| All to often, corns and calluses are
the price we pay for neglecting our feet. Corns and
calluses are very much alike, they just differ in where
they occur.
Corns show up on the bony area on top of the toes and
the skin between the toes. Corns feel hard to the touch,
are tender, and have a roundish appearance. A small, clear
spot called a hen's eye may form in the center.
Calluses can occur on any part of the body that goes
through repeated pressure or irritation. Common places are
on the ball or heel of the feet, on the hands, and on the
knees. Calluses are flat, painless thickenings of the
skin.
Corns and calluses form as a protective response. They
are extra cells made in a skin area that gets repeated
rubbing or squeezing from such things as:
- Footwear that fits poorly.
- Activities that put pressure on the hands, knees and
feet.
If self-care tips do not get rid of corns and calluses, a
family doctor or foot doctor (podiatrist) may need to be
consulted. He or she can scrape away the hardened tissue
and peel away the corn with stronger solutions. (Sometimes
warts lie underneath corns and need to be treated too).
Self-Care Tips
For Corns:
Never pick at corns or use toe-nail scissors or clippers,
a razor blade or any other sharp tool to cut off corns.
You may injure your skin or trigger an infection. Instead:
- Get rid of shoes that fit poorly, especially if they
squeeze your toes together.
- Soak your feet in warm water to soften the corn.
- Cover the corn with a protective, non-medicated pad,
usually available in drugstores. (A piece of foam
rubber or moleskin will do in a pinch).
- If the outer layers of a corn have peeled away,
apply a non-prescription liquid of 5 to 10 percent
salicylic acid and cover the area with a small
bandage.
- Take your shoe to a shoe repair person and ask that
he/she sews a metatarsal bar onto your shoe to use
when a corn is healing.
For Calluses:
Never try to get rid of a callus by cutting it with a
sharp tool. Instead:
- Soak your feet in warm water to soften the callus,
and pat dry.
- Rub the callus gently with a pumice stone.
- Cover calluses with protective pads, available in
drugstores.
- Check for poorly fitting shoes or other sources of
pressure that may lead to calluses.
- Wear gloves if doing a hobby or work that puts
pressure on the hands.
- Wear knee pads for activities that puts pressure on
your knees.
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