Grotesque video reveals the sole of a foot covered in thick, cracked and yellow skin

Gruesome video shows person picking at the thick, cracked and yellow skin on the sole of their foot

  • The video was shared on the US-based Facebook page, Medical Sharing
  • The person, thought to be a man, may have a condition called hyperkeratosis
  • During the clip they try but are unable to pick off any of the hardened skin

A revolting video has revealed the sight of a foot covered in a callus so thick it can be diagnosed as a medical condition.

The minute-long clip shows the person, who’s thought to be a man, touching the sole of their right foot.

The skin is thick, yellow, cracked and looks rock-solid when the hand tries to pick at parts of it with a thumbnail.

A skin expert identified the cause of the skin’s condition as an illness called hyperkeratosis, in which too many layers of skin, made of keratin, are produced.  

The skin on the foot is thick, yellow, cracked and looks rock-solid when the person’s hand tries to pick at parts of it with a thumbnail

The video was shared on the US-based Facebook page Medical Sharing and has been viewed more than 13million times.

Nobody speaks in the clip, which starts off as though it will show a satisfying removal of the dead skin or at least some small parts picked off.

But the skin is so tough, resembling cracked earth in a desert, that none of it can be removed and the person just flicks and prods it.

A podiatrist at footcare experts Margaret Dabbs London, Robert Duff, told The Sun: ‘It’s a skin condition known as plantar hyperkeratosis, where excess keratin is produced by the body to thicken the skin in certain places, soles of the feet being a common area.’

Mr Duff said eczema and psoriasis are forms of the common condition, as are calluses, corns and warts – which may all have different causes.

The state of the foot is thought to be caused by a condition called hyperkeratosis, in which the body produces too much excess skin which leads to it layering up and becoming thick

The state of the foot is thought to be caused by a condition called hyperkeratosis, in which the body produces too much excess skin which leads to it layering up and becoming thick

The person tries to pick off parts of the tough skin but it cannot be moved. An expert said moisturising may help prevent it forming but now a podiatrist will have to remove it

The person tries to pick off parts of the tough skin but it cannot be moved. An expert said moisturising may help prevent it forming but now a podiatrist will have to remove it

He added: ‘The reason it affects the feet is because it’s an area of increased pressure from standing and walking.

‘In terms of treatment, sufferers should see a podiatrist regularly who will debride the callus using a scalpel blade.’

Comfortable, padded shoes could reduce the risk of growths developing and moisturiser may help soften the skin, Mr Duff said.

WHAT IS HYPERKERATOSIS? 

Hyperkeratosis is a medical condition in which the skin on certain parts of the body becomes particularly thick.

It is caused by an overdevelopment of keratin, a tough protein which makes up hair, skin and nails.

Extra keratin may be produced to protect the skin beneath if it is exposed to regular damage or friction, which is how calluses are formed.

If this process is allowed to get out of control and the skin becomes thick and hard, hyperkeratosis may be diagnosed and medical help may be needed to correct it.

Hyperkeratosis comes in various forms and psoriasis, eczema, warts and corns are included as types of the condition.

To try and avoid the condition people can wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes; avoid going barefoot in public places; avoid eczema triggers and wear sunscreen to protect from sun damage.

Thick build-ups of skin can be removed by skin specialists and potentially reduced using moisturising creams.

Source: Medical News Today 

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