Caring For Corns And Calluses: What To Do And What Not To Do
Corns and calluses are thickened areas of skin found on the toes and bottom or sides of the feet
, respectively. This is a natural skin reaction to pressure from shoes, the ground, and the bones underneath the skin. Essentially, the skin begins to thicken it's top layer to form a sort of armor to protect it from this abnormal pressure. Unfortunately, this protective thickening can also cause pain, and force many people into trying numerous different treatments to relieve the pain. This article will review the 'do's' and 'don'ts' of corn and callus care, as improper care can lead to further foot problems.
Do file the corn or callus with an emery board or pumice stone every several days after bathing to reduce the amount of hard tissue. The act of bathing or showering moistens and loosens the superficial hard skin, and makes it easier to file this tissue off without having to sand away like the foot was a piece of wood.
Don't use a razor blade, knife, or scissors to cut the hard skin, especially if you are a diabetic or have poor circulation. It is too easy to cut into the thinner skin underneath, and too hard to judge the proper thickness while working on oneself. Deep cuts can lead to a wound or infection that may lead to amputation in those who have poor wound healing.
Do use moisturizers, preferably those with lactic acid or urea, to smooth the skin at least daily. Moisturizers can further soften the superficial and surrounding tissue of a corn or callus, especially during early growth. For calluses on the bottom of the feet this can prevent cracking and fissuring. For corns, this can help to reduce pain and discomfort.
Don't use medicated corn pads or liquid corn remover. These chemicals, which are mainly skin acids, can eat away at the good surrounding skin and cause chemical burns if improperly applied. Diabetics, those with poor sensation, and those with poor circulation should especially avoid using these products.
Do try gel coated toe sleeve pads for corns on top of the toe, toe separator pads for corns in between the toes, and ring pads or quality shoe inserts for calluses on the bottom of the foot. These pads can reduce pressure to the skin at the corn or callus, and can help to limit it's growth.
Don't wear a shoe that is sized too big for your foot, or cut toe spaces out of current shoes to reduce pressure. Wearing a wider shoe in your measured length size is good, but increasing the shoe size (like a half size up) simply makes the shoe longer, and allows the foot to slide within it more when walking. This can lead to further pressure on the toes. Cutting toe material out of a shoe simply makes the top of the shoe less stable, and the exposed toe can still rub on the edges of the cut hole.
Do see your podiatrist if your toe or foot becomes warm, red, or draining around the corn or callus, especially if you are diabetic. This can possibly indicate an infected wound under the skin which can lead to a deeper infection if not treated appropriately.
Don't try to poke or drain at home a corn or callus that becomes warm or red. This can simply seed bacteria further into the foot, possibly to bone, especially if one does not use sterile instruments to drain the fluid.
Do see a podiatrist if you are getting no relief from home care of your corn and callus, since measures such as prescription shoe inserts or minor surgery can often eliminate the underlying bone cause of the hard skin to provide permanent relief.
Don't assume you have to live with a painful corn or callus for the rest of your life.
by: Scott Kilberg DPM
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