Which condition is caused by pressure or friction and typically forms on the soles of the feet or hands?

• A. Burns
• B. Calluses
• C. Cold Sores
• D. Warts

Answer: (B)

Pressure or friction prompts the skin to thicken as a protective response, forming a callus. On the soles of the feet or on the hands, this shows up as a broad patch of hardened skin. Calluses are usually painless unless they get very thick or crack, which helps explain why they develop in places that experience repeated rubbing or weight bearing. This distinguishes them from burns, which are tissue damage from heat or chemicals; cold sores, which are caused by a virus (HSV) and typically appear on the mouth or face; and warts, which are caused by human papillomavirus and are not a direct result of friction (though plantar warts can occur on the feet, they’re viral, not due to pressure).