Hard Skin?
What is the Difference Between Callus and Corns?
A callus (See Figure 1) generally refers to the thickening of the skin, commonly on the ball of the foot. This can sometimes cause mild discomfort.
A corn (See Figure 2) is a deeper more focal formation of hard skin commonly on the toes. A corn can form under a callused area and is more painful when bearing weight. If pain persists while not bearing weight, it could mean that your corn is infected.
Causes of Callus and Corns
This is usually the result of an underlying foot problem e.g. deformities in the toes or feet, a particular style of walking, thin skin, bony toes or inappropriate footwear.
Uneven pressure on the feet causes the bone to rub against the skin. The body responds by producing thickenings in the surface layer of the skin. People with Bunions are also likely to develop Callus & Corns.
If untreated, Calluses & Corns can become quite painful. Our Podiatrists can help identify the cause and recommend appropriate treatment.
How Will We Treat Corns & Calluses at Foot Focus Podiatry?
Our Podiatrists will:
- remove the hard skin, a painless procedure which gives immediate relief. They will then assess to determine the cause and address the problem to prevent re-occurrence.
- redistribute pressure on the foot with special shoe inserts (orthotics) that fit in the shoe.
- make a custom toe device using a special silicone material that moulds to your toes. A wedge or prop can help alleviate the pressure of corns, the wedge is used between your toes, while the prop fits on the end of your toe to lift your toe off the ground. (See Figure 3)
- give advice on properly fitting shoes. The key is that they fit you correctly and your footwear isn’t too tight which results in pressure or too loose which causes rubbing friction.
It is better not to treat yourself as the key is to determine the cause and prevent it from reoccurring. This is imperative if you have high risk feet such as diabetes or poor circulation.
Figure One: Callus Example
Figure Two: Corn Examples
Figure Three: Toe Device Example
Figure Four: Small Seed Corn Removed by Enucleation
