In diabetes there is a decrease in the body’s ability to heal, especially in places with less blood circulation such as the legs or feet. Therefore, it is very important to avoid removing calluses at home as this can cause wounds that will be very difficult to heal and can become infected.
Therefore, the best way to reduce calluses at home and relieve pain is to:
- Wash your feet well;
- Place your feet in a basin of warm water for 5 minutes;
- Apply a pumice stone lightly to the callus.
After making this small scrape on the foot, you can also apply a moisturizing cream to the affected area to keep the skin soft and prevent the callus from continuing to grow.
However, creams to remove calluses, which are sold in pharmacies or supermarkets, should be avoided because they can cause skin lesions, which, even though they are very small, can continue to increase in diabetics.
Find out all the care that diabetics should take with their feet.
How to speed up recovery
In order to speed up skin recovery and facilitate the removal of the callus, there are some precautions that diabetics can take during the day, such as:
1. Wear comfortable shoes
Ideal shoes should be closed, but soft and comfortable to avoid excess pressure in certain areas such as the toe or heel. This way it is possible to prevent calluses from increasing in size or appearing in other locations.
An interesting tip is to wear two pairs of shoes during the same day, as this way you can avoid the same pressure areas from one shoe to the other.
2. Keep your feet clean and dry
The best way to clean your feet is by washing them with warm water, avoiding using very hot water. This happens because hot water, although it can make the callus softer, makes it difficult for other small wounds that you may have on your foot to heal.
After washing your foot, it is also very important to dry it very well with a towel, to avoid the development of fungus and reduce the chances of the foot slipping inside the sock, which could cause more pain in the callus.
3. Moisturize your feet
Calluses appear due to the thickening of the skin in places of high pressure and, therefore, it is normal for the skin in these places to become drier. Therefore, a good way to reduce calluses or avoid them is to keep the skin on your feet well hydrated. The best way is to use a good, simple moisturizing cream, without scent or other chemicals that could harm the skin.
Watch the following video how to make an excellent home remedy for cracked feet:
When to go to the doctor
People with diabetes should make regular visits to the podiatrist to assess the health of their feet and avoid complications. In most cases, calluses do not need to be treated by a podiatrist, however, if they appear very frequently or take a long time to improve, it is recommended to contact a professional to begin appropriate treatment.
