Calluses on side of your big toe are caused by excess pressure or friction. When the big toe joint is affected by rolling while walking, numbness can occur as the joint is shifted and compressed.

Now that you understand the cause of a callus on side of big toe, let’s take a closer look at what you may be doing to encourage the development of calluses and what you can do to get rid of them for good.

What Is a Callus?

A callus is a layer of thickened skin that is caused by excess pressure or friction on the affected area.

Calluses can be caused by shoes that are too big and cause friction by sliding around or if you have a more active lifestyle. Whatever the case may be, calluses are the body’s natural response to toughen up the skin in response to increased friction or pressure.

There’s nothing inherently dangerous about calluses, but they can be uncomfortable and lead to pain and numbness in some circumstances.

Why Is My Big Toe Numb?

Numbness in the big toe can be caused when the big toe joint is jarred while walking, referred to as hallux limitus. When the big toe isn’t able to move properly as you step, excess pressure is exerted against the outside of the big toe, pinching the skin and inevitably causing the formation of calluses.

Doing so might also irritate the nerve in your big toe, leading to numbness and pain. This condition is medically referred to as compressive peripheral neuritis, an inflammation of the nerve in your toe caused by compression.

Calluses and other conditions can also lead to the development of bunions, a bony spot at the joint of your big toe that occurs when the bones in the front of your foot move out of place. The tip of your big toe subsequently gets pulled towards the smaller toes and forces the joint to shift.

Many patients with bunions experience the same pain and numbness since they are forced to roll over the edge of the big toe whenever they take a step. The skin is pinched, and the friction force causes your body to respond by forming calluses.

Treating Numbness and Pain Caused by Calluses

The best way to approach numbness and pain in your big toe caused by calluses is to utilize shoes that enable proper motion of your big toe. Stable shoes—even ones that are custom-prescribed by podiatrists—can be used to allow for better big toe movement.

This process reduces the “rolling” that causes the compression and inflammation leading to pain and numbness. The only way to properly reduce pressure is with a custom orthotic shoe designed to treat the problem.

Home Remedies for Big Toe Callus

You can take some active steps at home to improve the motion of your big toe joint and reduce pressure on the side of your toe. Most of these steps involve finding podiatric-approved arch supports and footwear for your needs. Keep your feet clean and neat while you recover. If you need tips on how to cut thick toenails, check here.

Arch Support Shoes

Arch supports work well to avoid rolling on the side of your toe, reducing the risk of callus formation on the side of your big toe. Of course, OTC orthotics won’t be as custom-tailored to your feet as custom ones, since they don’t conform as perfectly to your individual arch structure, but they can certainly help.

Some come with pads that can increase arch height, allowing you to better reduce pressure and friction that may be causing your numbness and pain.

Arch Support Flip Flops

Sandals with arch support should be used around the house. Doing so decreases pressure on the joint and helps reduce the risk of developing or enlarging calluses.

Wear Good Sneakers

Stable shoes are important for day to day function, and shoes that are too large or too small can both have adverse effects.

Shoes that are too big can cause increased friction and rolling if the ankle support isn’t sufficient, leading to calluses. Similarly, shoes that are too small can compress your feet, leading to bunions and the aforementioned rolling that causes numbness and pain in the big toe.

The bottom line is to pick shoes that fit you well, are comfortable, and are breathable.

Use an Electric Callus Remover

While it won’t fix the underlying issue that’s causing the calluses, using an electric callus remover is a good step to relieve some of the pressure and numbness caused by your calluses. Ideally, you can use it after the shower when your skin is softest.

Use gentle pressure to grind the callus thinner until the callus is back to normal size or starts to warm up. If your skin feels hot, pause for now and do a little more later in the day or on the next day.

Do a little each and every day to relieve the pressure caused by your calluses and to achieve optimal foot health. You can find some of the Best Callus Remover in our article, being Swissklip Callus remover as the best foot scrubber, and Lee Beauty Callus Remover making it to the top 5, also check out our article to know how to remove thick dead skin from your feet.

Use a Callus Prevention Patch

Generally applied to your insoles, callus prevention patches help to reduce friction on your feet, the number one cause of callus formation. Taking this small extra step can help you significantly to avoid calluses in the future.

Final Thoughts

A callus on the side of the big toe can be painful, especially if it leads to numbness and pain. The most important thing is to adjust your shoes to give your big toe joint the support it needs. If home remedies or adjustment don’t reduce the discomfort or pain of your callus, consult a podiatrist to consider orthotics that are catered to your individual needs.

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Skin care is an important part of our daily routine, but our feet often get neglected, leading to a higher risk of dryness, cracking, infection, and, of course, calluses. Here’s how you can take your skin care routine to the next level if you’re wondering how to get rid of callus on feet.

Calluses are hard areas of skin subjected to frequent friction, and to soften the skin and reduce pain, you can apply a moisturizer, file away the calluses, and soak your feet in warm water.

There are a number of solutions you can consider to avoid pain caused by calluses and soften your feet. In this article, we’ll discuss the different ways you can treat calluses and get rid of them entirely.

What Causes Calluses?

It’s important to discuss what causes calluses, since without addressing the underlying cause, you’re likely to just keep repeating the same problem over and over again.

Calluses are the body’s defense mechanism to pressure or friction. When an area of the body is exposed to constant friction or pressure, calluses are formed to strengthen to skin layer.

These can occur in response to fitness activities that involve running or jumping, but can also be caused by footwear. Shoes that are too small or without adequate padding can rub uncomfortably against the foot, leading to the formation of calluses.

In light of this, it’s important to consider how you’re taking care of your feet. One of the best solutions to calluses is prevention, read our article to know how to prevent calluses on feet. Try wearing thicker socks, getting a pair of insoles, or getting new shoes with better padding. Reducing the friction on your feet will help you avoid calluses in the long run.

How to Get Rid of a Callus

If you’ve got a section of hardened skin that’s causing you discomfort, then you might be wondering how you can get rid of foot callus. Thankfully, there are a number of at-home solutions you can consider to ease your discomfort caused by calluses.

Warm Water

Your first step to get rid of callus on feet should be to treat the callused area with a brief foot soak. This works wonders in softening the skin up, and after just 20 minutes of treatment, you may find that you can gently remove a layer of callus using only your finger.

Repeat the process multiple times, and you might be able to remove your callus entirely.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Another ideal solution is a foot soak of apple cider vinegar. Again, this solution serves to soften harder skin, allowing you to readily remove the calluses with a gentle rub. Mix four parts water to one part apple cider and soak your callus for around 20 minutes.

As before, when you’re finished your soak, try to peel a layer or two from the callus. Avoid overdoing it, since being too aggressive can break the skin near the callus, increasing your risk of infection.

Moisturizing Cream and Lotion

Moisturizer works well as both a treatment and a preventative. Apply daily to the affected area to heal your skin and soften it for easier callus removal. Treating your feet daily can also hydrate the area, reducing your risk of further problems with calluses.

The moisturizer you choose is up to you, but you can’t go amiss with a glycolic acid solution combined with vitamin E.

Filing the Layers

Another solution you can consider is using a pumice stone to file your calluses. Doing so is a direct method that works very well for deeper calluses. Rub gently against the harder layers to rub away the calluses.

Of course, be careful using this method, as overdoing it can lead to bleeding and infection. Stop right away if you feel any pain or irritation.

Aside from a pumice stone, you can also use a traditional file or very fine-grained sandpaper. We recommend this best Callus Remover. Doing so can be effective at tackling deeper calluses, but always be careful to file slowly and gently.

Salicylic Acid

An effective treatment to get rid of foot callus, salicylic acid can help exfoliate your skin, reducing the irritation from current calluses while preventing new ones from forming.

This acid can be found in many exfoliants and moisturizers. You might consider getting an exfoliating sock to help reduce the discomfort associated with calluses and have clearer, softer skin in the long run.

Calluses Removal FAQs

How to Get Rid of Deep Callus on Bottom of Foot

The best way to approach a deep callus on the bottom of your foot is by combining a filing session with a follow-up moisturizer.

Doing so will help you remove the physical layers of calluses, while ensuring that your skin is healthy and rejuvenated afterwards from any irritation that may occur. Check out these Foot Scrubber for dead skin to see what other satisfied customers think! There are many options in the market, but we found the best callus remover, listing Swissklip Callus remover as the best one, and including others such as Tip2Toe Electric Callus Remover.

How to Get Rid of Calluses on Toes

Calluses on your toes can be hard to access, which is why we suggest a warm water foot soak as a first solution. Generally, calluses on toes aren’t too large and may be manageable with a 20-minute soak. Tip2Toe Callus Remover is another great solution to gently and effectively deal with calluses.

How to Get Rid of Callus on Big Toe

Calluses on your big toe are best met with a mixed strategy of moisturizing, filing, and soaking. Using a combination of all three will ensure that your callus is softened and that the underlying skin is rejuvenated to minimize the discomfort of the treatment.

Final Thoughts

Calluses on feet are a real nuisance and can even disrupt your daily activities if the issue persists. Start looking at your footwear and the wear and tear you put on your feet daily to see if there’s a trend that may be causing calluses to form or worsen.

While you make adjustments, consider taking some simple steps to recovery, such as a 20-minute warm water foot soak or a gentle filing. You may need to repeat the process multiple times to tackle deeper calluses, but in the majority of cases, you can soften and repair your feet using the above at-home remedies.

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