Callus on my toe?

[Tharmas]

Hi,

I've recently noticed a callus on my right large toe. Here are a couple of pictures of it.

http://bit.ly/tXoTMU
http://bit.ly/v1WKai

It doesn't look like a mole or anything to be concerned w/ IMO. But I wanted someone to take a look at the pics and see what they thought. If it is a callus, then I assume I could get a pumice stone and some kind of over the counter agent to help loosen it?  

[Gaurang Krishna, MD]

Dear Tharmas,

Thanks for your query.

It indeed is a callus or what we call frictional dermatitis. It is not a mole or anything to be worried about.

As you rightly said you can get a pumice stone and gently rub it during bathing and use OTC products containing urea/salicylic acid. This will help in loosening the thickened skin and you will be fine.

Hope that this information helps and hope that you will get better soon.

Thank you for using MedHelp's "Ask an Expert" Service, where we feature some of world's renowned medical experts in their fields. Millions have benefitted from our service to get personalized advice for them and for their loved ones.

Best Regards,
Dr. Gaurang Krishna.

[jdesouza]

Hi,
I get calluses like that often as I play sports. As I change shoes the calluses on the top of the foot keep changing. You may to change your shoes and see if it goes away especially if you are getting it on only one foot. Feet are often asymmetric and shoes are not and so if you get it only one foot that might mean that one shoe doesn't fit as well.

Hope it helps.

john