Keratoderma

Keratin is the hard, waterproof protein that forms the outermost layer of our skin. It is also this hair and our nails are made of that form the horns and hooves of animals. ‘Derma’ refers to the skin. Keratoderma is a collective term for any thickening keratin layer in your skin.

There are a number of conditions and diseases that can cause this and it can occur on different parts of the body.

Usually, however, it is found on the feet and it is most often due to bad shoes, work or sports that over time have led to a lot of pressure in a particular place. To protect the foot, thicker skin forms and a hard core may appear in the middle. This nucleus can be experienced as a thorn sticking into the subcutaneous tissue and being painful. It is often called corns.