Recognizing the Difference Between Calluses and Porokeratosis

 

Nearly everyone gets calluses on their feet, which are your skin’s way of protecting itself from pressure and friction. The majority of the time, calluses are completely harmless, albeit ugly. However, these rough patches of skin might sometimes indicate a distinct issue: porokeratosis.

 

Our team at Neuhaus Foot and Ankle has a breadth of experience that ranges from basic issues like calluses to more serious issues like neuropathy. Though we hesitate to use the term “small” because any problem with your feet, especially calluses caused by porokeratosis, can have a wide-ranging impact.

With that in mind, here’s how to tell the difference between calluses and porokeratosis.

 

Calluses are a layer of protection that form in regions where your skin is subjected to excessive pressure and friction, such as your hands and feet. Calluses are swollen and hardened skin regions that are your body’s way of bolstering its defenses. Calluses, especially on the bottoms of your feet, are usually not only harmless but also entirely natural.

 

While calluses on the soles of your feet are frequent, calluses on the tops of your toe joints can develop as well, especially if you have hammertoes or bunions.

 

However, these rough patches of skin can sometimes appear in particularly sensitive locations or develop painful fissures, putting you at risk of infection. If you have an underlying illness like diabetes, this is especially concerning.

 

If you don’t have diabetes or haven’t developed fissures, you can usually treat calluses on your own by using the following methods: better-fitting footwear Pads or orthotics Soaking and filing Moisturizing Again, if you do have diabetes or your calluses have become painful, we strongly advise you to come see us so that we can properly treat them.

 

Porokeratosis Is A Rare And Painful Problem If you have small, circular patches of scaly skin with a thin, elevated border, it’s possible you’re dealing with porokeratosis rather than calluses. Patches can appear anywhere on your body, including your feet, and the condition is incredibly rare, affecting only 200,000 people in the United States.

 

It’s usually a type of ailment called porokeratosis plantaris discreta when they appear on your feet (PPD). The scaly patches are usually the same color as your surrounding skin (with no distinct border) and have a white or yellowish pit in the center.

 

PPD can be excruciatingly painful, but the good news is that it rarely leads to consequences other than discomfort.

 

We can try to shave the spots away to reduce the pain, but they tend to regrow. Instead, prescription-strength topical cantharidin/salicylic acid may be used to permanently remove the lesion. We utilize that treatment for stubborn plantar warts, and most individuals report good results.