Our skin is a huge organ that often tends to be neglected. However, more and more people (mostly women) are seeking ways to keep their skin happy and healthy. Cosmetics companies are more than happy to oblige. Plenty of products sit on the shelves, waiting to save you from dry skin, oily skin, combination skin, acne, and other typical skin issues. You may have the right foundation, a great hand lotion, and a sure-fire way of keeping acne at bay, but what about other possible skin problems? It is not just the weather and your body makeup that can affect your skin in adverse ways.

Corns, calluses, blisters, and infections are just as much of a threat as sunburn. Most people tend to associate those problems with the feet, and while this is true, they can occasionally appear elsewhere on your body, such as hands or elbows, depending upon your work and/or your personal habits.

A corn is a thickened area of skin and is most often found on your feet, especially on top of fingers or toes, but can also appear on the plantar surface of your foot. A corn is like a specially formed callus due to a constant circular movement of a surface against your skin. If this type of stimulation continues to occur, even if the corn is removed the skin can still grow to create another.

Calluses are lesser forms of skin abrasion when compared to corns, but are no less unattractive and sometimes irritating. Because of constant pressure the skin grows in thicker to help pad the area. Calluses are not often painful and though they may seem unpleasant, some people actually hope to get them, such as string instrument players’ hands.

However, others may have no real need for them, such as if you play too many video games and get calluses from the handheld controllers. These also often occur on the feet due to shoe pressure.

Blisters can come from constant irritation on the skin as well as from heat (and that includes sunburn!), contact with chemicals, or frostbite. They occur when the first layer of your skin separates from the second and fluid fills in the space as the skin takes the time it needs to re-grow underneath.

Infections can occur with any one of the previous skin problems. If you continue to allow a corn to grow or puncture a blister or forgo treatment in any severe case, your skin will be prone to infection. Infections can be painful and take more time to treat then the initial problem, so do all you can to avoid getting one.

So how do you fix up a blister or a callus? Before you look to that, first remember that the best medicine is preventative medicine; keep your feet, hands, and any other body parts safe from friction, burns, and other such problems.

If your shoes are causing corns to form on your feet, get new shoes or find some way to adjust them. Sometimes the simple act of tying your shoelaces tighter so your shoe does not move against your skin when you walk can make all the difference. Working with chemicals that can burn or otherwise irritate your skin should mean you need to wear protective gloves to keep your hands safe.

Already having one of these annoying skin problems can mean a trip to the doctor. There are some means of treatment you can buy at your local drugstore that can help ease pressure, such as molefoam, specially created pads for corns, medicated disks, and liquid remover. However, if none of these work or things are getting worse, surgical removal may be your final option.

By making sure your feet stay clean, dry, and have a pair of comfy shoes to settle in, you shouldn’t have any problems. Take close care of your hands and pay attention when you work or do other activities that may abrade your skin.

Use plenty of sunscreen to avoid painful sunburns that can lead to blistering. In short, if you pay close attention to your skin and treat it right, it will stay strong and healthy for years to come.