Let's face it, as painful as calluses and corns can be, their recurring nature makes them equally frustrating to deal with over and over. Let us find out why they recur and how they can be better managed.
An average person spends several hours per day on his/her feet; whether standing, walking, running or performing other activities. Each activity puts pressure on your feet that is equivalent to or more than the weight of your body. As such, the body has a mechanism in place to protect itself against friction, pressure, wounds and other injuries in the form of skin. Areas of the body that are likely to undergo most pressure and friction develop thicker layer of skin which is known as calluses or corns. Skin is the largest organ of our body and is comprised of 3 layers: epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The epidermis is further divided into 5 layers, the first of which is called the stratum corneum which is visible to the naked eye. The skin on the soles of feet is unique because it has the thickest layer of stratum corneum as a protective measure against friction and pressure from bearing the weight of our body. However, when this is not enough, the body may develop calluses and corns.
Calluses vs. Corns
First, it is important to know that calluses and corns are not the same thing.
Callus
Calluses generally develop on weightbearing parts of the feet such as heels, and balls of the feet and appear with thick white/yellow skin layers. Size of calluses can vary and if accompanied with excessive dry skin can lead to fissures or cracked skin; most commonly on the heels. This can be both painful and a risk factor for developing open sores (ulcers) and/or infections.
Corns
Corns are usually smaller than calluses and have a hard center core that is surrounded by thick, inflamed skin. Unlike calluses, corns are very painful. They are usually visibly prominent and palpable on the skin surface. They do not always occur on weightbearing parts of foot and can be found on tops of toes or even in between toes. Clogged sweat pores and bony deformities like hammertoes can lead to formation of corns.
Causes
By far the largest causes of calluses and corns are due to pressure and friction from repetitive actions. The ways in which pressure and friction develop can be due to the following:
Underlying bony deformity, such as bunions, hammer toes, or bony prominences.
Ill fitting shoe gear. Too tight and foot is squeezed increasing pressure. Too loose and the foot is sliding creating friction.
Ill fitting socks or skipping socks. This can also cause friction leading to calluses.
Treatment
If you are healthy, the treatment for calluses and corns can be simple and effective with many home remedies and over the counter modalities which are further discussed below.
However, if you have any underlying conditions such as poor eyesight, diabetes, lack of feeling in the feet (peripheral neuropathy), poor circulation, or bony deformities, you may be at a greater risk of complications from calluses and corns. With these conditions, you should not attempt to manually reduce calluses or corns at home. Seek medical attention from a podiatrist.
The podiatrist may trim the callus or corn using a scalpel to alleviate pain and achieve normal contour of the skin. He or she may also start by obtaining X-rays of the foot to better understand the underlying bone structure of the foot. If the podiatrist discovers underlying problems such as a toe deformity, or a bunion, he or she may recommend correcting it in order to address the root cause of the callus or corn. Most corrective surgeries are done on an outpatient basis. Talk to your podiatrist to understand if a surgical correction is appropriate for you.
Prevention
You can take some precautions at home to prevent the buildup of calluses and corns and to keep your symptoms manageable.
Limit barefoot walking. To reduce direct pressure to the feet and prevent friction to the skin.
Wear supportive shoe gear that is appropriately sized.
Use inserts (over the counter or custom molded) to help balance the feet.
Hydrate your skin with a cream to prevent dry skin and cracks. Be careful using lotions, many of them can contain alcohol which further dries the skin. Refrain from applying creams in between the toes.
Use non-medicated pads, silicone toe sleeves, or crest pads to protect vulnerable areas of the feet. Be careful with using over the counter medicated callus and corn patches or medicine. Many of them can irritate and harm the surrounding healthy skin, causing infections if not used appropriately or used for something that may resemble a callus, but is in fact something different such as a wart.
Manually reduce calluses using a pumice stone. The best time is during or immediately after shower/bath. The water helps to soften the skin, making it easier to remove the thick skin. Keep in mind that pumice stone or other commercially available callus reducers may not be effective at reducing corns due to the thick core that is deeply seeded in the skin.
If you are unsure about treating your calluses and corns at home or have any underlying conditions such as poor eyesight, diabetes, lack of feeling in the feet (peripheral neuropathy), poor circulation, or bony deformities, be sure to consult with your podiatrist prior to starting any at home therapy for calluses and corns.
Comments