Mary is an avid weightlifter so she wasn’t surprised when a few calluses started to form on her hands from all the strain on her muscles. However, something didn’t feel quite right about the callus on her left hand- it was painful, unlike the others which had been worn down over time with no discomfort.
She wondered if she was having some sort of allergic reaction to the new weightlifting equipment that was just installed in her gym.
After doing some research, she soon realized that what she thought were calluses were actually warts!
Due to their similarity in appearance, it can be difficult to tell the difference between calluses and warts but understanding this distinction is very important in order to properly treat either one.
With Mary’s newfound knowledge of these minor skin conditions, let’s take a deeper dive into identifying the differences between calluses and warts.
Calluses vs Warts: What’s the Difference?
Calluses and warts are two skin conditions that can look very similar. It is important to be able to recognize the differences between them so that you know how to properly care for your skin.
In this blog, we will discuss what calluses and warts look like, the differences between them, and natural treatments for each condition.
Introduction to Calluses & Warts
Calluses are thickened areas of skin that form in response to friction or pressure. They often appear on the hands, feet, and elbows as a result of repetitive motions from activities such as lifting weights, gardening or playing a musical instrument.
Calluses can also form on the toes from wearing ill-fitting shoes or on the palms of your hands from gripping barbells or dumbbells during weightlifting. Calluses typically appear as yellowish-brown patches of skin that may be slightly raised but are not usually painful unless they become inflamed.
Warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and appear as small growths with a rough texture on any part of the body. They may be flesh-colored, pink, or brownish in color with small black dots inside them—these black dots are actually clotted blood vessels. Warts can be painful if they press against nerves in your feet or hands.
What’s the Difference Between Calluses & Warts?
The main difference between calluses and warts is their cause; calluses are caused by friction while warts are caused by HPV infections.
Additionally, calluses are more likely to appear on areas where there is repeated friction such as the hands and feet while warts can appear anywhere on the body including face, neck, knees, etc., depending on which strain of HPV is present.
How to Care For Calluses & Warts Naturally
Caring for a callus naturally
The best way to care for both calluses and warts is to keep them clean and dry by washing them daily with soap and water.
Additionally, if you have a callus you should use an emery board or pumice stone to gently file away dead skin cells every few days in order to prevent buildup of hard layers of skin that could cause pain or discomfort when walking or moving around.
Caring for a wart naturally
If you have a wart it is important not to pick at it because this can spread the infection further.
5 Great Ways to Care for Warts Naturally
Essential Oils: Essential oils like tea tree and frankincense have powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the size and visibility of warts.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Topically applying apple cider vinegar helps to break down warts and boost the skin’s healing process with its acidic properties.
Garlic: Garlic is another natural remedy because its active compounds work well in reducing inflammation, clearing away bacteria, and boosting circulation for wart removal.
Potter’s Clay: A paste made out of potter’s clay or zeolites can provide your skin with a slew of minerals while also helping to soothe irritated skin caused by warts and kill any fungus or bacteria present in them as well.
Banana Peels: Applying banana peels on warts is another natural way to care for them as they contain enzymes which can soften the wart over time until it eventually falls off naturally due to increased circulation in the area contained within their pulp and peelings which break down the wart faster than normal.
Western treatments for Common Calluses & Warts
We do not recommend these as first choice solutions to heal warts or calluses because we encourage natural solutions first. We are listing these to show you what Western medicine suggests.
- For more severe cases of either condition there are several treatments available at your local pharmacy including: cryotherapy (freezing)
- laser therapy (burning)
- salicylic acid treatment which will help break down dead tissue until eventually it falls off
- chemical peels (acid application)
These treatments should only be used as last resort because they often come with unwanted side effects such as scarring or discoloration of skin cells surrounding the affected area which could potentially cause further irritation/pain later down the line if not treated correctly/professionally.
Concluding thoughts about the callus vs wart distinction
Knowing how to differentiate between callus versus wart will help you make sure that you know how best to care for your skin condition so that it does not worsen over time.
Both conditions tend to worsen if left untreated due too excessive build-up of dead or infected tissue cells forming underneath layers upon layers of harden/toughened up protective outer layers.
This makes it difficult for topical treatments penetrate deep enough into affected area(s) without causing further damage.
It’s important also keep in mind that infection caused by HPV virus can spread quite easily through contact with other people’s skins so always practice good hygiene habits when dealing with these types of conditions!
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