The so-called writer's calluses are unsightly, annoying and even painful. They are caused by the pressure of the pen or pencil on the finger while writing. Although it is possible to remove them, by changing some habits you can reduce their size naturally and avoid recurrence. Change the way you hold your pencil, buy a new pen or paper, or change your work habits.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Changing the Handle
Step 1. Evaluate the grip
Grab the tool you usually use for writing and grab a piece of paper. Write a few sentences focusing on the sensations transmitted by the pen (or pencil) to the hand. Try to think about how much pressure you are putting on your finger and callus. Next, observe the fingers you use to hold and stabilize the pencil, paying attention to the contact surface between the tool and the callus.
Step 2. Loosen your grip
If you feel that you are grasping the pen too tightly or if the pressure the tool exerts causes pain on your fingers, release your grip a little. Practice writing with more relaxed hand muscles and check the callus after a week to see if it has shrunk. To follow this advice you need to make a conscious effort: do not lose sight of your goal as you write, otherwise you will automatically return to old habits.
Step 3. Maintain a light touch
Sometimes corns are not caused by a wrong grip, but by the pressure exerted on the paper when writing. If you find that you press the pencil too hard on the paper, try to reduce the pressure. Keep practicing to write with a lighter, more delicate touch.
- One way to tell if you are pressing too hard is to look at the traces on the paper. Turn the paper over and see if there are any raised marks on the other side.
- Also consider if it happens too often to break the tip of the pencil. Everyone gets into this little accident at one time or another, but if it happens several times a day, it means you're applying too much pressure.
- Also check what happens if you stop pressing. If the letters are still dark and noticeable, it means you were previously pressing too hard.
Step 4. Change the grip completely
There are many techniques for holding the pencil. Most people who suffer from writer's callus show skin thickening on the middle finger, at the knuckle just below the nail, because they use a three-point grip where the middle finger holds the pencil. Although this is the most common grip, there are other styles: try placing the instrument on the ring finger or holding it between the thumb and the tips of the first two fingers.
Part 2 of 3: Purchase New Equipment
Step 1. Buy a tool to facilitate the grip
It is often used to help young children develop good writing habits, but at the same time it cushions the grip a little. Go to a specialty stationery or office supply store to find these types of devices. Choose models made from soft rubber or foam rubber. If you use mechanical pencils or ballpoint pens, consider switching to models with a soft grip.
Step 2. Try new pencils or pens
If you find yourself pressing the tool too hard on the paper, look for patterns that allow you to create smoother lines; this way you don't have to apply too much pressure to make dark, legible lines. Less friction can help reduce the size of the callus.
- Try different pencils. While most are available with a standard HB hardness lead, some draw smoother lines than others. Make a few purchases and try different brands of wooden pencils and mechanical pencils to figure out which one you prefer. If no tool helps you control the pressure you exert, consider buying a pencil with a softer lead than the HB: however, remember that when it is softer it tends to smudge more easily.
- Switch from pencils to pens. The choice between the two tools is just a matter of personal preference and school or office regulations. However, pens typically offer a smoother stroke, creating more legible lines and allowing you to loosen your grip.
- Buy gel pens. Highly colorful and vibrant ones are usually not particularly popular at school, but black or blue pens with gel ink can help treat callus. They come in different types, and many fine art stores allow you to try them on before you buy them. Do some tests and choose the product that improves your grip the most.
Step 3. Choose smoother paper
Different brands of notebooks use different types of paper with different textures. Some are soft and smooth, while others have a rough surface that creates a lot of friction. The greater the friction between the writing instrument and the paper, the greater the pressure exerted to hold the instrument; as a result, the callus becomes thicker. Look at several notebooks at a stationery or office supply store and choose the one that offers the smoothest, slippery paper.
Step 4. Cover the callus area with patches or a gel cap
You can find them in the pharmacy and supermarket. Use them to cover the areas on your fingers that hold the pen. It should help prevent the pressure from making the problem worse.
Part 3 of 3: Changing Your Habits
Step 1. Type on your computer instead of writing by hand
If you are able to use it, replace pen and paper with the laptop. Typing on the keyboard is quicker and easier than handwriting, and you can give some relief to the callus. If you are in school and are not allowed to use computers, try to write by hand only in class and when you really need to. For all homework, use the computer.
Step 2. Write on a hard surface
This way you can produce darker marks with less effort and, as a result, you can loosen your grip. You can use a clipboard or other hard surface to put under the pages of a notebook.
Step 3. Record lectures or conferences
If the cause of your callus is due to the endless days spent taking notes, reduce your workload. Use a laptop, smartphone, or digital recorder to record the lecture and listen to it later instead of rereading your notes. The corns will disappear on their own after a few weeks of rest; you will notice big improvements after a semester of audio recording.
You could also use speech recognition software that automatically types what a person says. Such a solution would give you the double benefit of having notes recorded and written in a single step without physically writing anything
Step 4. Write less and remember more
Just like recording and typing on a computer, developing memory skills also allows you to reduce the amount of information you have to write. Improve your memory by engaging in games that train your brain, using techniques for remembering (for example, using some words that stand for the information you need to memorize), sleeping better or simply practicing paying more attention in class. With a little practice and effort you will be able to save some stress on your fingers.
Advice
- If the callus does not reduce using one technique, switch to another method. Experiment with all the necessary remedies until you find the right combination that suits you.
- Go to fine art stores and try out different pencils, pens, and types of paper. These retailers typically offer a much wider choice than office supply stores.
- Be patient. Even if you stop applying pressure to the callus, it takes several weeks for it to go away.
