Corns and calluses can be bothersome and painful. You may find that when putting shoes on and walking, you feel as if you have something on the ball of your foot. They’re hard, uncomfortable, and you wish it would simply go away. You may have a callus, or for others, you may find that there’s something on your toe. Nonetheless, you find it’s very difficult to find any shoes that feel comfortable, and you’d rather walk barefoot.

corns-calluses

So What is a Corn or Callus?

Corns and calluses are very similar. They simply are a buildup of dead skin to protect the area from rubbing. Calluses, generally, are located on the ball or the bottom of the foot. And by definition, corns are commonly located on the toes. In every case, the cause of a corn or callus has to do with bone. Yes, it’s a bony problem, although it’s a skin problem from the viewpoint of your eyes, there has to be a bony prominence of some sort to create this problem.

In the case of calluses, if it’s on the bottom of the foot, it can be because you’re putting a disproportionate amount of your body’s weight on the ball of your foot. This area is called the metatarsal head region. If the corn is on a digit of the toe, it may be because you have a hammer toe. If you have a toe that’s crooked, protruding upwards, the shoe gear that you wear may rub against the skin, causing a corn. In other cases, and this is more common between the fourth and fifth toes, you may find that one toe is curving in towards the other, causing one knuckle of the toe to rub against the other. This can create friction between the toes, and thus yet again, creating a corn.

Treatments

Treatments patients can try on their own would be padding or using a chemical pad to eat away at the callus. This would not be recommended if you are diabetic because this could cause a potential risk. You can also try different shoe gear- maybe you need to wear a bigger shoe to accommodate a hammertoe if this is a part of the issue.

At Anderson Podiatry Center, our treatment method is many fold. In some cases, patients have to come in for routine trimming of the callus or the corn. In other cases, patients may be padded for these situations. In the case of a callus on the bottom of the foot,if appropriate, orthotic devices may be recommended. What do orthotics do? They simply redistribute weight on the ball of the foot, lessening the chance of the callus returning after it’s been trimmed down. Again, the bone is the problem, so if you can redistribute weight off the bone then the actual cause is eliminated.

In the case of a corn, hammertoe surgery may be recommended. Hammertoe surgery tends to be a low-risk and high-benefit procedure. This is especially true if you’re limited in how many shoes you can wear, and if your pesky corn keeps coming back. In these cases, the surgical option may be the most desired one. The layup is not prolonged, and patients are very happy with these results.

If you find yourself dealing with this painful, annoying problem, it’s important to have it properly diagnosed. So come in and let us consult you on what your various treatment options are. There are solutions for these pesky little growths on your skin.

Say goodbye to unsightly, uncomfortable corns and calluses.

Do you have thick patches of skin or hard bumps on your feet or toes? You might have corns or calluses, which are thickenings of the skin that usually form in areas of pressure.

Calluses often occur on the sole or ball of the foot, on the outside of the pinky toe where it rubs against the shoe, or on the joints of hammertoes. Corns appear on the tops or tips of the toes, and they can be painful if they interfere with walking or daily activities.

Both corns and calluses can make you dread putting on your shoes or going barefoot in the summertime. The specialists at Anderson Podiatry Center are experts in treating both of these conditions, and can help you feel happy to show off your feet.

Our varied and affordable treatment options for removing corns and calluses include:

  • Topical treatments
  • Shaving or trimming away excess skin
  • Custom orthotics
  • Tolcylen soaks is a new chemical peel product that has been getting rave reviews.
  • Corrective surgery to correct hammertoes, if needed

Don’t try risky at-home remedies to get rid of your corns or calluses, like cutting or applying over-the-counter topical treatments. The expert podiatrists at Anderson Podiatry Center can help you get rid of unsightly corns and calluses safely and quickly.

  • Long-lasting relief is our goal
  • Most insurance plans accepted
  • Medicare-certified, state-of the art-surgery center