Callus on finger-Causes, Home remedies to get rid of them, Prevention

Callus on finger is a very common problem amongst people who use their fingers repeatedly for various purposes. Callus is a layer of skin which has become hardened or thickened due to repeated irritation, pressure, rubbing or friction. Calluses are also common on feet as we put regular pressure on our feet while walking.

People often think “I have a callus on my finger. I don’t know what to do about it”. But, here in this article, we shall discuss in detail all the causes of calluses and also the home remedies to get rid of the calluses.

Callus on finger causes:

The main cause of developing Callus on finger is applying repeated pressure on the same spot of the finger. This makes the skin of the finger hard and thick. This area of the finger is called as callus on finger. Let us see what all activities lead to the development of callus in fingers due to repeated friction.

Writing frequently:

When you keep on writing frequently, you exert frequent pressure over your middle and index fingers, as you hold the pen with these fingers. So, the area of the middle and index fingers where you hold the pen or pencil becomes hard and appears like callus on finger. This is very common amongst the writers, students who write more especially during exams or for homework, and also in people who do pencil sketches.

Rock climbers:

Rock climbing is a very difficult task by itself. It requires a lot of stamina, concentration along with the use of hands to hold the rocks while climbing. Due to friction and pressure exerted by the rocks on the hands of the rock climbers, their hands develop calluses, including the finger calluses.

Musicians:

Music is very soothing, and it rejuvenates and relaxes us. But, playing music is definitely not a piece of cakewalk. It requires a lot of patience, consistent effort from the musicians. Musicians who play a violin, guitar, and other musical instruments with strings, tend to exert repeated pressure over their fingers to play the music. This can lead to the formation of callus on finger, mainly on the front and sides of the fingertips.

Are you fond of drumbeats? If so, do you have any idea how much drummers use their fingers to produce pleasant drumbeats? Due to using their fingers often, drummers also develop callus on finger.

Workers at constructions sites:

Workers at construction sites handle mud, gravel, rocks, etc which are used for construction purposes. Handling rough things with their hands makes them develop the callus on finger and hands.

Weightlifters:

Weightlifters use their hands to hold a lot of weight. This weight exerts tremendous pressure over their fingers and hands, making them develop callus on finger.

Handling harmful chemicals:

Handling harmful chemical substances can also damage the soft tissues of the hand, and develop finger calluses. So, you need to be really cautious if you work in any chemical industry by wearing gloves to protect your fingers.

Chefs and chef assistants:

People who use the knife a lot also tend to develop callus in finger due to the friction between the knife and the fingers.

Sportspersons:

People who play sports of various sorts can also develop callus on finger. This can be seen in people who handle the ball like basketball, volleyball, etc, and also in gymnasts who use their hands a lot while performing gymnastics.

Craftspersons:

Are you fond of crafts and arts? If so, you already know that you use your fingers and hands a lot while knitting and stitching. This pressure over your fingers can also lead to the formation of callus on finger.

Syphilis:

Apart from severe friction, pressure and harmful chemicals, there are diseases which can damage the superficial layer of the skin to make it hard and thick, leading to callus on finger formation. Syphilis is one good example of such a disease which forms finger callus. It also affects the genital organs, the skin, brain, etc in various stages of the disease.

Home remedies to get rid of callus on finger:

There are many effective home remedies to get rid of callus on fingers. Let us delve into them in detail.

Warm water soak therapy:

Soaking the hands in warm water is very effective in getting rid of the callus on finger. We need to follow it properly and consistently to see good results.

Steps of warm water soaking:

• Take a tub or large vessel filled with lukewarm water.
• Add 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt to the warm water and mix well.
• If you have very hard callus, then you can use ½ cup of apple cider vinegar to the warm water instead of the Epsom salt.
• Then soak your hands in the warm water tub for 10 to 15 minutes.
• This makes the callus on finger and hands soft.
• Then scrub your hands having callus with a pumice stone.
• Be sure to scrub gently, and don’t apply excess pressure.
• Then wash the hands and remove the skin which is scrapped using pumice stone.
• Then pat the hands dry.
• Then apply a moisturizing lotion or petroleum jelly over the hands and fingers.

When to do:

• You can follow this remedy anytime of the day.
• You need to do it once every day for few days continuously.
• You might even need to do it continuously every day for a month or so.
• Here patience is the key.
• Don’t overdo or over scrub the hands with a pumice stone, as it can aggravate the skin irritation further.

Caution:

• People having Diabetes should not use this pumice stone remedy. They can simple soak their hands in warm water without Epsom salt to facilitate softening of the callus on finger.
• This is because even minor injuries of the skin take a prolonged time to heal in Diabetic people.

Vinegar remedy:

• Take 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
• Then dip a cotton swab or cotton ball into it.
• Then rub the callus on finger with it gently.
• Attach the vinegar dipped cotton ball to the callus on finger for few hours.
• Then remove the cotton ball.
• Scrub the callus with a pumice stone.
• Then wash with lukewarm water, and pat your hands dry.
• Then apply moisturizing lotion just like the warm water soak remedy above.

Pineapple remedy:

• Pineapple s rich in enzymes which help to soften the calluses.
• Just make some juice of fresh pineapple.
• Then dip a cotton ball into the pineapple juice and attach it to the callus on finger.
• Leave this overnight or for few hours.
• Then wash the hands and pat dry.
• If you repeat this process daily for 10 to 15 days, you will surely notice some improvement in your callus on finger.

Baking soda remedy:

• Baking soda also has a property of softening the callus on finger.
• Just take 2 tablespoons of baking soda and add it to a warm water tub.
• Soak your hands in it for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Then you can use a pumice stone to remove the hard layer over the callus.
• Then pat dry, and moisturize your hands.
• You can use a moisturizing lotion or Aloe vera gel or Petroleum jelly to moisturize your hands and fingers after using a pumice stone.
• This surely helps to get rid of the calluses with consistent practice.

Prevention of callus on finger:

• Try to avoid repeated friction over the hands and fingers, as this is the main reason for developing callus on finger.
• If continuously using a hand for any purpose, try to give rest for that hand for few hours. Meanwhile, use another hand if required.
• Soak your hands in warm water every day at night, pat dry, and apply moisturizer even if you don’t have callus on finger. This acts as a preventive measure to prevent callus in fingers.
• Remove rings or any ornament over fingers which can exert continuous pressure once in a while.
• Use pressure-relieving pads to give good relief from friction over the hands and fingers.

You have seen all the possible causes of callus on finger, home remedies to get rid of these calluses and ways in which you can prevent them from developing. Hope you liked the article.