Foot Health Glossary

Calluses

Hyperkeratosis
Medically reviewed · Hottinger Podologie, ZurichUpdated: July 2026

Callus is protection at first: the skin answers pressure and friction with thickening (hyperkeratosis). If the layer grows too thick it loses elasticity, and cracked heels, pressure pain and deeper keratoses such as corns follow.

Common causes
  • Constant pressure from footwear or foot deformities
  • Dry skin that keratinises faster
  • Barefoot walking, standing professions, sport
What you can do yourself

Rich urea-based care, a gentle file instead of a blade, and remove the causes of pressure. We advise against callus planes: they easily injure healthy skin, and the skin often answers the rough stimulus with even faster keratinisation.

When to see a podiatrist

If callus hurts, tears, keeps returning or you have diabetes. In the practice it is removed layer by layer and painlessly, and the cause of the pressure is examined at the same time.

Did you know?

The epidermis renews itself roughly every four weeks. Callus care is therefore not a one-off project but a rhythm: work with your skin, not against it.

Related terms
Sources & further reading
Hottinger Podologie · Zurich

Concerns about your feet, skin or nails?

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Angelika WinklbauerPodiatry & medical foot care
This entry provides general information and does not replace an individual examination.