Callus and Painful Corns

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.

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

Signs and Symptoms

• A thick, rough area of skin

• A hardened, raised bump

• Tenderness or pain under the skin

• Flaky, dry or waxy skin

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