Corns and Callus
Corns and
Callouses
Corns and calluses are patches of dead skin that can form under the sole of the feet and on the toes. A callus is an area of thick and hard skin usually found on weight bearing surfaces of the foot. On the other hand, a corn is a concentrated area of dead skin, which has a core (circular nucleus look) and deeper in the middle. Both often develop in response to high areas of pressure and can be painful like stepping on hard rocks.
A hard corn (heloma durum) is a compact lump with a thick core. Hard corns usually form on the tops of the toes, on the outside of the little toe, or on the sole of the foot.
A soft corn (heloma molle) is a small, inflamed patch of skin with a smooth centre. Soft corns usually appear between the toes.
A seed corn (heloma millare) is the least common type of corn that occurs on the heel or ball of the foot, a seed corn is due to repetitive shearing motion.
Podiatrists can easily treat the corns or calluses by debriding the excess hardened skin, which is usually pain free. Your podiatrist will assess at why the calluses and corns are forming and help reduce the risk of them recurring or slow down the progression through a range of offloading measures, including padding, toe protectors, footwear advice and orthotic therapy.
You should not try to treat your own calluses or corns with over-the-counter corn pads, solutions, plasters or paints containing acid. They can be dangerous, especially if you suffer with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease or circulation disorders. There have been multiple incidents in the public that people have hurt themselves with those products and ended up having other complications, such as ulceration, infection and amputation.
You should NEVER attempt to cut away or scrape a callus or corn as you may likely injure yourself by damaging the underlying healthy tissue, nerves and/or blood vessels. The end result may be infection, scarring or in severe cases – ulceration and possibly amputation.
