1455 Golf Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
(847) 390-7666

Corns and Callouses

Corns and calluses are your body's way of protecting you from blisters or open sores. Your body builds up hard, dead skin to thicken and toughen an area where there is increased pressure or friction. The most common location for calluses is on the ball of the foot. Corns are most commonly found on top of or between the toes, especially the fourth and fifth toes. When the corn or callous becomes too thickened, increased pain and redness may result. Corns and calluses can develop in both the young and older individual.

Why do these corns and calluses start in the first place?
Structural changes in the toes and the ball of the foot cause increased pressure within your shoes. Typically, the normal foot can carry our weight comfortably. The development of painful corns and calluses is usually a symptom of an underlying problem. When the long bones in the middle of the foot carry more weight than intended, a callous may form on the ball of the foot. A hammertoe can also result in increased pressure on these bones. Additionally, as we age, we may lose the protective fat pad in the ball of the foot, making the callous condition worse.

Hammertoes can cause corns by rubbing skin against the shoes or between the bones of adjacent toes. Corns between the toes are called "soft corns" because they retain moisture and do not get hard. Sometimes a small, inflammed, reddish pouch may develop that becomes more painful than the corn. This pouch is known as a bursa.

What Are the Treatment Options?
Treatment options depend on the symptoms you have and if there is any associated foot deformity. When corns and calluses are causing only mild discomfort, the simplest solution is to try wider, more comfortable shoes with adequate room for the toes to move. These may include lower heels, softer leather, wider toe boxes or even gym shoes. Gentle use of a pumice stone to thin any corns or calluses may provide some relief from symptoms. Never use a medicated corn pad or corn-removing product since these contain a strong acid which does not diferentiate between normal and thickened skin and may lead to a chemical burn or open sore which can become infected.

When these treatment options are no longer providing the comfort you need, consultation with your podiatric physician is advised to discuss surgical options.

Des Plaines
1455 Golf Road . Des Plaines, IL 60016
(847) 390-7666 • e-mail • http://www.weil4feet.com