Calluses can be very frustrating and uncomfortable when choosing shoes.
They normally form on the ball of your foot, along the sides of your toes, across the tops where the shoe is too shallow, and on your heel.
They're not a skin problem. They are your feet responding to friction and pressure that the right shoe would take away.
A callus is a symptom. The skin thickens because something is pushing against it repeatedly, and in most cases that something is a shoe that squeezes, a seam that lies over a joint, or a sole so thin your foot takes the full impact of every step.
Take the pressure off and the callus eases. Keep it there, and no amount of filing or moisturising will stop it coming back.
This is where your choice of shoe can really help, specifically shoes with plenty of room in the toe box, a snug heel to reduce movement (and therefore friction), and a supporting arch to keep your foot in alignment.
Please remember that the advice below is general, and if you are experiencing foot pain you need to see your podiatrist.
The Star trainer in smooth white leather with grey crackle accents, a cooler-toned white that leans smart and sits as well with tailoring as denim. The wider toe box gives the bunion room and the footbed lifts out for your own orthotics. Fits EE-EEE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal at a family-run factory in the Porto region, designed in the UK with foot technologists
Material
Smooth white leather upper with grey crackle accents, lamb leather lining
Heel
Flat
Width cap
Fits up to EEE width
Toe box
Wider toe box, fully lined with no seams
Closure
Lace-ups so you can adjust forefoot width
Footbed
Removable moulded footbed so you can use your own orthotics, arch-supported cushioned insole
Designed for
Bunions, wide feet, hammer toes, hallux rigidus
Press
Featured by Hello, Good Housekeeping, The Independent and The London Evening Standard
Browse more images of the Star - White & Grey Leather Wide Fit Sneakers:
Our Review
The white and grey Star is the one I wear when I want a trainer that looks considered with tailored trousers, since the grey crackle accents read cooler and smarter than a warm champagne. It is the same comfortable build, with a wider toe box that gives my bunion room and a footbed that lifts out for my orthotics. The grey accents also hide marks at the toe better than an all-white. I wear it with cropped trousers and a knit, or straight jeans and a blazer. True to size in a wide fit, EE-EEE.
Pros
Lace-ups let you adjust forefoot width on a daily basis
Removable footbed swaps out for prescribed orthotics
Fully lined toe box with no seams reduces friction over bunions and hammer toes
EEE width cap accommodates wider forefeet
Cons
White leather scuffs and marks more visibly than darker trainers
The Charlotte is Calla's crossover ballet flat, the one customers keep coming back to, here in soft black nappa leather. The leather crosses over the toes and stretches across the bunion, with a panel that gives both bunions and tailor's bunions room. Fits up to EEE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal at a family-run factory in the Porto region
Material
Soft black nappa leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
Flat ballerina
Colour
Black
Fit
True to size, fits up to EEE width feet
Toe box
Stretch panel across the toe box for bunions and tailor's bunions, crossover design that stretches to the foot shape
Footbed
Enhanced arch support, extra cushioning at the heel
Browse more images of the Charlotte - Black Leather Ballerinas:
Our Review
Black Charlotte is the ballet flat I reach for most, because the crossover design stretches gently over my bunion instead of pressing a hard line across the joint. The soft nappa leather gives where my foot is widest, and the stretch panel handles both my bunion and the tailor's bunion on the little-toe side. Enhanced arch support and extra heel cushioning mean it carries a full day rather than leaving my feet flat and sore. It is the flat I'd recommend to anyone after a bunionectomy who needs softness and width over the scar area. Fits up to EEE, true to size.
Pros
Stretch panel across the toe box gives over both the bunion and the tailor's bunion sides
Nappa leather softens with wear
Extra heel cushioning eases the back of the foot
Fits up to EEE width
Cons
Flat ballerina sole has limited grip in wet weather
Crossover stretch design relies on the panel rather than laces so cannot be tightened
The Cosmos is the chunky trainer Calla's founder built because the dad-trainer trend kept squeezing her bunions, and black is the wear-with-everything one. A chunky cushioned outsole adds height, while the wider, deeper toe box and removable insole give the forefoot room and take your orthotics. Fits EE-EEE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal at a family-run factory in the Porto region
Material
Black leather upper with textile side detail, lamb leather lining
Heel
Flat with chunky outsole
Closure
Lace-up
Fit
Wide fit, EE and EEE width feet, standard fit around the heel with additional width and depth in the toe box
Insole
Removable moulded footbed with arch support, swap for own orthotics
Browse more images of the Cosmos - Chunky-Sole Black Wide Fit Sneakers:
Our Review
Black is the Cosmos I reach for most, because a chunky trainer usually crushes my forefoot and this one was designed by someone with bunions to do the opposite. The wider, deeper toe box means my bunion has room inside a sporty shape, and the insole lifts out for my orthotics. The chunky outsole gives me a bit of height and a lot of cushioning on hard pavements without any forefoot pressure. In black it goes with jeans, joggers or a midi without a thought. True to size in a wide fit, EE-EEE.
Pros
Chunky outsole gives lift and stride length without putting pitch through the forefoot
Removable footbed accepts the wearer's own orthotics
EEE width cap with extra toe-box depth accommodates wider forefeet and Morton's neuroma
Lace-up closure adjusts across the instep
Cons
Chunky-sole silhouette is heavier on the foot than a standard trainer profile
Leather upper needs conditioning to keep the side panels looking fresh
Sporty trainer styling means it will not slot into smart workwear or occasion outfits
The Meredith is Calla's chunky loafer on a 2.5cm heel, and black leather is the do-everything one. The slight heel and cushioned sole carry a day from the office to dinner, while the wide-enough toe box gives the bunion room a slim loafer wouldn't. Fits up to EE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal, designed in the UK
Material
Black chunky leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
2.5cm
Width cap
Fits up to EE width feet
Toe box
Wide toe box with hidden stretch panel over the bunion area
Browse more images of the Meredith - Black Leather Loafers:
Our Review
The black Meredith is the chunky loafer I wear when a flat feels too slight for tailoring, since the 2.5cm heel and the heavier sole give it some presence under trousers. It takes me from the office to dinner without changing, and the cushioned sole means my feet aren't aching by the evening. The toe box is cut wide enough that my bunion has room rather than being pressed by a narrow loafer. I wear it with trousers or straight jeans. Fits up to EE, true to size.
Pros
2.5cm heel adds height without losing the loafer's flat-shoe ease
Hidden stretch panel flexes over the bunion joint
Cushioned sole takes the impact out of pavement walking
Fits up to EE width feet
Cons
Width fitting caps at EE so EEE feet will be tight
Chunky silhouette sits heavier on the foot than a slim loafer
Slip-on construction means no width adjustment if your foot swells through the day
The Ruby sandal in champagne leather with a soft shimmer, dressy enough for a summer wedding but neutral enough to wear all day. The strap still covers the bunion and the moleskin 'hallux' panel cushions the joint, so an occasion on your feet stays comfortable. Fits EE-EEE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Porto, Portugal
Material
Champagne leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
Flat toe-post sandal
Fit
True to size
Width cap
EE to EEE
Bunion cover
Strap positioned to conceal the big toe joint, hidden moleskin hallux panel
Browse more images of the Ruby - Champagne Leather Sandals:
Our Review
I keep the champagne pair for summer occasions, because the soft shimmer reads as dressed-up at a wedding or a garden party without shouting the way a bright gold would. It is still the bunion-friendly Ruby underneath, so the strap covers my joint and the moleskin panel cushions it through hours of standing for photographs. The arch-supported footbed is what lets me stay in them from the ceremony to the evening rather than going barefoot by the speeches. It sits beautifully against blush, cream and pale florals. True to size on me at an EE-EEE.
Pros
Strap positioned to cover the big toe joint while keeping a toe-post silhouette
Hidden moleskin hallux panel against the joint
Arch-supported cushioned insole under the foot
EE-EEE width cap fits wider feet
Cons
Toe-post style takes a few wears to soften against the skin between the first and second toe
Flat profile gives no pitch under the heel
Light champagne leather shows scuffs at the toe edge with regular wear
A classic black leather court on a manageable 5cm kitten heel, with extra width and volume through the toe area for a wide forefoot. The roomy toe and arch support carry a full office day, where a standard court would press on the bunion by mid-morning. Fits EE-EEE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal at a family-run factory in the Porto region
Material
Black leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
5cm kitten heel
Fit
Fits EE-EEE width feet best
Toe box
Extra width and volume in the toe area, standard at the heel
Footbed
Arch-supported insole
Best for
Work, weekday dressing and any wardrobe slot that wants a low heel
Browse more images of the Ava - Black Leather Pumps:
Our Review
The black Ava is my everyday work court, the pair I put on for a day of meetings because a 5cm heel is low enough to stand and walk in from morning to evening. What makes it work for me is the extra room through the toe area, an EE-EEE that lets my bunion sit without the joint pressing on a hard leather edge the way a standard court does. The arch support holds my foot through hours on office floors. In smooth black leather it goes under any suit or with a pencil skirt. True to size for me across the EE-EEE width.
Pros
5cm kitten heel works for full work-day standing
EE-EEE width cap takes wider feet than most courts on the high street
Extra width and volume in the toe area accommodates the bunion joint
Lamb leather lining over the bunion area flexes with the joint
Cons
Smooth leather sole needs grip pads on wet pavement
Narrower than EE feet may find the toe area roomy
Black leather shows light scuffs at the toe over time
The Maya is Calla's mid-heel ankle boot, smooth black leather finished with a delicate gold chain, built with hidden stretch panels over the bunion. Specified to a 28cm ankle and 16cm shaft, the mid-heel takes it from day to evening. Fits EE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Porto, Portugal. Designed in the UK
Style
Heeled ankle boot in black leather
Material
Black leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
Mid heel
Fit
EE width
Toe box
Wide toe box with hidden stretch panel
Ankle circumference
Approx. 28cm
Shaft height
Approx. 16cm
Detail
Gold chain across the vamp
Insole
Arch-supported cushioned insole
Best for
Day-to-night dressing with tailored trousers or a midi skirt
Browse more images of the Maya - Black Leather Boots:
Our Review
Black Maya is the ankle boot I wear day-to-night, since the smooth leather and gold chain detail give it a bit of edge over a plain boot. The mid-heel is dressier than a flat ankle boot but still walkable, and the hidden stretch panels give over my bunion. I like that the ankle and shaft are measured, 28cm and 16cm, so I knew it would fit before ordering. It goes with trousers or a midi skirt. Fits EE, true to size.
Pros
Hidden stretch panel over the bunion area flexes with the joint
16cm shaft sits at the ankle without pressing on the calf
Gold chain detail across the vamp lifts the boot for evening wear
Black leather pairs across the wardrobe
Cons
Fixed 28cm ankle circumference suits standard ankles only
EE width cap rules out EEE feet
Smooth leather shows scuffs at the toe with daily wear
The Saturn rides on a 3cm platform sole, and the cream-and-orange suede is its warm retro-sporty colourblock. The platform adds height with no heel pitch, while the wider seam-free toe box gives the bunion a smooth surface. Fits EE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal at a family-run factory in the Porto region
Material
Cream and orange suede upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
Flat with a 3cm platform sole
Fit
True to size, fits up to EE width
Toe box
Wider toe box with seamless lining over the bunion area
Browse more images of the Saturn - Cream & Orange Suede Wide Fit Sneakers:
Our Review
Cream and orange is the Saturn I wear when I want a bit of height from a trainer without a heel, because the 3cm platform lifts me evenly rather than pitching my weight forward onto the bunion. The two-tone suede has a retro, sporty look that lifts plain denim. The wider seam-free toe box means nothing rubs my bunion, and the laces let me fine-tune the forefoot. Worth knowing it fits an EE rather than going up to EEE, so it suits a moderately wide foot. True to size, and I brush the suede.
Pros
3cm platform sole adds height without a heel angle
Seamless toe-box lining means no stitching to rub the bunion joint
Lace-up lets you slacken the forefoot when feet swell
Cushioned arch-supported insole inside
Cons
Suede needs weatherproofing before wet-weather wear
Cream panels show scuffs and dirt more than darker colours
EE the width cap so EEE feet will need a different model
The Estella is Calla's zip-up trainer with no laces to tie, and black leather is the smart everyday one. A side zip means easy on and off without bending, while the removable moulded footbed and wider fit give the bunion room and take your orthotics. Fits up to EEE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal, designed in the UK
Material
Black leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
Flat
Width cap
Fits up to EEE width feet
Toe box
Wide toe box
Closure
Side zip instead of laces
Footbed
Removable moulded footbed, swap in your own orthotics
Press
Voted one of the best stylish trainers for wide feet by Hello, Good Housekeeping, The Independent, The London Evening Standard
Browse more images of the Estella - Black Leather Zip-Up Wide Fit Sneakers:
Our Review
The black Estella is the trainer I reach for when I don't want to bend down and tie laces, because the side zip means I step straight in and out. In black leather it looks tidy enough for a casual office or smart-casual day, not just the gym. The wider fit and moulded footbed give my bunion room, and the footbed lifts out for my orthotics. The zip also means a consistent fit every time rather than laces I retie. True to size, up to EEE.
Pros
Side zip means you slip the trainer on without retying laces
Removable moulded footbed for own orthotics
EEE width fitting accommodates wider feet than most trainer brands
Black leather hides scuffs and city-pavement marks better than white
Cons
Zip is a moving part that adds a wear point lace-ups do not have
No laces means no further width adjustment beyond the fixed zip line
All-black trainer reads more formal than casual so it suits office and smart-casual wear more than sport
The Freya is Calla's tassel loafer, and black suede is the soft, velvety everyday one. A hidden stretch panel in the toe box flexes over the bunion while the wide toe box gives the forefoot room, so a smart loafer doesn't press on the joint. Runs big in suede, so size down a full size; fits up to EEE.
Browse more images of the Freya - Black Suede Loafers:
Our Review
Black suede is the Freya I wear most, because the soft velvety finish dresses up trousers while still feeling relaxed, and the tassels give it a bit of character. The hidden stretch panel sits in the toe box and flexes over my bunion, so the joint isn't pressed the way it is in a stiff loafer. The wide toe box and cushioned insole carry me through a full day at a desk and out to dinner. The one thing to get right is sizing, since the suede runs big and I took a full size down. Up to EEE, and I brush the suede to keep it looking fresh.
Pros
EEE width cap suits wider feet
Hidden stretch panel flexes over the bunion joint
Flat profile for all-day standing or walking
Lamb leather lining against the foot
Cons
Sizing runs a full size large so you must order down
Suede upper picks up rain marks without a weatherproof spray
Black suede shows scuffs on the toe with regular wear
Why your shoes are giving you calluses
Steady rubbing and pressure on one spot is what causes a callus, and in most cases your shoes are doing the rubbing.
Every time the shoe presses, the skin underneath responds by thickening, building a protective layer that hardens into the patch you can see and feel. It's not a skin condition.
It is a direct, mechanical reaction to a shoe that does not fit properly.
Tight or narrow fit. A shoe that squeezes your toes together forces the skin on the sides into constant contact with the side of the shoe and with the neighbouring toes. The callus builds wherever the pressure is greatest.
A study by Buldt and Menz, published in BMC Public Health, found that 50% of women and 34% of men were wearing shoes more than 5 mm narrower than their feet. That difference goes some way to explaining why toe-side calluses turn up so much more often in women.
High or pointed heels. A heel pitches your body weight forward onto the ball of your foot. The higher the heel and the narrower the toe, the smaller the area taking all that load, and the thicker the callus underneath.
Hard seams and stiff linings. A seam or stitched panel that lies over a bony joint rubs with every step. Stiff, synthetic linings make it worse because they don't soften with wear the way leather does.
Thin, flat soles. A sole with no cushioning passes every impact straight through to the underside of your foot. Walking on hard floors in thin-soled pumps or sandals puts far more pressure on the ball and heel of your foot than a cushioned sole would.
Flip-flops and completely unsupported shoes. With nothing holding the shoe to your foot, your toes grip to keep it on. That gripping action creates friction under your toes and across the ball of your foot.
If you recognise any of those in the shoes you wear most, that is very likely where your callus is coming from.
What to look for in shoes for calluses
Shoes for calluses need a wide, deep toe box, soft uppers, seam-free linings, thick cushioning, a low heel and a removable insole: the features that take the pressure off a callus-prone foot.
A wide, rounded toe box with depth. Room for your toes to sit flat without pressing against the shoe or each other. You want width across the forefoot with a standard fit around the heel, so the shoe stays secure at the back while giving room where you actually need it. A shoe made wider all over can leave the heel loose, and a heel that slips creates its own friction.
The Calla Comfort Method does exactly this, with a standard width at the heel and an EE width across the toe box, so the shoe holds secure at the back while the forefoot gets room where calluses are most likely to form.
Soft leather or suede uppers. They give where your foot presses against them and soften further with wear. Leather is a natural product and allows your skin to breathe, plus it will stretch and give over time where you need it most. A stiff synthetic upper pushes back and does not break in the same way.
Seam-free linings. An overlay or a seam that sits over a bony prominence, the side of a bunion or the top of a hammer toe, will rub however wide the shoe is. A smooth, fully lined interior takes that friction away.
Calla lines the interior with lamb leather and adds a hidden stretch panel across the toe box, so the lining flexes gently over sensitive joints rather than pressing against them.
Thick, cushioned insoles with arch support. A cushioned, arch-supported insole spreads the load under your foot more evenly instead of concentrating it on the ball and heel. A removable moulded footbed (the shaped sole inside the shoe) is even better: it lifts out so you can use your own orthotics (custom insoles a podiatrist prescribes to redistribute pressure) if you need them.
A low, stable heel. A lower heel keeps your weight spread across the whole foot rather than pushed forward onto the ball. A thicker heel is better than a thin one for stability.
Adjustable fastenings. Laces, buckles or straps let you change the fit as your feet swell during the day. A shoe you cannot adjust at all may fit in the morning and press by the afternoon.
Match the shoe to where your callus is
Where your callus sits tells you what the shoe needs to fix. The skin thickens over the exact spot that takes the most pressure, so you can work out the cause yourself from where it sits.
Callus on the ball of your foot. Maximum cushioning underfoot. A thick, moulded insole with arch support spreads the load away from the ball, and a lower heel stops your weight shifting forward onto it.
Callus on the side of the big or little toe. Extra room in the toe box. The side callus forms where your toe presses against the side of the shoe, so width across the forefoot is the fix. If you have a bunion pushing the big-toe joint outward, a stretch panel or soft leather over that spot makes a noticeable difference.
Calluses on the tops of your toes. A deeper, softer toe box. This usually means the shoe is too shallow and the upper presses down on your raised knuckles, often from hammer toes. Depth over the toes, not just width beside them, is what you need.
Callus on your heel. A cushioned heel cup and a secure back. Heel calluses often come from shoes that slip, rubbing with every step. A standard-width heel with padding and a fastening that holds the shoe in place takes the friction away. Less barefoot walking on hard floors helps too.
Callus between your toes. A toe box wide enough that your toes are not squeezed together, and soft, breathable socks. A small, round, tender spot between the toes is more likely a corn than a callus, though. If it doesn't ease, see a podiatrist rather than trying to treat it yourself.
Callus from wearing heels. A lower heel height reduces the pitch of your foot (the angle between heel and toe). If you need some height, a shoe with a platform as well as a heel reduces that pitch and the pressure on the ball. A thicker heel adds stability.
Calla's lasts are shaped with an EE to EEE width across the forefoot and a standard width at the heel, so you get the toe room without the heel slipping, which avoids the calluses and blisters that come from sizing up for width.
Soft leather shoes that suit callus-prone feet
Soft leather and suede uppers give where your foot presses against them, which is exactly what callus-prone feet need. A quality leather upper moulds to the shape of your foot over the first few wears, softening the pressure on the spots where calluses tend to build up. Suede is particularly forgiving across the toe box because it stretches and gives without losing its shape. Neither demands the painful breaking-in that stiffer materials do.
A shoe built with extra width and volume in the toe area, soft stretch linings and a cushioned, arch-supported insole underneath does the work a callus-prone foot needs without looking or feeling like a medical shoe.
We design our shoes with that fit across trainers, flats, loafers, boots, heels and sandals, all handmade in small factories in the Porto region by master shoemakers, in the softest leathers we can find. You don't have to choose between looking after your feet and wearing shoes you love. You can see that across our shoes for bunions and wide feet.
Everyday. A trainer or soft, comfortable flat with a removable moulded footbed and a fully lined, seam-free toe box is a solid starting point.
Work. A loafer or brogue with a smooth interior and a leather lining keeps things comfortable across a full day.
Warmer months. Sandals with carefully positioned straps that cover and cushion rather than cut across a pressure point.
Colder months. A boot with a stretch panel and a soft leather lining gives room where you need it.
Measure both feet for length and width, standing up (your feet spread under your weight), and fit the shoes to whichever foot is larger. Try shoes later in the day when your feet have swollen to their fullest, and leave about a thumb's width between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. That space stops your toes pressing into the front and rubbing.
Width is the measurement most people miss. It is the distance around the widest part of your foot, not how long the shoe is, and it matters because a shoe that is too narrow across the forefoot is the single biggest cause of toe-side calluses. What you want is width in the toe box with a standard fit around the heel, so the shoe gives room over the widest part of your foot without slipping at the back and creating a different kind of friction.
Calla measures width as the circumference of the widest part of your foot, usually at the bunion, measured while standing so your foot spreads under your weight. If you want to get the width right to stop rubbing, the guide takes a couple of minutes.
Sizing up to get width is the wrong fix. When you size up in length to get the extra room, you end up with shoes that are too long. Your foot slides forward, your toes jam into the front of the shoe, and you're back to square one. The width needs to come from the fitting, not from a bigger size.
That is the principle behind Calla's varied width options: your feet need width, not length, and a shoe built that way lets you wear your true size with the room built into the fitting.
Soft, moisture-wicking socks make more difference than you might expect. Thin cotton socks hold sweat against the skin, which softens it and makes friction worse. A breathable pair reduces both.
Bunions, corns and other reasons calluses form
A callus builds over a pressure point, and in many cases the pressure point exists because of something structural in the foot. A bunion, a hammer toe, a naturally wide or high-arched foot, even the way you walk, can all create a spot that catches the inside of the shoe with every step. The skin thickens there because the contact never lets up.
If your callus keeps coming back despite wearing well-fitting shoes, the cause may not be the shoe at all. It may be a joint or a toe that sits where the shoe cannot avoid it, and the answer is room and soft give right where the bump is, not a shoe made bigger all over.
The right shoes ease the callus by reducing friction on that spot. They do not cure, straighten or stop a bunion getting worse, because only surgery changes the joint itself. But a shoe that gives room where the joint pushes and lines that area with something soft enough not to rub can make a real difference to the callus that forms over it.
Calluses or corns: how to tell them apart
Calluses are broad, flat patches of thickened skin that form over a weight-bearing area: the ball of the foot, the heel, the outside edge. They tend to be more uncomfortable than properly painful. Corns are different: small, round, with a hard or tender centre, they form on or between the toes where two bones press together or where the shoe presses on a joint.
A callus from a shoe that rubs will ease once you change the shoe. A corn between the toes usually needs a podiatrist to remove it safely, and the underlying pressure that caused it, often a toe that sits too high or too close to its neighbour, needs addressing too. If you're not sure which you have, it's worth getting a professional opinion before reaching for a pumice stone.
When bunions, hammer toes or foot shape are the cause
A bunion (known medically as hallux valgus) is, in the words of Ron McCulloch, a podiatric (foot) surgeon at the London Podiatry Centre, 'a deviation of the great toe, so that it moves towards the smaller toes.' The big-toe joint pushes outward so that it presses against the side of the shoe.
A hammer toe raises the toe knuckle so it catches the top. A naturally wide forefoot or a high arch puts more weight on the edges and the ball of the foot. Each of these creates a point of contact that the shoe rubs against, and the callus builds over it.
The fix is room and soft give right where the bump is. A wide toe box takes the pressure off the sides. A stretch panel or soft leather over the big-toe joint lets the shoe move with the bunion rather than pressing against it. Depth over the toes stops the upper bearing down on raised knuckles.
Podiatrist Claire Forbes of Forbes Feet recommends Calla's shoes for this reason, noting that the foot does 'not become impinged at the forefoot' because 'the shoe accommodates the forefoot.' None of these changes the shape of the foot.
You will also read, more or less everywhere, that the right shoes can stop a bunion getting worse. In fact, only surgery changes the joint itself. What the shoes do is reduce friction and pressure on the spot, which eases the callus and makes your bunion more comfortable to live with.
If your calluses are linked to a bunion or a hammer toe, our guide to bunion myths and facts goes deeper into what actually works and what doesn't.
Shoes that fit with room and cushioning where your foot needs them are the single biggest step towards stopping calluses coming back. If the shoe is still rubbing the same spot, the callus will keep building no matter what you do to your skin. Filing and cream treat the surface, but the shoe takes away the cause.
Rotate your shoes. Wearing the same pair every day concentrates the pressure on the same points. Alternating between two or three pairs gives each one time to air out and spreads the load across slightly different contact points.
Replace worn-out soles. A sole that has lost its cushioning passes more impact through to your foot. If it's worn flat under the ball or heel, the shoe is no longer doing its job.
Soften and file gently. Soaking your feet in warm water for ten to fifteen minutes softens the thickened skin enough to file it carefully with a pumice stone or foot file. Little and often is safer than trying to take off too much at once.
Moisturise. A thick foot cream after filing keeps the skin supple and less likely to crack. Dry, cracked calluses are more painful and more prone to splitting.
Pad the sore spot. A soft, cushioning pad over a callus that is still tender protects it while the shoe change takes effect.
Never cut a callus yourself. It's tempting, but cutting the skin at home risks infection and makes it worse. If a callus is thick enough that filing doesn't help, a podiatrist can remove it safely.
If you have calluses, wear shoes with a wide, deep toe box, soft seam-free uppers (leather or suede rather than stiff synthetics), thick cushioning, arch support and a low, stable heel. Skip narrow, pointed and high-heeled styles, which push your foot forward and concentrate pressure on the ball of your foot and your toes.
A removable insole is a bonus: it lets you swap in your own orthotics if a podiatrist has prescribed them. Calla's removable moulded footbed is deep enough to take an orthotic, and lifts out cleanly when your podiatrist prescribes something specific.
What do podiatrists recommend for calluses?
A podiatrist will typically remove the thickened skin professionally, advise on a footwear change to take the pressure off the spot, and recommend protective padding or custom orthotics where pressure needs spreading more evenly across your foot. They will almost always tell you not to cut calluses at home, because the risk of cutting too deep or introducing an infection is too high.
When should you see a podiatrist about calluses?
See a podiatrist when a callus is painful, cracks or bleeds, or keeps coming back despite changing your shoes. If you have diabetes or poor circulation, see a podiatrist about any callus rather than treating it yourself, because your skin heals more slowly and the risk of complications is higher.
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