Callus and Painful Corns
1. What is it ?
Corns and calluses are thick, hardened layers of skin that develop when the skin tries to protect itself against friction or uneven/excessive pressure. A callus typically appears as a broad, diffuse area of thickened skin beneath the foot, while a corn is a concentrated, small, and deeper thickened skin spot and is therefore more painful to walk compared to a callus.
2. Causes
- Abnormal foot posture/biomechanics of feet (flat feet or a high arch)
- Foot deformities (like bunions) or toe deformities (like hammer toes)
- Poor fitting shoes
3. Signs and Symptoms
- A thick, rough area of skin
- A hardened, raised bump
- Tenderness or pain under the skin
- Flaky, dry or waxy skin
4. Treatment
- Debridement of the hard skin by your podiatrist
- Orthotic therapy to redistribute pressure away from high pressure areas of feet
- Footwear modifications: supportive footwear that are wide and deep enough to accommodate prominences/deformities
