Corns & Calluses Issues
What are corns and calluses?
Corns and calluses are the hardened areas of skin due to hyperkeratosis, which is caused by pressure. Corns and calluses are so common given the fact that the average person will have walked around the Earth three times in his or her lifetime.
A callus is thick, flat and spread out; on the other hand, a corn tends to be more local, cone-shaped, and most likely surrounded by inflammation. Typically, a corn will be located on a toe and a callus on the ball of the foot.
Causes of corns and calluses
When a particular are is constantly irritated the skin hardens and so corns and calluses start to develop to protect the body from further harm. This can happen as a result of friction from the following:
• Not wearing socks
• repetitive movements
• labor-intense occupations
• an abnormal gait
• foot deformities
• sports
• Ill-fitting shoes (especially high heels!)
How to care for your Feet
If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor blood flow, consult your doctor before treating a corn and callus on your own.
Your podiatrist will be able to remove the excess dead skin from both corns and calluses.
Also you should:
- Wear properly sized and shaped footwear. Wear shoes with increased width and height in the toe area.
- Keep your toenails trimmed. Long toenails can make your toes push against the top of your shoe causing friction and increased pressure. Cut toenails straight across. Do not round the corners.
- Never try to cut out, shave away or remove corns or calluses with a sharp object.