Preventing and Treating Corns and Calluses
There are many reasons that bring patients to the podiatrist, but corns and calluses are the most common. Both are painful skin conditions that appear on the feet and can make standing and walking painful. With his or her specialized education and years of experience, your podiatrist is the best choice for treating corns and calluses.
There are three different common kinds of corns, each of which is a hard, thickened area of skin on your feet:
A hard corn is a small patch of thickened, dead skin that generally occurs on the tops and sides of the toes. Many hard corns have a small, dense core of skin in the center.
A soft corn usually occurs between the toes. It typically has a thinner surface and smoother center than a hard corn. Soft corns often appear whitish and rubbery.
Seed corns are believed to be the result of blocked sweat glands. They are clusters of tiny corns that tend to occur on the bottom of the feet and can be very tender if they are on a part of the foot that bears weight.
A callus is similar to a corn in that it is a patch of compact, dead skin that develops in response to repeated friction over an extended period of time, but is usually larger in area. The most common podiatric callus is called a plantar callus and is found on the sole of the foot, often at the ball of the foot, which bears the most weight and experiences the most pressure.
Corns and Callus Prevention
The good news is that corns and calluses can be prevented, especially through conscious footwear choices. Here are some tips to keep your feet looking and feeling their best:
Make sure that your shoes fit properly. If you're going to the shoe store anyway, take a moment to have both feet professionally measured while you're there.
Do you have bunions? Choose shoes that offer plenty of room for accommodation.
Save dress shoes with sharply pointed toes and high heels for special occasions. They cause a great deal of wear and tear on the feet and should not be worn daily.
If the soles or heels of your shoes tend to wear unevenly, talk to your podiatrist. You're at high risk for calluses and corns. Custom orthotics might help.
Corn and Callus Treatment
Are you dealing with uncomfortable corns or calluses on your feet? Skip the internet solutions. They're ineffective at best, and can even be dangerous.
Contact James C. Ricketti, DPM and let us address all your foot and ankle needs. Our board-certified podiatrist will tailor treatments based on your individual needs and with our state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options, we’ll help you get back on your feet in no time! Call our office today at 609-587-1674 to make an appointment at our conveniently located Hamilton, NJ office.