Calluses Ruining Your Hike? – 4 Easy Tips

Our Avon and Frisco, CO communities have some amazingly beautiful trails for hiking enthusiasts! Depending on your preference or difficulty level, you can choose from Rainbow Lake, Peaks, Lily Pad Lake, and North Ten Mile trails in the Frisco area. If you are in Avon, opt for the Eagle Valley Trail or any trails in the West Avon Preserve. No matter where you choose to go, one thing is the same – you don’t want to develop calluses (or corns) on your feet. Fortunately, we have several callus prevention tips that can help:

• Wear shoes that fit well. We mention this a lot as a preventative measure for a wide range of foot and ankle issues, but that is for good cause – because it is important! Make sure that your toes can wiggle freely. Do not purchase footwear that is too small and expect the shoes to “stretch out in time.” If they do not fit correctly from the start, pick out a different pair.
• Use pads or bandages. If your existing footwear causes issues, you might benefit from using non-medicated or felt pads. Bandages, toe separators, and lamb’s wool are other useful options.
• Apply softening creams. If your calluses (or corns) are particularly stubborn, you may need to do this twice a day. Before bed and after showers or baths are great times to use softening cream on your feet so you can trap in extra moisture. Creams that contain an extra potent softener called urea can also be beneficial in sloughing away the hard build-up of calluses or corns. Creams containing small amounts of urea can be found at local pharmacies, but for persistent calluses more concentrated urea creams are available in our offices.
• Wear moisture-wicking socks. Skip the cotton pairs and, instead, opt for wool or synthetic blends that will keep your feet dry and callus-free. Wet socks do not retain their shape and elasticity as they should. This can lead to loose socks between your feet and shoes. The rubbing increases your risk for corns and calluses. Our office can help you find the right socks to prevent calluses from ruining your hike.

These callus prevention tips will reduce your odds, but there is still a possibility that thickened, hardened patches of skin will develop anyway. When this happens, we can recommend home care methods to address the issue, or you can always come see us for professional treatment.

Eagle-Summit Foot & Ankle is committed to caring for a wide array of foot and ankle issues, including skin and nail conditions. Find out more by calling (970) 949-0500 to reach our Avon, CO office or (970) 668-4565 to connect with our Frisco office, or simply schedule an appointment with either location online today.