Pinch Punch! I’ve only gone gotten a pinch callosity

Do you have calluses somewhere in your foot?  Did you know that they are one of the most common types of calluses usually seen in athletes?

A pinch callus or tyloma forms along the ridge of skin that is pinched.  The origin word for Tyloma is Greek, derived from the word “tyloma” (τύλωμα), which means “callus” or “thickened skin”.  An example of this is on the inner side or under side of the big toe joint.  It commonly exists as a result of a big toe functional deformity called hallux limitus, which is characterised by a stiff big toe joint.  Or it can also be that hard skin ridge that runs up the base of your painful small toe/fifth toe.  Sometimes, they will also become very hard, bleed, crack, painful, infected, blister, or form fissures.

In a toe, proper footwear is a big factor to consider.  When you wear your shoes, your baby toe is forced inwards and is now the lowest point of your foot.  From the name itself, it’s created when your skin is squeezed.  Every step grinds as well as pinches that thin ridge at the end.  A yellow crest is visible atop in a pointed taper, and as time goes by it takes on a life of its own.

However, big toe pinch callus is the rough yellow skin that forms on your inner big toe.  This lump of pinch callus on your big toe means your joint is jammed up.  Instead of moving forward – like a slinky downstairs – your big toe twists off to the side.

What causes pinch callus?