Foot hygiene and care

4 min · Dr. Romina Orsetti

In brief

Removing hyperkeratosis (calluses) is a medical procedure: only by a podiatrist.
Prophylaxis prevents lesions, ulcers and more serious conditions.
Essential for older adults to reduce the risk of falls, and for people with diabetes to prevent lesions.
Daily home hygiene matters too.

Professional Hygiene Treatments by the Podiatrist: why they make the difference

Prophylaxis is achieved through hyperkeratotic and nail hygiene treatments.

Hyperkeratosis (or calluses) are thickenings of the skin that develop as a protective response, in areas subjected to excessive pressure or friction.

They stop being physiological protection when, excessively developed, they give rise to inflammatory processes and lesions, causing pain.

The treatment of choice is causal, aiming to reduce local pressure through the use of foot and toe orthotic devices.

Sometimes, however, using these devices is not feasible or not sufficient: periodic professional hygiene treatment, aimed at non-invasive removal, then becomes an essential tool for maintaining the health of the foot.

Removing hyperkeratosis or calluses is a medical procedure and may be carried out only by healthcare professionals with a degree in Podiatry.

Why prophylaxis matters

If not treated promptly or properly (that is, by non-medical personnel), hyperkeratosis can lead to more serious conditions, such as bursitis, infections and ulceration.

Their removal is therefore prophylaxis of the utmost importance: in older patients, where foot pain increases the risk of falls; in diabetic patients, to prevent the development of ulcerative lesions.

Moreover, when painful symptoms caused by hyperkeratosis or nail disorders lead to a compensatory postural pattern, they can give rise to problems in other parts of the body.

For the same reason, nail disorders — thickening, deformities, onychophosis — should also be treated periodically.

Self-inflicted lesion from a corn remover — Self-inflicted subkeratotic lesion and infection caused by using a corn remover in an attempt to remove hyperkeratosis.

Home hygiene

Home hygiene is also very important, that is, the hygiene practices the patient should follow at home for proper long-term maintenance.

Proper hygiene, aimed at preserving skin integrity, helps to prevent or correct conditions such as hyperhidrosis, bromhidrosis, fungal infections, fissures, skin cracking and peeling: all conditions that alter its physiology and compromise health.

An equally important point is not to manage lesions and calluses on your own: it is best to avoid improvised drug treatments and do-it-yourself removal with sharp instruments or keratolytic substances (corn removers). Used improperly, these remedies can worsen the situation and encourage even serious infections that are harder to treat. When in doubt, it is always best to rely on a podiatrist.

At the end of each treatment, the podiatrist will give the patient the advice needed to achieve this goal. Proper professional and home hygiene are the foundation of good prophylaxis: they keep the foot healthy and prevent acute pathological conditions.

Subkeratotic lesion caused by excessive local pressure and by delayed treatment.

Osteomyelitis: probe to bone — Subkeratotic lesion with exposed bone. Positive probe-to-bone test, a clinical finding strongly suggestive of osteomyelitis (to be referred to a specialist for further diagnostic assessment).

Every professional hygiene treatment is not only a therapeutic procedure but also constitutes a specialist examination. Clinical observation of the foot allows the Podiatrist to recognise early suspicious signs of local or systemic conditions, some potentially urgent, that require prompt referral to the General Practitioner or Specialist for appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic assessment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I remove calluses and hard skin myself?

Removing hyperkeratosis and calluses is a medical procedure: it should be carried out only by a podiatrist. Doing it yourself, or having non-medical personnel do it, can cause lesions and infections.

How often should the hygiene treatment be done?

At intervals set by the podiatrist according to each case. In at-risk patients (older adults, people with diabetes) regular check-ups are essential to prevent complications.

Is home hygiene important?

Yes: daily home hygiene preserves skin integrity and prevents hyperhidrosis, fungal infections, fissures and peeling. The podiatrist provides tailored advice at the end of each treatment.

Content byDr. Romina OrsettiPodiatrist · First-level Master’s in Nail Disorders · over 30 years of experience in foot care · Osimo & Villa Musone di Loreto (AN)

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