CORNS & CALLUSES

Corn and Callus E11

Corns and calluses are concentrated, hardened layers of skin that develop when your skin tries to protect itself against friction and pressure.

Traditionally poor footwear has been held responsible for causing corns on the foot, but we now know it is not as simple as this. If the foot is unstable, excessive pressure will fall on the toes and soles and the skin thickens on these areas for protection.

Corns are small conical shaped areas of hard skin which press on underlying nerve endings, often causing considerable pain. They usually occur on the toes or soles of the feet, almost always over a bony prominence, such as a joint.

TREATMENT

Corns and Culluses can be carefully and painlessly removed by a podiatrist to give instant relief. However, unless the underlying mechanical foot faults are diagnosed and addressed, the corns and calluses will return.

A Computerised Gait Analysis will give greater understanding of why the corns are developing and how they can be prevented.

Corns and Calluses E11

At the Beehive and Brookland Foot Clinics we aim not only to give temporary relief by removing the corn or callus, but whenever possible to find a permanent cure.
This can only be achieved by examining the foot in detail and looking at how the foot may be failing to function correctly.

Self- treatments such as corn knives and corn plasters containing caustics which destroy the thickened skin should be avoided as they are potentially very dangerous. Don't cut corns yourself, especially if you are elderly or diabetic, and don't use corn plasters or paints which can burn the healthy tissue around the corns.

You could use a pumice stone to remove the thickened skin a little at a time or relieve pressure between the toes with a foam wedge, but if you are unsure of what to do, or need special attention, consult a registered podiatrist/chiropodist.

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