Q: What is corns?
It usually occurs on non-weight-bearing parts of the foot, such as the tops and sides of the toes (of course, weight-bearing parts may also occur), and is a hard-centered, thickened circular injury on the foot due to pressure, sometimes dry, waxy, translucent, and very corn-like in appearance, hence the name “Corn”. Corns are smaller than calluses and are painful when under pressure. Diabetic patients often due to peripheral neuropathy, resulting in foot deformity, such as hammertoe, in the tip of the curved toe and shoe friction areas produce corns.
Q: What is callus?
Also known as callus, it is a phenomenon in which the skin hardens and thickens to protect the patient from friction and pressure. The most common sites are on the feet (especially the heel or forefoot sole), palms and fingers, and knees. Calluses are unsightly, rarely painful, and vary in size and shape, often larger than corns. Diabetic patients often have abnormal pressure on the bottom of the foot due to peripheral neuropathy, which eventually leads to calluses.
Q: What are the symptoms?
Localized thick, rough skin
Localized hardened, raised skin
Pressure or pain under the skin
Dry or waxy flaky skin
Q: When should I see a doctor?
When corns or calluses are very painful or infected
Diabetes or poor blood flow to the lower extremities, before corns or calluses are treated
Q: What are the causes?
Pressure and friction during repetitive motion cause calluses and corns to develop and grow. These sources of pressure and friction include
Inappropriate shoes: shoes that are too tight and high heels can cause the foot to squeeze; shoes that are too loose can cause the foot to rub repeatedly at the seam or stitching of the shoe.
Inappropriate socks: Wearing shoes without socks can lead to foot friction. Inappropriate socks may also lead to calluses and corns.
Playing musical instruments or practical hand tools: Repeated friction when playing musical instruments or using hand tools, or even writing, can lead to the formation of calluses on the hands.
Q: What risk factors are present?
Bunions: abnormal, bony protrusions can lead to callus formation in the bunion area
Hammertoes: toes that curl like claws
Other foot deformities: such as bone spurs
Q: How should I make a diagnosis?
Physical examination: The doctor examines the foot to rule out other causes of skin thickening (such as warts and cysts)
X-rays: helps to find the cause of corns or calluses
Q: How is treatment performed?
Treatment for calluses and corns includes: wearing appropriate shoes, protective insoles or other self-protective measures to avoid friction caused by repeated abnormal movements. If corns or calluses persist and are painful, a specialist is needed to help relieve the discomfort by
Trim off excess skin: Your doctor can use a scalpel to thin thickened skin or remove large corns. Patients, especially those with diabetes, should never treat themselves! This is because it may cause a serious infection.
Debridement medications: The doctor will use over-the-counter medications – cream patches containing 40% salicylic acid (e.g., Callus Remover, Clear Away, etc.) that are changed regularly. Note: Use a pumice stone, nail file or emery board to smooth out the callus before applying the ointment. Large calluses require a prescription medication – an ointment containing salicylic acid.
Medications to reduce the risk of infection: Your doctor may recommend an antibiotic ointment to reduce the risk of infection.
Footwear: If you have foot deformities, custom soft insoles (orthotics) should be used to prevent recurrence of corns or calluses.
Surgery: In rare cases, the bone position can be surgically corrected to avoid friction.
Q: What are the precautions in life?
If you have diabetes or other conditions that can cause poor blood flow to the lower extremities, be sure to consult a podiatrist before treating corns or calluses yourself. If there are no such underlying health problems, try the following suggestions.
Use over-the-counter foot spacers: Protect the corns or calluses with spacers. Be careful with over-the-counter drops or corns; these contain salicylic acid, which can irritate healthy skin and lead to infection, especially in people with diabetes or other conditions that can cause poor blood flow to the lower extremities.
Soak your hands or feet: Warm, soapy water softens corns and calluses and makes them easier to remove.
Thin thickened skin: After bathing, rub the corns or calluses with a pumice stone, nail file, emery board or towel to remove the top layer of hard skin. Do not use sharp objects to trim the skin! If the patient is diabetic, the pumice stone should not be used because of the high risk of infection.
Keep skin moist: moisturize with moisturizer to keep skin soft.
Wear comfortable shoes and socks: Wear well-fitting air-cushioned shoes and socks until the corns or calluses disappear. Insoles for these shoes usually need to be custom made
Q: What can I do to prevent it?
Prevent the onset or recurrence of calluses or corns by using the following methods.
Properly fitting shoes: Give enough space. If the toes cannot move freely inside the shoe, the shoe is too tight. Ask the shoe store for help to hold up the part of the shoe that can rub or squeeze into the foot.
Use protective accessories: felt pads, non-medicated corns spacers or bandages. Use dividers or wool between the toes.
When using hand tools, wear gloves or wrap cloth or protective pads around the handle.