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Calluses and corns

 

Calluses and corns

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The outer layer of skin thickens to protect skin from damage against prolonged rubbing, pressure, and other forms of irritation. 

Callus. Hard skin/callus is a thickening of skin exposed to prolonged rubbing, friction and pressure. A callus is a yellowish, flat, hard layer of dead skin. Calluses typically develop near the base of the toes, heel and anywhere ongoing friction or increased pressure from the inside of shoes or due to gait or foot morphology that place increased stress on parts of the foot.

Helloma. Helloma/corn is a protective thickening of the skin on a bony, knobby portion of a toe or where excessive ongoing pressure in a specific location occurs or due to ongoing  irritation caused by shoes. Some corns helloma milliare form due to dry skin and friction in the base of the foot.

Excessive damage.  After prolonged irritation, a brown, red, or black discoloration may develop under a large corn or callus. This is caused by a small amount of bleeding in the space between thick and normal skin. In severe cases, the thick and normal skin may separate, exposing the area to possible infection.

Diagnosing calluses and corns

Simple inspection of the hands or feet is often enough to diagnose a callus or corn with an assessment of shoes,  health of your feet and your history of other medical problems, including diabetes and circulation. Some types of foot problems can change the mechanics of the foot, causing abnormal pressure on certain areas and leading to calluses. Any previous surgery or trauma to the feet may also affect the structure and alignment of foot bones, increasing the chance of developing a callus or corn.

To find out whether your corns and calluses are related to foot abnormalities, Health Pod will inspect your feet for:

  • toe deformities
  • structural problems of the bones
  • poor bone alignment
  • problems related to an abnormal way of walking (gait)

Treating calluses and corns

Calluses and corns need treatment if they cause pain or other problems. 

Self-help treatments include:

  • Wearing shoes that fit well, with plenty of room around the toes (wide and deep toe boxes). This reduces the irritation that caused the problem in the first place. Over time, the corns or calluses will shrink on their own. This process often weeks or months.
  • Cushioning the affected area with moleskin or an offloading pad to relieve pressure. 
  • Soak the affected hand or foot in warm water to soften the callus or corn. Dry the area. Then rub a pumice stone gently over the callus or corn. Afterward, moisturize the area with skin lotion. Repeat every day or every few days as needed.

Podiatry intervention:

  • Mechanical debridement of the area with offload padding and ongoing use of a cream containing 10% urea to soften the callus or corn. 
  • Foot posture and gait analysis to assess structual causes of the pressure with orthotic wear to redistribute the forces that cause friction and pressure inside your shoes, relieving some of the stress on your feet when you walk.

Get in touch
At Health Pod we run podiatry clinical sessions specific for dermatological treatment (general podiatry) and if needed structural analysis (movement clinic) so we can assess and treat them.

Health Pod
8 Cowbridge Road
Pontyclun
South Wales
healthpod.wales@gmail.com
+44 (0) 7483 318091

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