Calluses & Cracked Heels Treatment — Podiatry in Canary Wharf, London

Callus is thickened, largely insensitive skin, so a podiatrist can usually pare it away with a sterile scalpel without discomfort, and most people feel immediate relief from pressure. Tell us if anything feels tender. If a heel has cracked deeply or become inflamed, we treat the area gently and dress it to help it heal.

Calluses are the skin's response to pressure and friction, so they return until the underlying load is reduced. Footwear, foot mechanics, dry skin, and prolonged standing all play a part. We pair hard-skin removal with a biomechanical assessment and a heel-care regime, so we address the cause rather than just the symptom.

Mild dry skin often responds to a daily urea-based foot cream and well-fitting, cushioned footwear, as the NHS advises. However, you should never cut hard skin yourself or use over-the-counter acid corn plasters. If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or reduced sensation in your feet, do not self-treat — book a podiatrist instead.

Treat any foot skin problem cautiously and have it assessed by a podiatrist. People with diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or neuropathy must not self-treat or use acid corn plasters, as these can cause ulcers and serious infection. A deep, bleeding, or fissured heel needs professional care; book with our HCPC-registered podiatrists for safe debridement.

Seek same-day medical care if a heel fissure shows signs of spreading infection — increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, a bad smell, or red streaks — or if you feel unwell or feverish. People with diabetes or poor circulation should act on any open wound urgently. Contact NHS 111, your GP, or A&E if symptoms escalate quickly.