Corns and calluses — My Care Health

Caused by pressure and footwear
Sometimes pressure can become uneven and friction occurs on certain areas of the foot
Increased pressure and friction causes the body to produce a thickening layer of skin, which does not shed
Hard patches of skin are called calluses
They are a defense mechanism to protect the underlying tissue
If the cause of the increased pressure is not relieved, then calluses can become painful
Often found on the balls of the feet and on the heels
Are painless when removed by a podiatrist

Are made by the same reasons as calluses, however it is pressure in a concentrated area
Usually small and ‘hard’
Are usually soft in between the toes, can be moist and rubbery
Corns between the toes are due to footwear and the toes rubbing from friction
Can be associated with inflammation around the area
Can cause pain, swelling and redness
Often found between the toes, on the balls of the feet, at the end of the toes and on top of the toes
Sometimes a central ‘core’ can be seen

Underlying bio-mechanical problem or footwear
Can be early warning signs of a complex foot disorder
Continuous pressure in one particular area
May indicate abnormalities in deformity in bone structure or the way a person walks
Poor fitting or inappropriate footwear

Any person can develop them
They are the most common type of foot complication
Some people have a more tendency than others, due to their foot shape and skin type
Elderly people have less fatty tissue and elasticity, therefore a lack of padding makes the foot more susceptible to abnormal pressures
People spending large amounts of time on their feet are prone to developing calluses

They should be assessed and treated by a podiatrist before ‘self podiatry’ is attempted
It is illegal for a beautician or nail salon to use a sharp instrument that could break the skin on corns and calluses
A podiatrist assesses the cause of the increased pressure and then remove the hard skin
Over-the-counter remedies such as corn pain or plasters generally only treat the symptoms- not the problem
Over-the-counter remedies can easily damage the healthy surrounding the corn if not applied properly
Commercial preparations should only be utilised under professional advice
Treatment by a podiatrist is painless and they are easily removed, they do not hurt after they are removed
Podiatrists help also by isolating the cause and develop strategies to prevent the problem recurring
Podiatrists re-distribute the pressure on the foot with padding, strapping or deflective devices that fit into footwear
Shock absorption can be placed into the footwear if the lack of fatty padding is the cause of the pressure abnormality, to compensate for the loss of natural padding
In some cases orthotics which are shoe inserts are prescribed to reduce the excessive weight bearing forces on the foot and provide long-term relief, especially if you are on your feet for long periods of time

Ensure there is not rubbing on your feet by footwear
Properly fitting footwear is essential, especially if you are on your feet for long periods of time
It is important to not wear another persons’ shoes
A moisturiser daily will help prevent the skin from drying out too much
It is important not to apply moisturiser between the toes and be careful not to slip after applying the cream
The hard skin is caused by pressure, so getting it assessed by a podiatrist is the best form of prevention
If you think you have a corn or callus, make an appointment to have it assessed by our team at Barefeet Podiatry to help you manage it!