Corns & Calluses: Chronic Concerns

Published On: January 18, 2023

Step on a stray LEGO block, and you may come up with colourful language to match the colourful bricks. Imagine that a LEGO brick is stuck to the bottom of your foot, and you must walk on it daily. Many people have to live with the feeling of little pebbles, or LEGO bricks, under their feet, and often, these painful areas are corns or calluses.

What is a Callus?

A callus is formed by repetitive pressure applied to the same spot on your foot. The dead skin in the area will build up, becoming thickened and hardened. Callus tends to cover larger areas of the foot than corns and will only worsen over time without the appropriate care.

Corns are hard cone-shaped bumps on bony areas where excess pressure occurs. They will form through repeated friction and pressure, especially when your skin is wedged between a shoe and a bone. They are similar to small calluses, and we can treat them similarly.

What is a Corn?

How can we treat them?

Corns and calluses are not often serious but can cause pain or discomfort. Visit your chiropodist at Werkman, Boven & Associates Foot Clinic to have them painlessly debrided – we will remove the excess dead skin to alleviate your pain. Afterwards, your chiropodist may recommend padding, over-the-counter insoles, or custom-made prescription orthotics to reduce the speed at which the corn or callus returns.

How can you treat them?

Do

  • wear thick, cushioned socks
  • wear wide, comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft soles that do not rub
  • use soft insoles or heel pads in your shoes
  • soak corns and calluses in warm water to soften them
  • regularly use a pumice stone or foot file to remove hard skin
  • moisturize to help keep skin soft

Don’t

  • do not try to cut off corns or calluses yourself
  • do not walk long distances or stand for long periods
  • do not wear high heels or tight, pointy shoes
  • do not go barefoot

Schedule an appointment today with one of our great Chiropodists!

    Contains information from:

    NHS. (n.d.). NHS choices. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/corns-and-calluses/

    Total Views: 141

    Categories

    Recent Posts