Causes of Corns and Calluses
This month’s blog – Causes of Corns and Calluses.
Corns and calluses are areas of hard skin that develop due to excessive pressure or friction. They commonly occur on the feet and can cause pain and discomfort when you walk.
Podiatrists are trained to use sharp instruments in order to remove efficiently any corns and calluses from your feet. The process is pain free and will leave your skin smooth and feeling great!
Regular podiatry treatments can improve the condition of your feet and improve your well-being.
Corns
Corns are small, localised areas of hard skin that usually develop on the top of the toes or the bottom of your feet. However, they can occur anywhere, even in between your toes.
Corns are caused by:
Abnormal foot mechanics – any foot deformity will change the way you walk. This results in certain areas of your foot rubbing more against the shoe, resulting in corns and calluses.
Corns often occur on bony feet, as there is a lack of natural cushioning. They can also develop as a symptom of another foot problem, such as:
- a bunion– where the joint of the big toe sticks outwards as the big toe begins to point towards the other toes on the same foot
- hammer toe – where the toe is bent at the middle joint
Wearing poorly fitting shoes – shoes that are too loose can allow your foot to slide and rub. Certain shoe designs that place excessive pressure on specific areas of the foot – for example, high-heeled shoes can squeeze the toes.
Calluses and Hard Skin
Calluses are hard, rough areas of skin and are often yellowish in colour. They usually develop at the bottom of your feet, around the heel area or on the skin under the ball of your feet. They can also occur on the palms of your hands due to the friction from wearing rings.
Calluses are larger than corns and don’t have such a well-defined edge. They develop when the skin rubs against something, such as a bone, a shoe or the ground. They often form over the ball of your foot because this area takes most of your weight when you walk.
Activities that put repeated pressure on the foot, such as running or walking barefoot, can cause calluses to form. Other possible causes of calluses include:
- dry skin
- reduced fatty padding – elderly people have less fatty tissue in their skin
- regularly holding objects such as a hammer or racquet
Treating corns and calluses
If you have a corn on your foot, you should see a podiatrist, who can advise you about treatment. Your GP may be able to refer you on the NHS, however if your condition is unlikely to affect your health or mobility you may not be eligible for NHS treatment.
Corns will not simply disappear without treatment. You can help reduce corns and callouses by soaking your hands or feet in warm, soapy water to soften them. This can make it easier to rub the corn or callus with a pumice stone, nail file, emery board or washcloth to help remove a layer of toughened skin.
DO NOT use a medicated corn plaster under no circumstances, especially if you have any medical conditions such as Diabetes.
The corn plasters work by using salicylic acid (keratolytic agent) to soften the corn. If the hard “plug” is soft, it places less pressure on the nerve endings in the skin, reducing pain.
Corn Plasters do not remove the corn permanently and they can cause serious damage to your skin, even infections. That is because unfortunately, the salicylic acid in corn plasters cannot distinguish between healthy skin and corn and can burn the skin quite severely spreading to surrounding healthy skin.
Causes of Corns and Calluses – Solved!
At Medipod Clinics we take great care of your feet. Our experienced staff will treat your feet with the respect and attention they deserve. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs. If you are not sure what you need, that’s okay too. With our knowledge and enthusiasm for footcare, we will be able to advise you on the right treatment for you.
We also offer verruca treatments, nail surgery, diabetic footcare and sports injuries management. I can assure you that we will do our best to exceed your expectations.
For more information and to get in touch, please contact us on 01455 246100. Or, you’re welcome to pop in and visit us at 45 Rugby Rd, Hinckley, LE10 0QA – we will be delighted to see you!
Thank you for reading this month’s blog – Causes of Corns and Calluses.