive skin. Continue this until a tingling or painful sensation occurs. This means that the alcohol does its work and disinfects.

Iodine and gauze

Then dry the surface slightly with another sterile cotton ball. Apply red iodine to the wound. This should be done a little generously so that it has the opportunity to partly penetrate the wound. Place sterile gauze over the wound and tape it off. If you go outside, this in itself offers sufficient protection against dirt. Make sure that the wound does not come into contact with contaminated water.

How does this recover further?

You should sterilize the wound again in the morning and evening after showering. The alcohol ensures that everything is clean and skin repair (pithel formation) is activated. The iodine keeps things clean and moist under sterile conditions, allowing the skin and calluses to recover. The callus becomes slightly less dry and contracts, causing the wound to close from the inside. After a few days or a week you will have achieved a great result, giving you a beautiful heel and sole again. Of course, do all this before an inflammation has already developed in the callus layer, which can cause more serious consequences.

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