Corns and Calluses

Calluses

The formation of calluses is caused by an accumulation of skin cells that harden and thicken over an area of the foot.

Callus is usually seen as a hard growth on any part of the foot, top of the toes or bottom of the foot. It usually is painful on weight bearing, relieved by rest.

There are two reasons to get callus – from pressure or from friction.

Callus due to pressure is usually seen on the bottom of the foot and is due to higher than normal pressures on any one given area of the foot duing the gait (walking) cycle.

Callus due to friction is usually seen on the tops of toes, when the toe is rubbing against the shoe with each step taken.

Regardless of type, the callus is an accumulation of skin on the pressure area.

Treatment

Treatment of callus involves determining the source of the callus formation and reducing/resolving the pressure issue causing the callus. Some common reasons to get callus include:

High heeled shoes
Mis-alignment of the forefoot bones
Loss of fat pad in the fore foot
Flat feet
Highly arched feet

Callus is reduced in office, on-going maintenance of callus discussed and source of callus issues resolved during office visit.

Corns

Corns form over areas of specific pressure. Callus is first formed over the high pressure area, corns forms over the specific area of pressure, typically on the joint under pressure.

Treatment of corns is done in office. In addition to removal of the corn, prevention such as silicone toe pads or extra padding in the shoe may be advised.

Typical areas of corns and callus on the feet.

Callouses and Corns develop due to excessive pressure at a specific area of the foot. Some common causes are high heeled dress shoes, and shoes that are too small causing abnormalities in the gait cycle (walking motion), bony prominences, and the loss of the fat pad on the bottom of the feet, toe deformities such as claw/hammer toes and poor foot function such as flat or high arched feet.

Treatment includes regular chiropody in the form of footcare, improved footwear, toe splints to correct position and deflect pressure, foot orthoses or pads. Some cases may also benefit from minor surgery to correct the cause ie: toe deformities