Technique

I have a client who has been working on her feet for 36 years and is now developing painful calluses. How can I ease her pain?

March 01, 2003 | Bookmark +

I have a client who has been working on her feet for 36 years and is now developing painful calluses. How can I ease her pain? What’s best for calluses like these?

Answer

Calluses are built to protect your feet from friction. Certain skin types callus more easily and quickly — Mediterranean skin types and women of color. (I have found that African-American women can easily build a callus that is 1/2- inch deep in just two months!)

If they are deep and painful, the calluses should first be shaved by a podiatrist. Once this has been pared down, daily use of a uric acid cream (Carmol 20 over-the-counter or Carmol 40 in prescription strength) or lactic acid preparation (AmLactin over-the- counter or Lac-Hydrin by prescription) in the morning and at night will remove skin and help prevent build-up. Sometimes in a very high arched foot, an arch support with a soft extension can be custom-fabricated to your foot. They are expensive ($400 in my office), but a necessity for certain people. If it is not prohibited in your area, I see no problem with an experienced, competent pedicurist using a credo blade to reduce built-up callus. A fresh blade should be used each time. Check with your state board for local regulations. — Dr. Johanna Youner

 

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How can I prevent lifting when my client's hands are constantly in water?

I have a client who is in the medical field so her hands are constantly in water. She has me keep the length of her acrylic nails short. No matter what I do, she always has at least one nail that comes off, and she always has lifting and gets water under the acrylic. I prep the nails correctly, I have a cuticle bit to clean the cuticle area, and I wipe the nail with alcohol, dehydrate the nail, and prime the nail. What should I do?

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